does LR that replaces bio balls need light to be effective ?

[3bavboys]

or , just put in place of bio-balls on top of the eggcrate and that's it ?
btw , how much (#) should be put there ? -
90g fowlr 125 # LR in DT , 80 # LS -

 

[shawnhardy]

I am interested to hear the answer to this as well...

 

[walmart]

you have a lot of live rock, but i use both in my sump. there is not a light req for live rock either.

 

[joojoo]

No, it does not need any light. The nitrifying bacteria requires no light. However, it will require regular maintenance, it is almost no different than using the bio balls. Depending on how much you can fit in there, surface area would be the only difference.

 

[reefkprz]

no it doesnt need light, use ugly rock because any coraline without light will die off but the biological activity on the rock wont stop.
as for how much put as much as you can fit. the more surface area the better. remember LR rubble still needs to be hosed out once in a while to prevent sediment build up just like bioballs.
I would remove the eggcrate and stack all the way from the bottom, because the LR is just as effective when submerged unlike bioballs that loose some of their effectiveness when completly sumberged..

 

[reefkprz]

good timing JooJoo we posted at the same moment you beat me by a couple seconds....

 

[joojoo]

lol, looks like 3 of us were typin away at the same time.

 

[3bavboys]

so , no filter pads at all either - currently i use pura pad and a blue to catch stuff -

 

[joojoo]

I think it would work best if you put that filter pad over the LR, so it will filter out any debris that would get stuck in the LR, that way you would have to take out all the LR and clean it much less often.

 

[3bavboys]

so put LR where bio-balls were and UNDER the eggcrate too ?

 

[reefkprz]

yeah I would take the eggcrate right out its just a waste of space if your going to use LR there, the bioballs need to be out of the water to be most effective, LR is effective both in the splash zone and submerged.

 

[3bavboys]

but - one more question - if eggcrate is gone - how to , or where do, filter pads go then ?
just drape them over the rocks ?

 

[reefkprz]

the prefilter pads go in the upper section over the drip tray, you can put charcoal and other things after the LR, in media bags.

 

[3bavboys]

ok great - thx everyone for your help -

 

[3bavboys]

just thought of another question - should a thin layer of LS be placed at the bottom of the sump ?

 

[reefkprz]

in a wet dry set up I wouldnt because there is nothing to keep it away from your return pump wich could suck it up and damage the pump, if there is a baffle before your return pump you can.

 

[3bavboys]

just a polishing sponge

 

[rrcjr1972]

sorry to chime in but will dead rock work or will it cause a cycle?

 

[aztec reef]

dead rock will not work cuz is "dead" you need lr.(bacteria)

 

[joojoo]

Dead rock WILL work. Bacteria will grow on it in time.