Reef Sanctuary - View Single Post

pinantanjohn · 03-24-2008, 04:59 AM

Looking at the research material and reading the posts here I'm curious as to whether, by using a large fractionator (4" dia 36" high) as well as a fuge with good macros and other plants, plants in the tank as well as a 4 to 5 inch sand bed, if i can get away with less than 1.5 lb/gal of live rock? I understand that amount would be better, but I'm planning a fairly light fish load (8 or 10 chromies and a goby) in a 75 gal tank with about 25 gallons in the sump/fractionator. I expect that I could without problems. Most of the stuff I've been reading is very subjective as to the "way" things are done. I guess my real question would be if the rock would be actually benificial in a small quantity, like 20 or 30 pounds total? Would the "good stuff" spread and grow on other rock over time, and roughly how fast would the bac spread? (that sounds like a really stupid question)

Also, would it be possible to use only a small quantity of live sand to seed a good sized sandbed? If all that is needed to get the bac to spread is substrate and food I don't see why that woulden't work. I have much more time than money and I'm not objective to spending a year getting the tank ready. Is that a reasonable tradeoff?

The thing is i have little money for a while yet ( a year or so) but I have the tank and pumps, (believe it or not I found them at the dump, A complete system for fresh basically brand new) and access to materials to build the rest of the stuff. The price of LR and LS up here is prohibitive and i have to transport it about 4.5 hours from Burnaby, BC. That's the closest real salt LFS around. The local places are only petsmart and petland. They have some salt stuff, chems, fish and such but no rock or sand.

Does this sound like a stupid question? Its 2:00 am and i'm not thinking that clearly..

03-24-2008, 04:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
pinantanjohn Bryozoan Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 50 View Gallery Karma Komment	overdoing filtration? Looking at the research material and reading the posts here I'm curious as to whether, by using a large fractionator (4" dia 36" high) as well as a fuge with good macros and other plants, plants in the tank as well as a 4 to 5 inch sand bed, if i can get away with less than 1.5 lb/gal of live rock? I understand that amount would be better, but I'm planning a fairly light fish load (8 or 10 chromies and a goby) in a 75 gal tank with about 25 gallons in the sump/fractionator. I expect that I could without problems. Most of the stuff I've been reading is very subjective as to the "way" things are done. I guess my real question would be if the rock would be actually benificial in a small quantity, like 20 or 30 pounds total? Would the "good stuff" spread and grow on other rock over time, and roughly how fast would the bac spread? (that sounds like a really stupid question) Also, would it be possible to use only a small quantity of live sand to seed a good sized sandbed? If all that is needed to get the bac to spread is substrate and food I don't see why that woulden't work. I have much more time than money and I'm not objective to spending a year getting the tank ready. Is that a reasonable tradeoff? The thing is i have little money for a while yet ( a year or so) but I have the tank and pumps, (believe it or not I found them at the dump, A complete system for fresh basically brand new) and access to materials to build the rest of the stuff. The price of LR and LS up here is prohibitive and i have to transport it about 4.5 hours from Burnaby, BC. That's the closest real salt LFS around. The local places are only petsmart and petland. They have some salt stuff, chems, fish and such but no rock or sand. Does this sound like a stupid question? Its 2:00 am and i'm not thinking that clearly..