2.1 Filtration: Live Rock
Description
This article is from the ReefKeepers FAQ, by several authors (see the Credits section).
2.1 Filtration: Live Rock
Live rock is simply old coral skeletons that have become the home
to multiple small creatures. Typically reef tanks have 1-2 lbs of
live rock per gallon of capacity. Pieces vary in size and shape
from baseball size to dinner plate size in typical tanks. In large
tanks (> 500 gallons) very large pieces of live rock tend to be used.
These pieces may individually weight up to 85lbs (about the limit of
what one person can handle).
The use of live rock greatly increases the bio-diversity in a tank.
However, its primary purpose is to provide a home for bacteria that
provide the biological filtration for the aquarium.
Cheap rock has low amounts of coralline algae and tends to grow
hair algae well. It may be suitable for a soft coral only tank.
Hair algae free coralline encrusted live rock (high quality
Florida and/or pacific (Marshall and Tonga Island) rock is highly
desirable. "Berlin" style tanks use high quality live rock (and
protein skimming) as the primary filtration method with great
success.
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