200 gall tank = how much live rock?

[kidwicked]

How much live rock would be needed in a 200 gal tank to require no mechanical filtration? :happyfish :happyfish

 

[nigerbang]

hmm dunno first hand I have HEARD around 3lb/gallon...not really sure though..good luck

 

[mandarin w]

I know on my 180 I needed at least 240. So I would venture to guess probly about 275 to 325.

 

[kidwicked]

I never knew you can actually use live rock as the primary filter with no mechanical needed. Thats a pretty cool deal. But I suppose ti makes sense considering thats pretty much how it's done in the ocean no?

 

[woolfe]

I just finished setting my tank up & did a ton of research on this. I did hear some people say as much as 4 Lbs per Gal. The majority of people/web sites say 1 to 1 1/2 lbs. per Gal. I put 110 Lbs into my 90gal. I do plan on putting another 20 - 30 lbs of branch rock to make it more interesting looking in the future.

 

[kidwicked]

Do you have a mechanical filter or just live rock?

 

[stanlalee]

at least 1lb per gallon and however much you can afford or how you want the tank to look from there. I dont like the look of tanks filled to the brim with LR unless its branched with a lot of tunnels and ledged for the fish to swim thru so I'll never have much more than 1.5lbs per gallon.

 

[fishy7]

I have a 215 and 280lbs of LR. All my readings are in check with 0 issues. I did get a good skimmer for insurance.

 

[mandarin w]

That is another use for the sump, I am useing a 75 gal for my sump, I have about half of that area sectioned off for my fuge, and I probly have about 75 to maybe 90 lbs of rock in there. As long as the rock is in your system, no rule says it has to be in the display.

 

[stanlalee]

Originally Posted by mandarin w
That is another use for the sump, I am useing a 75 gal for my sump, I have about half of that area sectioned off for my fuge, and I probly have about 75 to maybe 90 lbs of rock in there. As long as the rock is in your system, no rule says it has to be in the display.
Good point.

 

[acrylic51]

It's hard to say how much LR you'll need.....Depending on the type of rock your planning on purchasing.....If your look at the Fiji rock it's not as porous or holey as lets say Solomon Island so you'd probably buy alot more rock to fill the same tank depending what you use, and alot of it has to do with how much rock you actually want in the tank......The tank doesn't have to be packed with rock as most people think.....It was pointed out ealier that is what a sump/fuge is for as well......
If you get some time go to the other big forum site and check out and read some threads on LR in a tank and what looks obtrusive and what doesn't....you want the tank to look natural, not like a stick built wall.