rock filter

[ukpoduk]

hi , i have seen people say in marie setups that the live rocl that you put in the tanks acts has a natraul filter media so all you need is power heads and live rock.....
could this be done with lava rock?
im hoping to set a tang cichlid tank up and thought i would use lava rock as deco and possible filter media and just have a power head to move the water ( so no need for a canister or internal filter), would the bacteria grow on and in the rock ?

thought would be much apprciated

 

[Nic]

bacteria will grow on it but get a secondary filter anyway a good canister or power filter.

 

[ukpoduk]

ok thanks,,, but it is possible to use just the fock? , i asked my lfs and they said its not possible

 

[sharp tooth]

i would say it would be possible but not the best filter in the world. waste would not go anywere and the rock would clog up over time and get very dirty.

it would be on the same principle as an undergravel filter, but you carnt gravel clean laver rock to keep it up to scratch.

 

[Oddball]

Live rock can be a good filtering medium due to the filter-feeding organisms that live in the rock. However, these organisms do more water-polishing through filter-feeding than actual filtering of waste material. Wastes still have to be dealt with and that's where mechanical filtering needs to be added.
Lava rock only has a few dozen sq/ft of surface area per gallon for bacteria to adhere to. That's compared to 160sq/ft for bio-balls and 370sq/ft for nylon scrubber pads. And, there are no filter-feeding organisms as occurs in marine live rock (fan worms, sponges, barnacles, etc.).
Heavily planted FW tanks can get away with less mechanical filtration and adding FW clams\mussels will provide for more water-polishing of suspended materials. But, these setups usually also carry a price tag of much more required maintenance to maintain proper balances for all of the animal and plant life.
For tanganyikan species, lava rock may pose a problem of lowering pH to dangerous levels. It's best to test lava rock before using it where high pH levels are sought. More common rock work for tang tanks is limestone (Texas holey rock), quarried coral base rock, and aragonite.

 

[messiner]

Live rock can be a good filtering medium due to the filter-feeding organisms that live in the rock. However, these organisms do more water-polishing through filter-feeding than actual filtering of waste material. Wastes still have to be dealt with and that's where mechanical filtering needs to be added.
Lava rock only has a few dozen sq/ft of surface area per gallon for bacteria to adhere to. That's compared to 160sq/ft for bio-balls and 370sq/ft for nylon scrubber pads. And, there are no filter-feeding organisms as occurs in marine live rock (fan worms, sponges, barnacles, etc.).
Heavily planted FW tanks can get away with less mechanical filtration and adding FW clams\mussels will provide for more water-polishing of suspended materials. But, these setups usually also carry a price tag of much more required maintenance to maintain proper balances for all of the animal and plant life.
For tanganyikan species, lava rock may pose a problem of lowering pH to dangerous levels. It's best to test lava rock before using it where high pH levels are sought. More common rock work for tang tanks is limestone (Texas holey rock), quarried coral base rock, and aragonite.

perfectly put and AGREED

 

[freeskierrocket]

Live rock can be a good filtering medium due to the filter-feeding organisms that live in the rock. However, these organisms do more water-polishing through filter-feeding than actual filtering of waste material. Wastes still have to be dealt with and that's where mechanical filtering needs to be added.
Lava rock only has a few dozen sq/ft of surface area per gallon for bacteria to adhere to. That's compared to 160sq/ft for bio-balls and 370sq/ft for nylon scrubber pads. And, there are no filter-feeding organisms as occurs in marine live rock (fan worms, sponges, barnacles, etc.).
Heavily planted FW tanks can get away with less mechanical filtration and adding FW clams\mussels will provide for more water-polishing of suspended materials. But, these setups usually also carry a price tag of much more required maintenance to maintain proper balances for all of the animal and plant life.
For tanganyikan species, lava rock may pose a problem of lowering pH to dangerous levels. It's best to test lava rock before using it where high pH levels are sought. More common rock work for tang tanks is limestone (Texas holey rock), quarried coral base rock, and aragonite.

I must concur with the master, very well put oddball!!!

 

[ukpoduk]

Live rock can be a good filtering medium due to the filter-feeding organisms that live in the rock. However, these organisms do more water-polishing through filter-feeding than actual filtering of waste material. Wastes still have to be dealt with and that's where mechanical filtering needs to be added.
Lava rock only has a few dozen sq/ft of surface area per gallon for bacteria to adhere to. That's compared to 160sq/ft for bio-balls and 370sq/ft for nylon scrubber pads. And, there are no filter-feeding organisms as occurs in marine live rock (fan worms, sponges, barnacles, etc.).
Heavily planted FW tanks can get away with less mechanical filtration and adding FW clams\mussels will provide for more water-polishing of suspended materials. But, these setups usually also carry a price tag of much more required maintenance to maintain proper balances for all of the animal and plant life.
For tanganyikan species, lava rock may pose a problem of lowering pH to dangerous levels. It's best to test lava rock before using it where high pH levels are sought. More common rock work for tang tanks is limestone (Texas holey rock), quarried coral base rock, and aragonite.

,,thank you very much oddball, i will take all the info on board