Too much LR? 100+ lbs in 55 gal

[dinki]

Hey guys. I'm in the process of 'rebooting' my 55 gallon and I purchased 50 additional pounds of Florida Reef base rock to go with my existing 55-65 pounds of Fiji LR I've been having in the tank for the last four years. Is 105-115 pounds too much for my 55?
What's the max I should have in the tank?

 

[dinki]

Is this a dumb question?

 

[meowzer]

It's really up to you....some peeople do 1lb per gallon...some do 2...some do less...some do more...LOL
SO NO...it's not a dumb question, BUT a lot of the answer depends on personal preference, and what you plan on keeping in there

 

[dinki]

Thanks for the reply. I guess what I'm asking is can this cause a problem in the tank. I was browsing the web and ran across a thread somewhere that stated that too much LR could cause problems and lead to a crash and the destruction of all LR in the tank. That one response didn't get much attention so I was wondering how true it really is.
I pulled about 20-25 pounds out last night just to be safe. Not sure if I'll put it back in eventually or not. Just looking to see if anyone else had any opinions on if too much rock could be a problem.

 

[florida joe]

Do you have any external means of adding water volume to your system such as a sump? Remember anything you add to your tank displaces water and reduces dilution and dilution is our friend

 

[dinki]

No, I don't have a sump. What you're saying does make a lot of sense.

 

[florida joe]

that may be a first for me this year

 

[btldreef]

Is this weight you're getting on your rock while it is dry or wet? This can make a HUGE difference

 

[reefkprz]

Quote:
Originally Posted by dinki http:///forum/thread/386614/too-much-lr-100-lbs-in-55-gal#post_3396925. I was browsing the web and ran across a thread somewhere that stated that too much LR could cause problems and lead to a crash and the destruction of all LR in the tank. That one response didn't get much attention so I was wondering how true it really is.
its total bull pucky, all too much LR will do to a tank is make less swimming room, displace water, and add filtration. as well as more hiding spots for benthic organisms that LOVE the restricted flow and dark areas in the hidden depths of live rock piles. which are actually another form of filtration since most of those organisms are filter, or pump and capture feeders.
of course the large surface areas can support a large bacterial colony so you need to make sure that your water is well oxygenated (which should be every reefers goals anyhow, Oxygen saturation on reefs can easily approach 90%) to ensure the aerobic bacterial colonies get to oxygen they require.

 

[1guydude]

I would think adding to much at once isnt all that great but as meowzer said its personal preference to how much u actually have total in ur DT !

 

[reefkprz]

why? if its cured it wont matter how much you add, it's kind of like saying "I'm hooking up a filter rated for 300 gallons, but I first have to hook up a 50g filter then step up to a 100g rated filter then....." you get what I mean. I personally have added over 150lbs of LR to a 75g and sump established tank with full reef and fishes, because a pet store near me closed and they gave me all the leftover rock. there is a really old thread on here with me showing pictures of how overfull my tank and sump were with all the rock. I can tell you it did absolutely nothing detrimental to my tank or water parameters.
if its uncured adding any amount of rock can mess up your tank.

 

[aquaknight]

Quote:
Originally Posted by reefkprZ http:///forum/thread/386614/too-much-lr-100-lbs-in-55-gal#post_3397827
its total bull pucky, all too much LR will do to a tank is make less swimming room,
With the obvious exception of a couple tangs/jacks/etc, all of which are too big for a 55gal anyway, I really have found that more live rock will add swimming room. As the fish swim in and around caves, duck under cliffs, etc. Instead of just mindlessly swimming back and forth, in tank will small live rock on the bottom they can't get under and a couple pieces stacked on the back glass they can't get behind........
Quote:
Originally Posted by reefkprZ http:///forum/thread/386614/too-much-lr-100-lbs-in-55-gal#post_3398089
why? if its cured it wont matter how much you add, it's kind of like saying "I'm hooking up a filter rated for 300 gallons, but I first have to hook up a 50g filter then step up to a 100g rated filter then....." you get what I mean. I personally have added over 150lbs of LR to a 75g and sump established tank with full reef and fishes, because a pet store near me closed and they gave me all the leftover rock. there is a really old thread on here with me showing pictures of how overfull my tank and sump were with all the rock. I can tell you it did absolutely nothing detrimental to my tank or water parameters.
if its uncured adding any amount of rock can mess up your tank.
In addition, I would also say that choosing better pieces of live rock will make a significant difference on one's opinion of "how much live rock". 75lb of the same monotonous round softball pieces of LR can quickly make a 55gal seemed filled. However a 55gal with some awesome pieces of shelf rock and beautiful pieces of scroll live rock, could easily have 120lbs in a 55gal and still look nice and open. One large piece of LR, generally takes up less room then several smaller pieces of the same weight.

 

[florida joe]

Quote:
I really have found that more live rock will add swimming room.
my dear friend as much as i want to agree with this i just cant

 

[florida joe]

Live rock dead rock or kid rock adding rock will displace water and will only be beneficial to our bio filtration if we add increasing bio load to feed nitrification on the new rock added

 

[aquaknight]

Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/386614/too-much-lr-100-lbs-in-55-gal#post_3398170
my dear friend as much as i want to agree with this i just cant
Perhaps a bit more explanation. Within the guidelines I mentioned above, for specific fish and within obvious boundaries, I still say what I typed above, would hold true. Yes, a tank with nothing but LR would be of little use. However, you don't think a sixline wrasse, mandarin goby, or royal gramma would enjoy a 55gal more with 130lbs of LR, opposed to a 55gal with 55lbs of LR?
What has a ton to do with it, is the second part of what I said. Choosing good pieces of LR and aquascaping with some forethought. A ton of smaller boulders dumped tightly together, is going to provide very little swimming room inside the rocks for the fish. Choosing larger pieces of rock, and aquascaping in a way that allows the fish to explore in and around the rock structure(s) is key. If you build a cave large enough for a Naso tang, guess what? He'll go in it.
In the end, my fear is that "for swimming room" is often used as some false justification. Cutting corners/time, not wanting to spend money for rock, trying to overstock tanks, etc. I think this is especially true in larger aquariums.
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/386614/too-much-lr-100-lbs-in-55-gal#post_3398171
Live rock dead rock or kid rock adding rock will displace water and will only be beneficial to our bio filtration if we add increasing bio load to feed nitrification on the new rock added
What about the final nitrification stage? Nitrates to nitrogen? Almost every SW tank has some level of nitrates in them. Adding more rock without having to increase the bioload would help with that, correct? Anaerobic bacteria will still form? Regarding displacing water, depending on the size of the tank, any tank above say 65gals total volume (some completely arbitrary number I'm making up), I think you might run into the law of diminishing returns. Is the threat of only have 48.7 gallons of water that much a big deal, instead of 52.4?

 

[spanko]

Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/386614/too-much-lr-100-lbs-in-55-gal#post_3398171
Live rock dead rock or kid rock adding rock will displace water and will only be beneficial to our bio filtration if we add increasing bio load to feed nitrification on the new rock added
Agree here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AquaKnight http:///forum/thread/386614/too-much-lr-100-lbs-in-55-gal#post_3398264
........In the end, my fear is that "for swimming room" is often used as some false justification. Cutting corners/time, not wanting to spend money for rock, trying to overstock tanks, etc. I think this is especially true in larger aquariums.
What about the final nitrification stage? Nitrates to nitrogen? Almost every SW tank has some level of nitrates in them. Adding more rock without having to increase the bioload would help with that, correct? Anaerobic bacteria will still form?
To the swimming room, there is a difference in the swimming room addition. Some fish being open water swimmers and being the fish the live in caves a nooks and crannys for the most part. So the selection of fish has much to do with what type of swimming room you add.
All bio-filtration bacteria will wax and wane with the bio-load presented to the system whether it be aerobic or anaerobic. All part of the continuous cycle of the tank.
As for the weight of rock standard, rock varies in weight and size according to its composition. Dense rock is heavier and smaller compared to its comparable weight in porous rock which is lighter and larger. After all is said and done you must determine how much rock you want in the tank by the way the aquascape looks to you and how much "swimming room" you require for the fish you choose to add.
My first choice is to get the most porous rock I can as this introduces more aerobic and anaerobic area for bacteria to colonize.
JMO.

 

[florida joe]

IMO if we are looking for di nitrification with the addition of LR It may be a hindrance to have a rock that is to porous

 

[1guydude]

really to porus? I always try and get some pieces that are porus....more space on the rock for the "good" bacteria to thrice and live...kinda like the ceramic rings we use for canisters and such!

 

[slice]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///forum/thread/386614/too-much-lr-100-lbs-in-55-gal#post_3398332
really to porus? I always try and get some pieces that are porus....more space on the rock for the "good" bacteria to thrice and live...kinda like the ceramic rings we use for canisters and such!
You are only looking at half the equation; the aerobic bacteria that live ON the rock.
Florida Joe is talking about the anaerobic bacteria that live IN the rock.
edit: corrected spelling...

 

[1guydude]

So let me get this straight . Im talkin about the bacteria that breaks the anmonia down into trates and joe is talking about the bacteria that breaks the trates down into trites....or do i have the nitrites and nitrates backwards....i never knew things lived inside the rock i just pictured it as solid rock! LOL
with a bunch of holes in it and that where the bacteria lived!