Live rock, trickle or submerge?

[protege]

Ok, currently I have a 125g FOWLR tank with 45lbs live rock and a wet/dry sump with bioballs. I know the bioballs are bad, and currently am slowly removing them from the sump, but I would like to add live rock in their place. Does the live rock need to be completely submerged? or can I keep the streams of water flowing over it? I have seen pictures of both, but not sure which is better. Eventually, I will build a larger sump/fuge, but until then, I need more room for a larger skimmer, and removing the bio balls will give me that. Thanx

[Fly Guy]

live rock doesnt need to be there in the first place, and unless you can and will clean all the detritus that collects in and underneath it one a regular basis it is hurting more than it is helping sitting in your sump

[protege]

So I can just remove all of the bioballs (over time), and let the LR and CC in the tank maintain all bacteria? That would be awesome as I would have a ton of room for my new skimmer... Would I need more LR in the tank? or would 45lbs be ok since it is FO?

[hng]

More live rock in the display would be nice but not necessary. A sand bed will hold an incredible amount of denitrifying bacteria.

[reginanmc]

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

live rock doesnt need to be there in the first place, and unless you can and will clean all the detritus that collects in and underneath it one a regular basis it is hurting more than it is helping sitting in your sump

Yeah i have read many accounts of it becoming a nitrate factory.

[crvz]

Originally Posted by protege

So I can just remove all of the bioballs (over time), and let the LR and CC in the tank maintain all bacteria? That would be awesome as I would have a ton of room for my new skimmer... Would I need more LR in the tank? or would 45lbs be ok since it is FO?

Yup, pull them out and don't replace them. Properly maintained, that should be plenty of live rock.