Does it matter where the LR is in your system? I'd like to keep the 30g FOWLR cube very clean looking with only a couple choice pieces of LR, however I have a bunch of smaller not so attractive pieces currently in my 50g that I'd like to use in the 30g, can I just put the majority of my rock down in the sump/refuge and only keep a couple pieces in the display?
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Potentially stupid LR question
- Thread starter Candi
- Start date
Candi said:
.... it's like Schrodinger's cat. Yes and no.... and all at the same time!
Ok.... so no in that the biological filtration in the liverock is not photosynthetic. So, it doesn't really need light.
Yes in that the liverock requires water flow for biological filtration (aerobic bacteria!), so, if piled densely on top of its self in a relatively low flow environment (*like some sumps!), anoxic pockets might develop. This could cause death in your bacteria colony, and eventual festering. Debris could also accumulate down there in that densely packed liverock. Yes in that a fish's behavioral patterns are heavily controlled by their environment and how secure they feel in their environment. In spartan tanks, fish will do anything to hide and feed secure as they would in nature.
Why not carefully choose and stack the liverock to give the impression of cleanliness in design? Perhaps a twin peak pattern could be used. Some of the liverock could be densely structured in one, taller, wider peak towards the back corner. Then, a smaller peak can be constructed towards the front opposite corner. The resulting design will be really clean in nature and really smart in design, but still allow for nooks and crannies for fish to hide and feel comfortable.
I would not pack your sump up with rock. It should not look like you have natural bio-balls in it. A couple of larger pieces is fine and a good idea though.
Thank you for the input, I didn't plan to pack it full, it would be placed much like I would in a tank to allow flow (possibly even adding a micro powerhead) the pieces aren't rubble sized, just not as large or interesting as I'd like in the display. This tank will house only my juvi green spotted puffer who was a super happy brightly colored guy who was always out swimming around his fake plants & mangrove root decor... then I added LR and he started getting grumpy, now that the tank is a reef he never ever comes out and is normally darker coloration (puffer sign of unhappiness) so I was hoping to recreate his original decor in his new tank, while still keeping it a FOWLR and not just a FO 
Candi said:Thank you for the input, I didn't plan to pack it full, it would be placed much like I would in a tank to allow flow (possibly even adding a micro powerhead) the pieces aren't rubble sized, just not as large or interesting as I'd like in the display. This tank will house only my juvi green spotted puffer who was a super happy brightly colored guy who was always out swimming around his fake plants & mangrove root decor... then I added LR and he started getting grumpy, now that the tank is a reef he never ever comes out and is normally darker coloration (puffer sign of unhappiness) so I was hoping to recreate his original decor in his new tank, while still keeping it a FOWLR and not just a FO
Perhaps it is not necessarily the liverock placement issue, but could perhaps be more of an issue with the environment. In the wild, fish duck into their hiding spots when there's a predator about. Or, they take hints from other fish. When the area is empty, there is most likely a predator about. In single specimen tanks, the fish will often hide because the tank is so empty- making the impression that there's a predator they just can't spot.
Perhaps acclimating up a handful of small mollies for him to eventually decimate to use as a dither fish could work instead of just keeping the tank bare?
But, if you're careful with your liverock selection and placement, you can end up with a really open and flowing design, making him feel secure, without making it too hide-y. Believe me. I did it all the time at the pet shop to coax fish out of hiding and make them feel secure. Try creating large, open holes and crevasses. This way, you can still view the fish, but it allows the fish to feel like he can't be caught.
Thanks for all the imput.
I guess I was a bit confusing with my description. My puffer spent the better part of a year in the 50g by himself, he had lots of fake plants, some of those rocks from petsmart, and a resign mangrove root (he came from freshwater, was moved up slowly every week brackish and eventually full marine) from day one he never hid, he used to follow us around the tank and even chase strings or things dangled in front of it... perfect coloration all the time. Once he was full marine I added a skimmer and then some LR, for over 2 weeks after I added the LR he was almost black, only swam around once or twice a day to get some food and was 100% different from his normal self. I decided with advice from the puffer forum to wait it out... eventually he got a bit better, I added a maroon clown and they pretty much ignored eachother. After our move to NJ the tank went reef and his personality took a major change for the worse, I assume he doesn't like the additional flow or lighting as he really only comes out at night. He will swim with the chromis but doesn't really care if there are other fish in there or not, seemed happiest actually when it was just him, no LR, no corals, no fancy lighting.
So the 30g cube is my attempt to get him back to his original habitate as close as I can provide until I upgrade my 50g and he gets that tank back to himself
Long story short I'll figure out a way to get the look I want while still having sufficient LR for the tank etc
Thanks I'll update once it's up and running and he's been moved over.
I guess I was a bit confusing with my description. My puffer spent the better part of a year in the 50g by himself, he had lots of fake plants, some of those rocks from petsmart, and a resign mangrove root (he came from freshwater, was moved up slowly every week brackish and eventually full marine) from day one he never hid, he used to follow us around the tank and even chase strings or things dangled in front of it... perfect coloration all the time. Once he was full marine I added a skimmer and then some LR, for over 2 weeks after I added the LR he was almost black, only swam around once or twice a day to get some food and was 100% different from his normal self. I decided with advice from the puffer forum to wait it out... eventually he got a bit better, I added a maroon clown and they pretty much ignored eachother. After our move to NJ the tank went reef and his personality took a major change for the worse, I assume he doesn't like the additional flow or lighting as he really only comes out at night. He will swim with the chromis but doesn't really care if there are other fish in there or not, seemed happiest actually when it was just him, no LR, no corals, no fancy lighting.
So the 30g cube is my attempt to get him back to his original habitate as close as I can provide until I upgrade my 50g and he gets that tank back to himself
Long story short I'll figure out a way to get the look I want while still having sufficient LR for the tank etc
Thanks I'll update once it's up and running and he's been moved over.