How many pounds of rock is overkill?

[celbrise]

Running a 55gal fish only with some base rock ( nothing on it but diatoms :/ ). Idk how many pounds i have of it I am guessing at least 10lbs. it's all stacked to one side of the tank. I am going to try and buy some more or about 25lbs of live rock but I am wondering will this be over kill? I am looking to put corals onto the rocks in the future. I can remove the base rocks in the future if need be but currently my tank is about 2/3rds bare.

I won't be buying rocks anytime soon maybe in about 2-3 months just want to prepare ahead of time.

 

[jay0705]

Iam a rock guy. Lol I have like 40-45lbs in my 20 gal. If u have enough swimming room for your fish ur fine

 

[deejeff0442]

I put over 300 pounds in my 250 gallon.i am old schools alot of rock and flow.plus a sump with rock rubble with no light to produce pods.never enough rock as long as the critters have room to swim and enough flow so no dead spots

 

[jay0705]

+1

I put over 300 pounds in my 250 gallon.i am old schools alot of rock and flow.plus a sump with rock rubble with no light to produce pods.never enough rock as long as the critters have room to swim and enough flow so no dead spots

+1

 

[trigger40]

i have about 40lbs in my 40g. i go by the pound a gallon rule.

 

[bang guy]

If you look at your tank and it looks to you like there is too much rock, then there is too much rock.

 

[celbrise]

alright just wanted to make sure it didn't collapse. Yea i might have to go less then 55lbs I have a puffer in this tank although it's already been about 3 years it is still small but i've seen this species get roughly huge for a brackish water puffer.

 

[flower]

Hi,

I don't like a tank full of rock, it just looks like crap to me. I do like caves, and I use décor as well as rock. The combo LOOKS much better to me, along with decorative macroalgae and/or corals, which adds living color. The whole idea is to have enough surface area for good bacteria to grow on, and home for the tiny critters.

SW fish are very territorial, they need hiding places, but they have to also have room to swim and call their own. While it's very true that as long as the fish can swim, it isn't too much rock, it isn't necessary to crowd the tank so much.

Diatoms is a natural stage of a new tank, and it will clear up on it's own. 10lbs of rock in a 55g is not enough IMO, but a pound of rock per gallon is ridiculous. A fish tank is a living work of art, I know we want healthy fish, but it should be beautiful to look at as well, and I just feel a tank full of rock is not very attractive.