LR vs filter question

[swishyfishies]

I was told that if you have enough live rock & a thick sand bed then you don't need a filter. Is this true? So how much LR is enough to not need a filter for my 55 gal? I only planned on purchasing 1 - 45 lb box. Would you still need the filter at 1st until the rock was fully cured & then take it out?

 

[reefrunner69]

I would not consider that enough rock to handle the bioload of anything but a very lightly stocked 55. Even with a sand bed, I would shoot for 1-1.5lbs per gallon before going filterless. If you do get enough rock that your comfortable going filterless, it will cycle itself, there is no need for the filter.

 

[swishyfishies]

ok thanks then maybe I'll plan on upping my amount of LR then.

 

[swishyfishies]

So I'm thinking of using 30 lb of baserock & 45 lbs of LR, should that be enough to go w/out the filter? 75 lbs in a 55 gal. ofcourse with 75 lbs or rock I'll probably only be able to fit 45 gal of water in it.

 

[reefrunner69]

With a sandbed, I think that would be fine, provided you don't overstock the aquarium.

 

[fishfreek]

provided you don't overstock the aquarium

Those are the most important words in this thread in my view. I like to stock my tanks slowly to give the biofilter a chance to establish and flourish.

 

[swishyfishies]

Oh I will be stocking slowly, I was planning on 1 fish a month should I make it 1 every 2 months?

 

[Guest]

I am currently running my 55 with no filtration other than about 85 to 100lbs(don't really know, I add more every 2 weeks) LR with 3in sand. Well, I do use a prefilter sponge in the overflow, however, it doesn't count, because it gets cleaned everyday. I am running a Skimmer but, in another thread, I commented about how I am not getting much out of it, so I am thinking of discontinuing that. Things are going great.

 

[swishyfishies]

Tim do you have pics of your tank I can see. I want to see how that much LR looks in the 55. Mainly the room.

E-mail the pics to me if you wish

swishy_fishies@yahoo.com

 

[Guest]

I do, but for some reason, I can't post it..I am getting an error saying no post mode specified.

 

[Guest]

Here is a pic from about a month ago...I believe this is about the 80lb or so mark...There are 3 pieces on the bottom that are 15 lbs a piece. then a few 8lb pieces and then mostly 2-4b pieces. I am still to this day not real happy with the way it looks..but, one day, I will get it like I want it..

 

[reefrunner69]

Just shows how two peoples tastes are never the same...cause I think it looks good! Is that a FOWLR or is it gonna be a reef? I think if it's gonna be a reef, you will be very happy once there are some corals growing in there. If it's a FOWLR, you might be happier with it built up a little more in the middle.

 

[swishyfishies]

ok nice pic. I just wanted to see if that much rock would make it look too full but it doesn't. thanks

 

[Guest]

Most of the rock is small peices hand picked and bought a few lbs at a time over the course of months.

Kevin,

I am going to make it a reef hopefully one day, I have bought some things..Right now, I do not have good enough light for most of what I want..

Here are a couple of tryouts shown below: