Live Rock Benefits: Bacteria VS Other

[YankeeTankee]

Tanks started with LR have instant biodiversity, fewer algae blooms, the list goes on. I know this is more bio than chem but I just like the chem thread crowd ;-)

I'm wondering what percentage of those benefits are thanks to bacteria as opposed to whatever other lifeforms like worms/algae/eccetera (or non living benefits such as maybe less phos in rock). There's a lot more that comes with LR than bacteria!

So would you biology minded reefers guess 33%, 50%, maybe more? Any thoughts which factors contribute significantly and why welcome!

 

[Dr. Jim]

I would say the benefit of live rock is not really the bacteria involved in the nitrogen cycle. These bacteria can easily be added to any new tank, even with artificial rock. The true benefit of live rock is all the critters and other species of bacteria in the rock that may populate and become food for the multitude of organisms that are introduced with the rock as well as for what we put in the tank (e.g. corals and other invertebrates).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I couldn't guess how one should quantify various benefits.

I'd list the benefits as:

1. Looks natural and attractive.
2. Provides a space for mobile organisms to hide (fish, pods, starfish, etc.)
3. Provides a space to immobile organisms to attach.
4. Provides aerobic surface area for nitrification.
5. Provides hypoxic surface area for denitrification
6. Provides calcium carbonate surfaces to bind phosphate and buffer against rapid rises and falls of phosphate.

There may be more that I am not thinking of at the moment.