Live rock as filter media

[jaimejimenez]

I have a newly established(two months) 55g reef tank with a built-in overflow wet-dry filtration system, that includes a protein skimmer and bio balls. I've read a lot about slowly removing the bio balls, but I've also seen someone with small pieces of live rock in a similar style tank(240g) that was running beauifully. I am still adding live rock little by little, have a cleaing crew that is taking care of any problem algae, one damsel for fun, and will add corals and more fish in time, but I want to know people's opinions about using these small pieces of rock in the rear wet-dry chamber. My water chemistry is spot on, but are these bio balls a problem waiting to happen?

[hot4teacher]

Personally, I think you need some kind of mechanical filtration before it gets to the live rock. *Think filter bag or some kind of filter sock.*

I use pieces of live rock after my filter sock. The sock does a heck of a job in getting the floaties out...that the live rock isn't able to do.

Plus, if you have all the material accumulating in the live rock, you can bet that will add to the nitrates.

Dana

[jaimejimenez]

The water does get filtered before it would get to the live rock in the rear filter. It first goes through the protein skimmer, then goes through two blue filter pads with a white felt-like material sandwiched in between, then through a bag of activated carbon, and then ends up flowing over the bio ball compartment, before getting pumped back into the tank. Sorry for the lack of details before. It was late. Any opinions would help. Thanks Dana. What do you think?

[smleee]

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Hot has it right on. I also use a filter sock before the sump to catch all the debris. Some sort of mechanical filtration is a must IMO, but others do fine without.

eee

[bjc451]

what is a filter sock?

[smleee]

This:

http://www.filterbag.com/items/PONG100P4P.html

Typically goes on the input hose to the sump to catch all the debris coming from the display tank through the overflow. Remember to change out the sock frequently; once a week is about as long as you should go.

eee