Ammount of rock

[ji]

I am in the process of converting a 55 sw fish tank to a reef. I am very interested in aquacultured rock.

I wanted to order the live rock from Tampa Bay and get their "Package". They recomend 2 lbs of rock per gallon. I am concerend that this may be too much, but when I did a search, people comment that this rock is dense.

I do not want to create a wall of rock. Given the large width and small depth of the 55, giving good circulation all around the rock would be very difficult.

I was thinking along the lines of two piles, left and right, with a little sand between.

What is your opinion?

Thanks,
john

 

[Len]

Hey John,

Tampa Bay rock is relatively dense compared to Fijian rock, for example. If you'd like a sparse layout, 60 lbs should suffice. If you'd like a more filled look, 120 lbs will do better. It's hard to recommend how much rock because 1) all rocks are different, even from the same place/vendor and 2) I'm not 100% sure how you want to aquascape. I think anywhere form 60-120 lbs is a safe bet. This is purely a guess, but I'd go for about 80 lbs worth of Tampa Bay LR.

 

[danmhippo]

If you do have a fairly open and large sump, you could get base rocks in the sump as biological filters media, and then just a few spectacular show piece size of LR in the main display. This way, you do not have to worry about insufficient LR surface area but still try to create that "open" look.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Damnhippo

John, Florida LR is usually limestone, which they drop in the ocean for a few years and then harvest. That's why it's so dense...it's been in the ground for a few million years and it's "rock solid" with not nearly as many holes in it as fiji rock, which has been worked on my worms and such for many thousands of years. They recomend two lbs per gallon because the density of the rock provides less surface area.

Go with the two suggestions above: 80lbs won't over fill your 55 gallon and you can add a few cheap base rocks in your sump for extra biofiltration...better and cheaper yet, you can get some limestone (for free if there's a quarry near you) and put that in your sump for extra bio surface area.

I threw about 30-40 lbs of limestone in my 75 gallon two months ago and it already has coralline and tons of life on it.

Good Luck