How much rock do you use?
 

I still see references to using 1.5 pounds per gallon to acheive proper filtration. I never have, always doing about half the recommended amount, but it's always been enough, as I've never had measurable NO3...

do you use the suggested 1.5 pounds per gallon? What are your results either way?

think i have closer to 2lbs per gallon and I always thought it was 1lb to 1gal?

i have less than the recommended amount but was going for a certain look. i have about 150-160lbs in my 180 and still think it is a bit much but i paid for it so i;m gonna use it!:razz:

I think I have about 0.5lbs per gallon in both my reef tanks. I much prefer to have more open space for swimming. Seems to be enough filtration.

Ya, I just rockscaped the 180, and figure I might have 100 pounds...I prefer more open space. Not sure what it looks like yet, I added 4 bags of sand too, and I have a tank of milk. It felt good going in, maybe tomorrow I'll get to see it :)

I personally find the "pounds per gallon" rule as useful as the "watts per gallon" rule :)

The old school thought is 1 pound per gallon of mixed salt water in your tank and not the total capacity of your tank and sump. so a 100g tank would get about 85-90 pounds of rock. you can have more but less if you are going to heavily stock is frond upon, as the rock will not be able to keep up with the bio load demand.

Bill

I think surface area is probably the more meaningful metric so while you're waiting for the water to clear, measure the volume of your rock using the Archimedes principle and then measure the surface area of said rock and let us all know the results. The method for measuring surface area is left as an exercise to the reader. Bonus points if you somehow use a laser. Extra bonus points if you use a blue laser. http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/lights/896a/

Less then what is recommended. Believe I have about 80LBS in my 105G. I like the more open space look.

Chris

1.5 lbs per gal would be OK if you could set it up in a sump. Way too much rock in the display for my taste .