clayton
Member
I having been hearing lots about living rock and sand filtration systems. These are not used in the U.K to my knowledge, I would be interested if someone could let me know the benifits of these systems.
As I understand it the theory goes like this:
Living sand systems consist of a mixture of argonite (what exactly is this) and normal coral sand. Small organisms such as copepods bacteria and worms colonise in the substrate in huge numbers. They consume the detritus and ammonia in the water. Presumably it is only the Nitrosomanas that consume ammonia? The copepods etc. consume detritus that would otherwise dissolve into ammonia, but won't these animals also produce nitrogenous waste? Is it true that you can buy this sand already full of live animals?
Another benifit is that as the main movement of solutions through the sand is via diffusion which results in anaerobic and hence acidic conditions and therefore aids the release of calcium into the water.
I can see how all this will work but dont you still need Nitrosomanas and Nitrobacter to perform the nitrogen cycle?
My tank has a 1 1/2 to 2 inch layer of crushed coral gravel and coral sand. The substrate contains masive numbers of copepods and other small crustaceans and worms as well as many smaller organisms that I cannot see. Would this constitute a 'living sand' filter?
The living rock system is simply a massive ammount of living rock that contains animals which do the same thing as those that you would find in the sand? What organisms is it on the rock that you consider to clean the water in the tank?
Any information on this would be great!
Thanks - from an old fashioned filter builder.
As I understand it the theory goes like this:
Living sand systems consist of a mixture of argonite (what exactly is this) and normal coral sand. Small organisms such as copepods bacteria and worms colonise in the substrate in huge numbers. They consume the detritus and ammonia in the water. Presumably it is only the Nitrosomanas that consume ammonia? The copepods etc. consume detritus that would otherwise dissolve into ammonia, but won't these animals also produce nitrogenous waste? Is it true that you can buy this sand already full of live animals?
Another benifit is that as the main movement of solutions through the sand is via diffusion which results in anaerobic and hence acidic conditions and therefore aids the release of calcium into the water.
I can see how all this will work but dont you still need Nitrosomanas and Nitrobacter to perform the nitrogen cycle?
My tank has a 1 1/2 to 2 inch layer of crushed coral gravel and coral sand. The substrate contains masive numbers of copepods and other small crustaceans and worms as well as many smaller organisms that I cannot see. Would this constitute a 'living sand' filter?
The living rock system is simply a massive ammount of living rock that contains animals which do the same thing as those that you would find in the sand? What organisms is it on the rock that you consider to clean the water in the tank?
Any information on this would be great!
Thanks - from an old fashioned filter builder.
