LR only filtration

yuyiboy · 08-22-2007, 11:06 PM

Hi guys;
I have seen a lot of comments here about LR only as a filter, and was wondering if that's the best way to do it (newbie here)

Also, What can I do with my canister filter if I do that? I guess I would still need mechanical right?? (like I said)

Thanks for the info and for saving my fish time and again

Hop · 08-22-2007, 11:13 PM

For fish only tanks the cannister is OK as long as you keep up on it. For a reef, they are best to sell or use for occasional water polishing.

LR is by far the best filtration and there are many ways to accomplish "live rock". Some people buy all new live rock, some people buy as little as 10% live rock and 90% dry base rock and some people make their own rock and seed it with a small amount of live rock etc.

IMO though a good quality skimmer and live rock are the best filtration means. But like many things in this hobby, you will see opinions vary

Casey · 08-22-2007, 11:37 PM

Live rock is the best filter you can get.

rdeane · 08-22-2007, 11:57 PM

im very new to salwater to ...but I cant afford a really good skimmer so I have a cheap one and a filter (tetra tech pf 500) it makes waves like in the ocean and have a separate filter u dont change because it cultivates good bacteria ...my nitrates are always 0 unless u have 2 dead snails..
since i got this thing my life is so much easier... but the live rock is a must cant do it with out it...good luck..u came to the right place really smart people here...and nice to.

charlesr1958 · 08-23-2007, 12:41 AM

It is of course a matter of personal preference, experience and equipment availability. When living in the states, I used to run as many "gizmos" as possible thinking I was automating my system yet found I spent more time mucking around with the gizmos than anything. Others enjoy that though and is part of the hobby for them. Having moved to a tropical island, has however forced me into running my system with nothing more than a few powerheads and some lights. I did manage to find a cheapo small air stone powered skimmer, but have pretty much taken that out of action as it is of no real use anyways.

Lots of live rock, A live DSB, An algae refugium, a big powerhead for a sump pump, a few powerheads in tank for flow, some tupperware containers for overflow boxes, and as many household CF bulbs that would fit under the canopy and walla!... Reef tank!...lol

Chuck

Loverotties · 08-23-2007, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yuyiboy

Hi guys;
I have seen a lot of comments here about LR only as a filter, and was wondering if that's the best way to do it (newbie here)

Also, What can I do with my canister filter if I do that? I guess I would still need mechanical right?? (like I said)

Thanks for the info and for saving my fish time and again

Welcome to TRT! What type of tank are you setting up?a reef tank or a Fish only with live rocks? Were in NJ are you?

VWD · 08-23-2007, 07:58 AM

Welcome to the Reef tank!!

Live rock is the best thing we have going for us other then a good skimmer and water flow,

I have ran tanks with liverock,water movement, good lighting and nothing else,

Geoff · 08-23-2007, 10:22 AM

it is not nitrates that are your enemy, phosphates are the enemy. not only does the high oxygen content flow that goes through canister filters tend to produce nitrates they increase you phosphates. unless the canister filter is cleaned every day the detritus caught in the canister filter will rot causing the phosphates in the detritus to leach back into the water column where it will get absorbed by the substrate and/or LR. eventually this will lead to cyano and HA problems.

G~

yuyiboy · 08-23-2007, 10:58 AM

Thank you very much for all your responses on this issue. I have a 30gl "reef" that was my first...Very hard for a first but I'm getting it. I only have some pollyps and not much else. some damsels and an anthias tons of nas. snails and turbos and LR and L sand. I have had it for a few months and have killed a lot of friends trying to learn. That is the worst part I don't even kill flies

But the ones now have been with me for a while!!

I have a good bit of coraline alg. but it seems to have stopped. and that is why I was asking about the LR filtering. I want that nice algae all over the back wall and the rest of the stuff like you guys do.

My canister is now just running with mechanical and no media and it already looks better this morning

I really hope the nitrates go down more and that the coraline starts spreading like your beautiful tanks. Lot of research to do yet

But nothing is dying and that is always good. At least the fish gave their lives for a good lesson in life.

well I'm rambling on sorry. Thank you guys for all your help I'm glad I found this place. After I found it the fish stopped diying. Still rambling...bye!!

Ps. I'm in Jackson, NJ Loverotties.

Loverotties · 08-23-2007, 11:05 AM

Ok I'm north of you.Mountainside,NJ.Union County.

luvmylo · 08-23-2007, 01:51 PM

check your ca and alk. These play a major role in coraline algae

Brent Cone · 08-23-2007, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VWD

Welcome to the Reef tank!!

Live rock is the best thing we have going for us other then a good skimmer and water flow,

I have ran tanks with liverock,water movement, good lighting and nothing else,

Ditto! me to! the old school way! hu Vince!

toniell · 08-23-2007, 02:07 PM

Thats pretty impresive You say you use tuperware for overflows could you PM me and explain that a little further I tried to PM you but could not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlesr1958

It is of course a matter of personal preference, experience and equipment availability. When living in the states, I used to run as many "gizmos" as possible thinking I was automating my system yet found I spent more time mucking around with the gizmos than anything. Others enjoy that though and is part of the hobby for them. Having moved to a tropical island, has however forced me into running my system with nothing more than a few powerheads and some lights. I did manage to find a cheapo small air stone powered skimmer, but have pretty much taken that out of action as it is of no real use anyways.

Lots of live rock, A live DSB, An algae refugium, a big powerhead for a sump pump, a few powerheads in tank for flow, some tupperware containers for overflow boxes, and as many household CF bulbs that would fit under the canopy and walla!... Reef tank!...lol

Chuck

VWD · 08-23-2007, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent Cone

Ditto! me to! the old school way! hu Vince!

You got it brent!!!

Geoff · 08-24-2007, 09:35 AM

are you siphoning out detritus? as phosphate levels increase you will start to see a decrease in the growth of coralline and other corals. it is important to siphon out as much of the detritus as you can when doing water changes. this keeps absorption of phosphates into the sand/LR.

G~

LR only filtration

Thanks Guys;