HOW MUCH LIVE ROCK

[dancefish]

I know that most of us believe we need live rock most sites that we read tell us we need between 1-1.5 lbs per gallon of water but what if we were to have 2 or more lbs per gallon as long as we have the proper circulation in our tanks would it hurt us ( besides in the pocketbook) to have more lbs per gallon
as long as we are able to have proper circulation of water movement would it not be beneficial to have more rock & or a deepbed of sand for all the growth of beneficial bacteria that we desire for a healthy reef
all of us /you who use fuges dont we put sand & or rock to help out our systems grow proper bacteria as well as have a place for growing other livestock for the future of our tanks ?????????????
just some crazy thoughts I thought I'd submit
all comments welcome

 

[Anonymous]

1st the pound per gallon rule doesn't always work because of the density of rock and shape. if you use very branchy or rock with a lot of holes crevases, holes ect. - you need a lot less.
2nd - i believe less is more. less rock arranged in a very cool natural formation with exposed sand and a lot of hidey holes for critters just looks better then a rock wall filling a tank up and leaning against the back. i prefer a few very select pieces that are interesting shapes arranged without making the common pile of rock
3rd - as far as bio filtering your sand, rock, glass everything is covered with more then plenty of bacteria for the NO3 cycle - so long as your bioload is reasonable.
i do not do any of those things you mentioned about adding rock to increase biofiltration - not neccessary! people adding live rock rubble to cannisters, sumps, and HOBs are being redundent and actually may be hurting their systems in the long run as it collects detritus that may be adding PO4 to the system
4th - as for keeping rock viable - i do that all the time. i keep live rock rubble that i intend to use for fragging in the sump of my frag tank so its always ready to go. this way if i need a piece of rock for a frag it is cycled and waiting
a new trend in reefing is actually going to ceramic rocks - of course these are in ultra clean/ high tech tanks

 

[Semo]

I feel the ceramic rocks...if its the same I am thinking about...is an algae magnet. The white surfaces love algae when first put in the tank. Just as the egg crate material. I always have an algae bloom on those things when I put a new piece into a tank.

I see lots of benefit from a deep sandbed....I personally rough my bed up a little just to feed the corals. All seem to like it..