PDA

View Full Version : Live Rock for NO3 reduction?


vikubz
02/18/2009, 04:39 PM
How much nitrate reduction does LR really do? I have some extra and wonder about putting some into a section of my sump. Or I could put about a 6 inch sand bed in one section.

seapug
02/18/2009, 06:03 PM
It can be quite significant. Using live rock was the "secret" to successful coral keeping that eluded people for so long. A deep sand bed section in a fuge can accomplish the same thing.

tmz
02/18/2009, 07:09 PM
The effectiveness of live rock and sand in reducing NO3 will be dependent on the nutrients getting to the anoxic areas. Either should help though. Sand has more surface area overall but rock may have better pathways for organics and NO3 to reach anoxic areas.Not sure which is better but in my excperience and opinion sand in a lighted area with criitters in it to keep pathways open works better than dark sterile beds.

Posidion
02/18/2009, 07:34 PM
+1 on the sand theory studies ive read seem to indicate sand beds with rock and critters do better long term and appear to accomplish more denitrfication than beds kept void and dark.