Opinions on Live rock in Fish Only Tank

scottikis

scottikis

New Member
Some aquarists say that in a fish only setting (where filtration is being performed by a canister filter) Live Rock is not required, while others indicate that it is totally essential. Being that live rock is a very big expense, I dont want to throw down a few hundred bills only to realize that it is unnecessary. I'd appreciate knowing what you folks think. Thanks.
 
aztec reef

aztec reef

Active Member
here's my two cents.. if you want optimun filtration and your tank to handle it's bioload.you must go with 1.5-2lbs of live rock. if you don't want that much lr, then you have to get great skimmer and set up a live sand bed. to make -up for the little live rock that you have..btw, live rock provides the foundation of a reef aquarium,biological filtration,structure & beauty.
 
aztec reef

aztec reef

Active Member
sorry, i forgat the point of the q. my coffe hasn't kicked in yet..

is not as necesary in fish only tanks. but still the other stuff applies.
 
scottikis

scottikis

New Member
Thanks for the great info. I plan on utilizing a skinner in addition to a Fluval 400 filter on a 75 gallon fish only tank. Does it make sense to purchase a smaller amount of live rock and seeding other rock?
 
rbaldino

rbaldino

Active Member
You certainly don't need live rock, but it definitely makes for a better, more successful tank. If you choose to go without, just make sure you set up a reliable, consistent form of biological filtration.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
IMO you definately do need live rock. Certain kinds of fish such as Angels and Tangs have to have LR to graze off of. It is not just a matter of replacing the biologcal filtration, LR has many other benefits and some fish simply will never thrive without it. You don't have to buy all premium LR though. You can mix it with base, it will all become "live" in time.
 
aztec reef

aztec reef

Active Member
Originally Posted by Scottikis
Thanks for the great info. I plan on utilizing a skinner in addition to a Fluval 400 filter on a 75 gallon fish only tank. Does it make sense to purchase a smaller amount of live rock and seeding other rock?
yeah that will work..just make sure you keep that fluval's media clean or it will cause nitrates..yeah it makes sense to buy a little rock to seed some other rock.. eventually that dead rock will become "live"..
 
hot883

hot883

Active Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
IMO you definately do need live rock. Certain kinds of fish such as Angels and Tangs have to have LR to graze off of. It is not just a matter of replacing the biologcal filtration, LR has many other benefits and some fish simply will never thrive without it. You don't have to buy all premium LR though. You can mix it with base, it will all become "live" in time.
Exactly to the "T".
 
rbaldino

rbaldino

Active Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
IMO you definately do need live rock. Certain kinds of fish such as Angels and Tangs have to have LR to graze off of.
So what you're saying is that you definitely have to have tangs and angels. Because there's no way anyone would ever have a saltwater tank without tangs and angels, so they definitely need live rock. Sounds a little silly, doesn't it? Kind of like saying you have to have an anemone if you have clownfish, or vise versa.
You know, people were keeping saltwater fish long before they started harvesting live rock, and many people continue to run successful fish only tanks without live rock. I know, because I did it for many years.
 
anonome

anonome

Active Member
Originally Posted by rbaldino
So what you're saying is that you definitely have to have tangs and angels. Because there's no way anyone would ever have a saltwater tank without tangs and angels, so they definitely need live rock. Sounds a little silly, doesn't it? Kind of like saying you have to have an anemone if you have clownfish, or vise versa.
You know, people were keeping saltwater fish long before they started harvesting live rock, and many people continue to run successful fish only tanks without live rock. I know, because I did it for many years.
I think you are missing the point of what Sepulation was saying.....If you are going to keep tangs or angels in your fish only tank you SHOULD have live rock, do you need the 1.5-2.0lbs per gallon....no. But some should be provided for grazing for the longevity of the fish. Algae sheets and algae base foods will only go so far for the health of the fish. Stressed fish(without anything to graze on), like these, will eventually be diseased fish. Just my 2 cents.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by rbaldino
So what you're saying is that you definitely have to have tangs and angels. Because there's no way anyone would ever have a saltwater tank without tangs and angels, so they definitely need live rock. Sounds a little silly, doesn't it? Kind of like saying you have to have an anemone if you have clownfish, or vise versa.
You know, people were keeping saltwater fish long before they started harvesting live rock, and many people continue to run successful fish only tanks without live rock. I know, because I did it for many years.
I in no way implied that you have to have tangs and angels. I was informing you that certain fish LIKE tangs and angels need live rock. If you don't want LR, don't get it. You will limit yourself on what you can have though. You should know that almost all salt fish need adequate shelter and hidng places to be comfortable. At least provide that for them.
 
rbaldino

rbaldino

Active Member

Originally Posted by sepulatian
I in no way implied that you have to have tangs and angels. I was informing you that certain fish LIKE tangs and angels need live rock. If you don't want LR, don't get it. You will limit yourself on what you can have though. You should know that almost all salt fish need adequate shelter and hidng places to be comfortable. At least provide that for them.
Original post...
Originally Posted by sepulatian
IMO you definately do need live rock. Certain kinds of fish such as Angels and Tangs have to have LR to graze off of. It is not just a matter of replacing the biologcal filtration, LR has many other benefits and some fish simply will never thrive without it. You don't have to buy all premium LR though. You can mix it with base, it will all become "live" in time.
Seems to me like you're saying you definitely do need live rock, not that you definitely need live rock if you choose to keep tang or angels, and even that's a stretch.
 
aztec reef

aztec reef

Active Member
i think the point of the original poster, was if he really needs live rock in a fish only tank.. not how much he needs or how much he doesn't need or if he could do without or with a liitle of it..or what lr does.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by rbaldino
Original post...
Seems to me like you're saying you definitely do need live rock, not that you definitely need live rock if you choose to keep tang or angels, and even that's a stretch.
Take it as you may. My personal oppinion is that LR is essential to the health of the system. It is not just a biological filter. It adds so much from the ocean that cannot be duplicated my machinery. The original post was
Some aquarists say that in a fish only setting (where filtration is being performed by a canister filter) Live Rock is not required, while others indicate that it is totally essential. Being that live rock is a very big expense, I dont want to throw down a few hundred bills only to realize that it is unnecessary. I'd appreciate knowing what you folks think. Thanks.
He asked for oppinions and he got it. I was just giving some background on fish that will slowly decline in health if they do not have it. Argue if you would like.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by Aztec Reef
i think the point of the original poster, was if he really needs live rock in a fish only tank.. not how much he needs or how much he doesn't need or if he could do without or with a liitle of it..or what lr does.
Well, there are alot of things in this hobby that one could slip by without such as skimmers, qt tanks, LR, LS, ect. Would the fish be much better off and healthier with these things? Absolutely. People have many choices in this hobby, but the most common one is to go cheap or to do it right. Sooner or later they usually end up with a problem and going back to do it right. Let me be clear, I am not saying there WILL be a problem. I am stating what I have seen and replied to countless times.
 
aztec reef

aztec reef

Active Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
Well, there are alot of things in this hobby that one could slip by without such as skimmers, qt tanks, LR, LS, ect. Would the fish be much better off and healthier with these things? Absolutely. People have many choices in this hobby, but the most common one is to go cheap or to do it right. Sooner or later they usually end up with a problem and going back to do it right. Let me be clear, I am not saying there WILL be a problem. I am stating what I have seen and replied to countless times.
i agree with you. the problem with new hobbiest is that they try to find a cheaper way of doing things..the fact is that this hobby isn't cheap.
cheap things turnout expensive in the long run..
i'm not trying to make this an argument, but when someone is asking for advice on cutting corners, we should give them the best possible advice that he's looking for. i know is not the best for the animals, but i guees he has to live and learn..
 
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