The Puffer Forum

Most experienced hobbyists prefer to use LR at full strength SW. That plus a skimmer and a 24/7 lighter macroalgae refugium will give far better water quality (even with much smaller partials) than filter-housed bacterial filtration even with 50% water partials. The initial investment is larger, but operating costs are much lower (and so is total costs over the life of the fish),

BUT you do need to compensate for the large volume of water displaced by the live rock. That is non-trivial.

How much LR would I need for a 30 gallon?

the rule of thumb is 1 to 1.5 lbs per gallon

that system that RTR suggested earlier is brilliant with the secondary tank having the skimmer and most of the liverock. i had never thought of that. it would really keep the show tank clean and neat looking with virtually no eyesores. thank you for the ideas.

1 rock per 1.5 gallons, or 1lb per 1.5 gallons?
I know I have some time left before making this step, I am just trying to find the best overall process.

between 1lb and 1.5lbs per gallon

Holy cow...I currently have this giant in the tank: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=2752285
But I might be able to remove it, and create one on my own with LR.

you could do something like 10-15lbs of LR and then 15lbs of dry rock, the LR will seed the dry rock over time

Would you be able to point me in the right direction on what kind of dry and live rock would be best?
I know petco has semi-cured live rock, and i have a LFS that has cured for sale, but very pricey.

I am just a little overwhelmed right now, I google live and try rock and come up with 6543546816 different kinds lol

Lots of people buy from here http://www.marcorocks.com/

They have good prices and they sell bundles of dry and live rock. LFS mostly have very overpriced liverock. If you have any local reefclubs you can sometimes purchase cured liverock from other people. Just try to get it from someone reputable so there are no diseases and jazz.

As far as the type, that's up to you. Most people sell and have fiji liverock, but there isn't differences really beyond the coralline algae you get.

You can also try Craigslist.

Also there is a difference in the hitchhickers you may get Nuclear.

DrKennethNoisewater: Thank you! I have always preferred real displays to show off the specimens, not the equipment required to maintain them. It is why I have for decades used sump, refugia, whatever you wish to label them to visually isolate the display and the support utilities.

Amano pulls out the heaters, filter intakes and returns, thermometers, etc. before he photographs a tank. I prefer to have as much of that look all the time as I can arrange. In the tank room I allow more equipment to show, but out in the house I want display only where possible, with utilities concealed as much as possible. The tank are for my pleasure, and I do appreciate the cleaner look.