|
02/13/2018, 04:14 PM | #1 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: West Chester, PA/Newark, DE
Posts: 1,294
|
Rock Minimum
I want to start a frag tank in a 20 long AIO. What's the minimum amount of rock I can get away with? Could I use those ceramic biological filter bricks instead and just line the bottom? I have room for either a fuge or a skimmer. I'm assuming it's better to go with the skimmer? Is no sand bed a big deal? I heard that a sand bed may be more important than rock and I could use a sand bed and a couple of the bricks and be fine.
__________________
Here's to swimmin' with bow-legged women! |
02/13/2018, 04:38 PM | #2 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Austin
Posts: 801
|
If its just frags in a 20 gal all in one, you don't need rock or sand. Water changes should be enough to keep up with it.
|
02/13/2018, 04:57 PM | #3 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 20,050
|
In general the more surface area the larger bacterial population the tank will contain (can sustain)..
Both rock and sand VASTLY increase the amount of surface area.. (like feet with glass only to acres with sand/rock) In general the more surface area is usually better.. There is no set or guaranteed/proven minimum though.. And yes there are other ways to have a successful system but a substantial bacterial colony helps immensely And yes there are artificial ways to increase surface area too..
__________________
Who me? |
02/13/2018, 06:13 PM | #4 |
RC Mod
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
Posts: 88,616
|
One of the bricks probably would be enough, assuming that the frags are the usual photosynthetically-enabled corals and the feeding rate is low enough. That type of corals probably emits little to no ammonia. You could skip the sandbed, as well. Heavy feeding might leave a fair amount of food in the water column, but I think it'd take a lot to overload one of the Marine Pure blocks. I can't quantify anything, though.
__________________
Jonathan Bertoni |
02/13/2018, 06:44 PM | #5 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,432
|
Quote:
|
|
02/13/2018, 07:03 PM | #6 |
RC Mod
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
Posts: 88,616
|
Carbon dosing could do the job as well. I'm not sure it's worth the effort given the fairly tiny amount of ammonia to be processed, but I am assuming a lot about what's going to go into the tank when I make that statement. Also, I am assuming that everyone is as lazy as I am.
__________________
Jonathan Bertoni |
02/13/2018, 10:09 PM | #7 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: West Chester, PA/Newark, DE
Posts: 1,294
|
I’d say I’m pretty damn lazy but I do manage a weekly water change. The tank will be for zoanthids, Acans and shrooms. I’ll probably add a Sixline Wrasse and snails to aid in clean-up. I have a hang on fuge I’m going to add also.
__________________
Here's to swimmin' with bow-legged women! |
02/13/2018, 10:56 PM | #8 |
RC Mod
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
Posts: 88,616
|
Okay, the fish will create a bit of an ammonia load. I'd add one of the blocks, personally, and see how that goes. I don't remember many posts about tanks that only have blocks, though.
__________________
Jonathan Bertoni |
02/14/2018, 10:56 PM | #9 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: West Chester, PA/Newark, DE
Posts: 1,294
|
Maybe that Stax rock?
__________________
Here's to swimmin' with bow-legged women! |
02/14/2018, 11:03 PM | #10 |
RC Mod
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
Posts: 88,616
|
It looks like it should be fine, but I haven't seen it or read much about it.
__________________
Jonathan Bertoni |
02/16/2018, 01:57 PM | #11 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: West Chester, PA/Newark, DE
Posts: 1,294
|
Quote:
__________________
Here's to swimmin' with bow-legged women! |
|
02/16/2018, 08:51 PM | #12 |
RC Mod
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
Posts: 88,616
|
You're welcome! Please let us know how well your tank works for you!
__________________
Jonathan Bertoni |
Thread Tools | |
|
|