Denitrator vs. Live Rock

Aren't the bacteria in the denitrator coil using/consuming the nutrients needed by the live rock.

I am posing this as a theoretical argument, so just assume that there is a good ratio of rock to water/tank size to bio-load.

 

There are some anaerobic bacteria that live in the LR, but generally not in amounts needed to eat up the nitrates the livestock produces. So most turn toward the denitrator or refugium to deal with the excess.

Now, I would worry more about a denitrator running along side a fuge. I have a denitrator that has been kinda keeping up with my system for months. Not getting the problem taken care of, but keeping the nitrates around 40ppm. When the levels started to creep up, I installed a fuge. Last check about 10 days ago, I had gone down from 50ppm to 30ppm. When it gets to 10ppm, I am going to increase the flow through the denitrator to lessen it's effectiveness. I want some NO3 to feed the macros. So the balancing act begins.........

 

I guess thats my question then, why have any live rock at all? Only speaking for the filtration purpose that it may provide. Could we run a fuge and denitratior on our tanks and instead spend those funds on livestock.

Or... what if you double the amount of live rock, Pharmr, to about 275 lbs total? would you be able to remove the denitrator coil all together and rely on your fuge, skimmer and live rock?

 

It all depends on what your parameter situation is A denitrator is not meant to replace anything. Its to supplement. And in the scheme of things, I would imagine it would be the opposite. The LR would starve the denitrator (if anything).

 

you dont have to have liverock, as theres many ways to do. the main advantage of the rock is the aesthetics and fish feel more happy being able to hide.

modern reefing is taken from the berlin method which uses liverock and a skimmer, but its also a mix of others as i think the berlin method was barebottom, and didnt use a fuge.

the rock work in are tanks preform the same thing as bioballs do. the difference is liverock already has the bacteria. the rock doesnt need as much maitenence as bioballs if you have proper flow. the rock does have some anerobic bacteria, but not much.

there are many ways to skin a cat.