How many pounds of rock do I "really" need?
- Thread starter lbannie
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snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
I used to be a die hard "pound per gallon" guy. Over the years I have really changed my opinion. The reason is because I have seen many, many systems with very little rock work be just as successful. I believe now days it comes down to personal aesthetic taste more than anything. Some tanks have evolved with no actual live rock - as in the case of some SPS dominated tanks, they will frag off little SPS and glue them to the bottom of the tank and let them naturally grow upwards like they would in nature. These tanks are very pretty - but I still like to have some rocks.
I'm much more into the Bonzai style aquariums - minimalistic live rock - in SPS dominated systems. You just have to really know how much rock you need for certain pieces. You may find that you need more rock for certain things and less rock for others. For SPS corals that are hard and create stony skeletons, having less rock means having more room for them to grow. For soft corals that dominate rock work, having a lot of rock work for the softies to grow on is an advantage. LPS dominated tanks - depending on what type - needs a lot of sandbed or they need a lot of room to grow like SPS do. So, there is a lot of factors.
Live rock amount also depends on what fish you keep. Tangs, for example, like a lot of rock work because it provides natural places for them to graze. Some fish like to have overhands to hide in - who wouldn't do very well in a "two island tank."
So, really, think about what you have in your tank - think about how you kind of want it to look and then go from there. I suggest trying to get a well balanced look, with just as much "positive" space as "negative" space - meaning just as much rock as sand. This is more or less aesthetically pleasing.
Another aquascaping tip is that you should "break up" your rock work so that there are peaks and valleys. It helps to look at pictures of underwater reefs and pick a section of the reef that interests you most and try to replicate it in your tank.
Good luck, and post before and after pics please!
I'm much more into the Bonzai style aquariums - minimalistic live rock - in SPS dominated systems. You just have to really know how much rock you need for certain pieces. You may find that you need more rock for certain things and less rock for others. For SPS corals that are hard and create stony skeletons, having less rock means having more room for them to grow. For soft corals that dominate rock work, having a lot of rock work for the softies to grow on is an advantage. LPS dominated tanks - depending on what type - needs a lot of sandbed or they need a lot of room to grow like SPS do. So, there is a lot of factors.
Live rock amount also depends on what fish you keep. Tangs, for example, like a lot of rock work because it provides natural places for them to graze. Some fish like to have overhands to hide in - who wouldn't do very well in a "two island tank."
So, really, think about what you have in your tank - think about how you kind of want it to look and then go from there. I suggest trying to get a well balanced look, with just as much "positive" space as "negative" space - meaning just as much rock as sand. This is more or less aesthetically pleasing.
Another aquascaping tip is that you should "break up" your rock work so that there are peaks and valleys. It helps to look at pictures of underwater reefs and pick a section of the reef that interests you most and try to replicate it in your tank.
Good luck, and post before and after pics please!
acrylic51
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/393304/how-many-pounds-of-rock-do-i-really-need#post_3498021
I used to be a die hard "pound per gallon" guy. Over the years I have really changed my opinion. The reason is because I have seen many, many systems with very little rock work be just as successful. I believe now days it comes down to personal aesthetic taste more than anything. Some tanks have evolved with no actual live rock - as in the case of some SPS dominated tanks, they will frag off little SPS and glue them to the bottom of the tank and let them naturally grow upwards like they would in nature. These tanks are very pretty - but I still like to have some rocks.
I'm much more into the Bonzai style aquariums - minimalistic live rock - in SPS dominated systems. You just have to really know how much rock you need for certain pieces. You may find that you need more rock for certain things and less rock for others. For SPS corals that are hard and create stony skeletons, having less rock means having more room for them to grow. For soft corals that dominate rock work, having a lot of rock work for the softies to grow on is an advantage. LPS dominated tanks - depending on what type - needs a lot of sandbed or they need a lot of room to grow like SPS do. So, there is a lot of factors.
Live rock amount also depends on what fish you keep. Tangs, for example, like a lot of rock work because it provides natural places for them to graze. Some fish like to have overhands to hide in - who wouldn't do very well in a "two island tank."
So, really, think about what you have in your tank - think about how you kind of want it to look and then go from there. I suggest trying to get a well balanced look, with just as much "positive" space as "negative" space - meaning just as much rock as sand. This is more or less aesthetically pleasing.
Another aquascaping tip is that you should "break up" your rock work so that there are peaks and valleys. It helps to look at pictures of underwater reefs and pick a section of the reef that interests you most and try to replicate it in your tank.
Good luck, and post before and after pics please!
Agree......
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/393304/how-many-pounds-of-rock-do-i-really-need#post_3498021
I used to be a die hard "pound per gallon" guy. Over the years I have really changed my opinion. The reason is because I have seen many, many systems with very little rock work be just as successful. I believe now days it comes down to personal aesthetic taste more than anything. Some tanks have evolved with no actual live rock - as in the case of some SPS dominated tanks, they will frag off little SPS and glue them to the bottom of the tank and let them naturally grow upwards like they would in nature. These tanks are very pretty - but I still like to have some rocks.
I'm much more into the Bonzai style aquariums - minimalistic live rock - in SPS dominated systems. You just have to really know how much rock you need for certain pieces. You may find that you need more rock for certain things and less rock for others. For SPS corals that are hard and create stony skeletons, having less rock means having more room for them to grow. For soft corals that dominate rock work, having a lot of rock work for the softies to grow on is an advantage. LPS dominated tanks - depending on what type - needs a lot of sandbed or they need a lot of room to grow like SPS do. So, there is a lot of factors.
Live rock amount also depends on what fish you keep. Tangs, for example, like a lot of rock work because it provides natural places for them to graze. Some fish like to have overhands to hide in - who wouldn't do very well in a "two island tank."
So, really, think about what you have in your tank - think about how you kind of want it to look and then go from there. I suggest trying to get a well balanced look, with just as much "positive" space as "negative" space - meaning just as much rock as sand. This is more or less aesthetically pleasing.
Another aquascaping tip is that you should "break up" your rock work so that there are peaks and valleys. It helps to look at pictures of underwater reefs and pick a section of the reef that interests you most and try to replicate it in your tank.
Good luck, and post before and after pics please!
Agree......
S
saxman
Guest
I'm in agreement...to be honest, I rarely know just how much rock is in our setups. I simply work until I like what I see and stop there. Sometimes it's the "right" amount, sometimes less, sometimes maybe more. It all depends on what I'm keeping and how I think the tank looks...sometimes I have a pre-conceived "vision" and sometimes I just let the rock "talk to me" (each rock will fit in a certain spot that gives maximum stability and a look that's pleasing).
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
I don't follow the "lbs/gallon" rule either...I just go with what looks good to me. As it happens, my 110g tank wound up with almost exactly 110 lbs of rock, but not because of any premeditated plan.
And I don't remember how much rock is in this tank....
And I don't remember how much rock is in this tank....
mr. limpid
Active Member
I agree with everyone. You need to design what you like and for the inhabitant's. I know that I'm not a fan of LR that run the entire length of the back wall. That is just me.
S
saxman
Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Limpid http:///t/393304/how-many-pounds-of-rock-do-i-really-need#post_3498399
I agree with everyone. You need to design what you like and for the inhabitant's. I know that I'm not a fan of LR that run the entire length of the back wall. That is just me.
Precisely...I don't like the "pile of rocks" look either.
Originally Posted by Mr. Limpid http:///t/393304/how-many-pounds-of-rock-do-i-really-need#post_3498399
I agree with everyone. You need to design what you like and for the inhabitant's. I know that I'm not a fan of LR that run the entire length of the back wall. That is just me.
Precisely...I don't like the "pile of rocks" look either.
mr. limpid
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///t/393304/how-many-pounds-of-rock-do-i-really-need#post_3498398
I don't follow the "lbs/gallon" rule either...I just go with what looks good to me. As it happens, my 110g tank wound up with almost exactly 110 lbs of rock, but not because of any premeditated plan.
And I don't remember how much rock is in this tank....
Great looking tank Nova, The Eiffel Coral.
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///t/393304/how-many-pounds-of-rock-do-i-really-need#post_3498398
I don't follow the "lbs/gallon" rule either...I just go with what looks good to me. As it happens, my 110g tank wound up with almost exactly 110 lbs of rock, but not because of any premeditated plan.
And I don't remember how much rock is in this tank....
Great looking tank Nova, The Eiffel Coral.
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by saxman http:///t/393304/how-many-pounds-of-rock-do-i-really-need#post_3498401
Precisely...I don't like the "pile of rocks" look either.
Sax, one of my favorite tanks of yours had very little rock at all...your seahorse tank with a small amount of branch rock mounted to a plexi plate under the sand, with all the Caulerpa growing along the rock branches. Do you still have a picture of that somewhere?
Originally Posted by saxman http:///t/393304/how-many-pounds-of-rock-do-i-really-need#post_3498401
Precisely...I don't like the "pile of rocks" look either.
Sax, one of my favorite tanks of yours had very little rock at all...your seahorse tank with a small amount of branch rock mounted to a plexi plate under the sand, with all the Caulerpa growing along the rock branches. Do you still have a picture of that somewhere?
S
saxman
Guest
That's funny you mentioned Renee's "construct"...that puppy fell apart spontaneously before the tank went up...the laws of physics kinda got in the way. I ended up using the pieces and "freehanding" it.
Here are some pix:
The "construct"
What ended up in the tank:
Finished scaping:
Closer shot:
Altho there wasn't a lot of LR in the DT, there was additional LR in the sump.
Here are some pix:
The "construct"
What ended up in the tank:
Finished scaping:
Closer shot:
Altho there wasn't a lot of LR in the DT, there was additional LR in the sump.
mr. limpid
Active Member
Saxman, is that grape macro still alive? I had some come out of my LR and when I pruned it, it all died.
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Heh, I never knew that it fell apart beforehand. "Happy accident," I'd say. Your freehand style was beautiful once the Caulerpa grew in.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
look like microdusters to me... Beneficial filter feeders. harmless. 