Benefit of Live Rock in here?

So I've got some live rock that is pretty much glorified base rock (it has been in a system the past couple months) that I've broken up for live rubble. Right now my only tank is a 28G Nano HQI.

My question is getting more bang for my buck - i.e. I've got room in the back of the tank for fitting that rubble in it (Below filter, under skimmer, under heater).
Would there be any benefit of placing the rubble in there, as extra filtration? Or even placing the rubble in where the bio filtration tubes are? I've read about Bio-Balls and the horror they can become and would rather get those out now while cycling, than wait to remove the bacteria colony when adding inverts.

Or am I just being a whackanoodle?

Thanks!

 

Welcome to 3reef! All good questions.

I've never used LR rubble as "bioballs" such as in a filter compartment, so I can't comment with experience. What I DO know, is that if the LR is in the system, be it rubble or full size, it's not going to have a bearing where it's placed. Its on-board beneficial bacteria is going to to its job. One consideration, is that if it's placed in an aerobic location, like in the tank; it's going to help with changing nitrates to nitrogen gas, which is a benefit. If it's placed in a drip chamber a la "bioball" style, it's going to stop at the aerobic phase; meaning it can only change ammonia to nitrite, and nitrites to nitrates.

My hunch here, is that if you plan on using all the LR (rubble), you'd be better off placing it in the water column, either in the tank, or in the sump where it won't be exposed to air.

I'm looking forward to some of our other memebers commenting on this one.

 

You pretty much covered it all.

 

Thanks for the information - I should have figured out that replacing one aerobic item for another would do the same thing - doh! I'm tempted to just keep the sponge and charcoal filter sections and fill the rest below the waterline with live rubble, simply as it is now, it is just dead space and the rubble looks like poo in the main tank

Thanks again, much appreciated!

 

what about if LR is put in a place such as refugium - technically speaking - it is still "in" the tank (although it's a sump)