Switch to Fish only tank

[kc]

I have a 120 reef tank and planning to switch to a fish only tank. What are the pro and con to keep the live rock in a fish only tank. I would like to buy the Synthetic Coral Reef Sculptures but they are too expensive.

Thanks
KC

 

[mmkeeper]

The live rock will work as filter for you as it does in reef tank.

 

[NaH2O]

As mmkeeper mentioned, keeping the live rock will serve as a filter. Also, the live rock will serve as hiding places, sleeping spots, and depending on the fish....it could be picked at for food sources or natural behavior (i.e. tangs picking at the rock, wrasses cruising the rock for pods, etc.).

What kinds of fish do you think you'll keep?

 

[kc]

I know it has the benefit to keep the LR but I afraid that I need to keep the alk and ca in the same level now in order to keep the color. Also algae will be easy to take over.
I heard that the artifical rock will be better and don't have the algae issue. This is why most of the hospital and office use them. Is it true?

Thanks again
KC

 

[NaH2O]

Were you planning on switching to normal output lighting? Your rock most likely will not retain its color if you switch to low lighting, but without corals, your water changes would keep your calcium and alkalinity replenished. I'm not sure about algae....if you maintain your tank, then it probably won't be an issue. Algae is a sign of too many nutrients, so you would want to limit what's left in the tank (i.e. overfeeding, not doing maintenance, etc.). You don't have to be as strict with water quality with a fish only, but you still want to maintain good water quality to keep your fish healthy.

Maybe the best thing would be to determine why you want to switch to fish only? If we know the reasons, then maybe we can help you decide what the easiest route would be to switch the tank over.

Hope this helps.

 

[DonW]

My tank has been fish and clams only for about 3 months now. I havent dosed or had c02 for the ca reactor for 4 months. With just the water changes the tank is staying pretty good.

Don

 

[CarlaW]

I have been fish only for about 8 months now in my 300, and Don and Nikki are correct. I haven't dosed anything for that period, and my ca levels are staying about 375ppm. There are a few mushrooms and zooanthids in there for a little color and movement. I have kept up with my weekly water changes of 25 gal. at a time. I also left the 300 lbs. of live rock in there. HTH

 

[kc]

It is interesting. Maybe I should keep my live rock for a while and see what happen. However I already start seeing some algae spreading. I already turn off the MH for weeks and only running the vho for 6 hours a day.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

KC, its not the lights, its the lack of nutrient export. Remove the filter sock and set up that refugium. I have live rock, run three metal halide lamps and 4 each 6' VHOs with virtually zero green algae.

 

[kc]

Thanks for all the reply. I will keep my LR and setup refugium and see what happen.

Thanks again
KC

 

[NaH2O]

KC - how often do you change out your filter sock?

 

[kc]

I change the filter sock every 2 weeks

 

[Herefishyfishy]

If you use a sock, it should be changed every other day or the collected detritus material breaks down into nutrients and polutants

 

[NaH2O]

Exactly as Mike has said. The longest it should be left on is 2-3 days. More than that, the sock serves as a tank pollutant. If you get more than one sock, then you can rotate them in and out every other day.

Hope this helps