Refugium Vs Live Rock

[dmweise]

I have seen two types of sump setups recently, one being a refugium and one being a lot of live rock. Both setups go in the same place in the sump. I have a refugium right now and haven't seen much nitrate processing. I have been thinking of removing my chaeto and sand in the sump and replacing it with live rock.

Opinions?

[firecoral3msd]

Why can't you do both?

[dmweise]

I don't have enough room to do both. I could do half and half I guess.

[saabtech]

well im not sure how your setup is but for the most part i have seen a refugium in the sump return area (where the old bio-balls were) and then people have added live rock to the sump feed area (before the pump) that is my plan....

[saabtech]

well im not sure how your setup is but for the most part i have seen a refugium in the sump return area (where the old bio-balls were) and then people have added live rock to the sump feed area (before the pump) that is my plan....
well. im 2 mins late (i guess i need to learn how to type faster):)

[Bill S]

haven't seen much nitrate processing.

More live rock won't help you. Organisms in live rock process ammonia to nitrate. That's as far as it goes. You need to process nitrate to nitrogen gas. That's what a fuge and/or a deep sand bed is for - fixing nitrogen.

[Paul28]

dont get rid of your chaeto

[kkiel02]

I agree win above and I think that some companies also add the live rock area you were talking about for a cryptic fuge. Without the light in there, nonphotosynthetic filter feeders will thrive.

[allan]

Live rock in the fuge can become a detritus trap. That being said I've got live rock rubble in the cryptic portion of my fuge, last stage before the water enters the return portion of the fuge. I have the rock for the filter feeders, the sand bed and chaeto are for 'trate removal.

[ErikH]

I have about 100 pounds of LR in my fuge, and another 80 in sand. The extra space is full of macros. I put the majority of my clean up crew down there to process floating foods that make it downtown. Never once have I had a nitrate problem. You will need to remove all of the rock at least once a year, and rinse it in RO/DI. Then you will need to pick out the macro and janitors. Then, despite all warnings heeded to me, I stir all of the sand many, many, many, many, times. Everytime, I take out detrito-water (aka chocolate milk) and keep doing it till my water is starting to clear. You will need to add saltwater to help give enough to fully flush your system.

It will make your tank EASY. EASY. oh,,,,, EASY.

[dmweise]

Here's what my sump looks like:

http://gallery.me.com/dmweise/100013/Sump/web.jpg?ver=12580770360001

[pbnj]

More live rock won't help you. Organisms in live rock process ammonia to nitrate. That's as far as it goes. You need to process nitrate to nitrogen gas. That's what a fuge and/or a deep sand bed is for - fixing nitrogen.

Not entirely true.

There is another set of bacteria in live rock that is responsible for turning nitrates into nitrogen gas (and other compounds). The process is 'denitrification' and is performed by denitrifying bacteria that don't like to live in areas where there is oxygen.

In addition to the inside of porous rocks, denitrifying bacteria are found in lower levels of substrates (sandbeds) and places where there is low oxygen content.