Do I need ceramic rings when I have lots of live rock and crushed coral sand?

Chelymay · Feb 3, 2021

Hi everyone,

Do I need ceramic rings when I have lots of live rock and crushed coral sand?

I have so many bio rings in the pump compartment of my JBJ 45 AIO. I had to use a mesh laundry bag to put it in so I can remove it to get to the pumps. I am used to having a freshwater aquarium which requires the use of bio bags?

The all in one tank came with 4 large bags of bio and 4 large bags of activated carbon and 2 filter socks. I’m talking larger than my hand per bag.

Am I supposed to use all of it because I did and it is packed full of all of that, it seems like overkill to me, especially for a 45 gallon?

This newbie here is confused ‍

Thanks, you guys are always full of knowledge and I am here to learn.

Sleeping Giant · Feb 3, 2021

I use them in my canister, adds more surface area for cleaning water. But there might be others here with different options.

Welcome to R2R

ReefSapper · Feb 3, 2021

Do you need them, short answer is no.

How much live rock is 'alot'? What kind of livestock is in the tank or do you plan on putting in the tank?

Chelymay · Feb 3, 2021

Probably 30lbs but that’s a guess. Some of the rock I bought is purple and some is actual shelf rock, all of it was in a separate tank at the LFS. I put it in there for a month before I added th

I have 2 little Ocellaris Clowns , 2 Black Percula Clowns, 2 Green Chromis, 1 Royal Gramma, 1 Banggai and a small CUC to which I need more of because I have some weird carpet looking algae with air bubbles stuck to it.

I am in the process of adding a hob refugium, just waiting for some Chaeto (which is out of stock everywhere)

Too much rock?
I added a picture.
I am using blue light only sorry for the darkness.

ReefSapper · Feb 3, 2021

Not to much rock, make sure you are testing your parameters consistently and maintaining proper levels. But if you're tank is fully cycled you do not need the ceramic rings they certainly dont hurt though.

maleks.reef · Feb 14, 2021

If you have a carpet looking slimey "algae" with bubbles stuck to it then this might be DINOS or CYANO. Look at pictures of both of them so you can identify what you have (if that) and try to fix the problem. If you post clear pics of this "carpet algae" im sure people would be able to properly ID it.