Live Rock and Lighting

[chew-able]

I have a wee question about Live Rock and lighting. I have read on here several times that for FOWLR systems you don't need too much lighting compaired to true reef systems.

I'm sruggling with this a little! I've also read thousands of articals/postings about how you can get all kinds of life forms on the live rock you buy. From algeas to clams and even the odd octopus. Now, even accepting that I'm not lucky enough to get a clam or something that exciting (and expensive) then you are still left with the possibility of alsorts of life forms!

Surely at light levels too low to support inverts.....you loose any chance of getting the best biodivercity, the best colour/appearance, etc

Sorry if that sounds almost like a rant.....it isn't suppose to it's just one of those questions that nags at you.


Chew

 

[eb0]

Yea, but if you have a FOWLR tank then you most likely arent buying the live rock for the corals/inverts that sometimes come with it. I mean not many people buy Cracker Jacks solely on hoping on getting a super power ring to control the earth. its late im going to bed. )

 

[Navarre]

Basically you will lose anything that needs light for food if you have a low light tank. You will still get coraline algea etc and some bivavles etc. Alot of live rock is collected from rubble zones, places where storms have ripped part of the rock away and its now fallen off the reef to the floor. (there are live rock farms though and i feel these are better). Most of the life that requires light will be long gone before it reashes the shops.

This doesnt mean its not worth getting though, its still the best form of filter you can buy. The most important part of the live rock is its denitrifying bacteria, these dont need light to survive.

 

[chew-able]

Thank you both!

 

[Navarre]

Oh.. sorry i forgot...

My local shop has a 12 foot tank as a sump which is full of live rock as its the filter system for their marine tanks in their shop. This huge tank is kept incomplete darkness at all times and the live rock is the best i have ever seen! It also filters over 20 tanks in the shop! Its great stuff

 

[Max]

Oh.. sorry i forgot...

My local shop has a 12 foot tank as a sump which is full of live rock as its the filter system for their marine tanks in their shop. This huge tank is kept incomplete darkness at all times and the live rock is the best i have ever seen! It also filters over 20 tanks in the shop! Its great stuff

is it fiji live rock, tonga what kind? mix?