Refugiums: sand, MUD, or crushed coral?

[GordoB]

I'm building a refugium, and I wanted to know what everyone's experience has been with substrates for them. I have crushed coral in the main tank. Is one substrate better than the other? If so, why? I have some sand that was once live sand. Would it be ok to use that if I rinse it real good, or even boil it? Or, should I just toss that sand and start with fresh sand or one of the other substrates?

Thanks,
Brad

[Geoff]

always start with fresh sand, you will be needing to replace it at some point anyway. it is better to give yourself a fresh start in order to give you the maximum amount of time between sand replacements.

what are wanting the refugium to do?

G~

[pledosophy]

Miracle Mud by Ecosystem. Except no subsitute. Worth the $, the product is amazing. You can read about it on the Ecosystem site, or in Coral Magazine.

DSB with an argonite based sand would be my next choice.

IME the crushed coral proved problamatic because it trapped detritus more then other substrates. I think this was because of the greater space between the rocks then there was between the sand.

[motorslave]

Whatever substrate you use, it will eventually become saturated with detritus so I would suggest putting it in some type of container so that when it comes time to replace irt all you have to do is pull the container, empty it refill it and move on. Maybe a couple of shallow tupperware containers or even make one out of acrylic.

Robert

[GordoB]

Thanks for the advice!!

As far as my use for the fuge, I've got some chaeto in my skimmer that I'm storing for the fuge, so I'm hoping that will help with the waste exchange, and also help keep some of the algae out of my tank. The other reason is that I want copepods to be able to reproduce and grow in there, so I'll have a natural source of food for my fish and corals, in addition to their other food. pH is the other thing I'd like monitored with the fuge. I'm going to do a light on a reverse timer from the main tank light (with a little overlap time).

- Brad

[Geoff]

the only thing that you mentioned that a refugium would help is pH. all of the rest is just hooyee.

the only way pods are going back into your display for food is if you were to fish them out with a net and put them in the display.

if you can grow algae in a sump than you have a nutrient problem. if it doesn't grow, perfect, your system is fine.

algae leak nearly as much phosphates as they absorb.

of course this is just my .02,

G~

[motorslave]

For pods, find a place in the tank to have a pile of LR rubble. The pile should be of enough size so the pods have some room and pod eaters cant get them. It will provide a place for them to breed and live and stay safe so the population doesnt get wiped out.

[GordoB]

So, even if it's a hang-on-back fuge, the pods won't wash into the tank every so often? It will be an overflow type system. I don't have a sump. My 75 gal will when I set it up, but not this tank. I've already built the fuge, so I definitely want to use it in some way.

On the algae topic....I wasn't aware about them leaking as many phosphates as they absorb. That sucks! So, if I have algae in my tank, something isn't right with my system? Do you think it's got something to do with the crushed coral in my tank? I have noticed some cyanobacteria on the substrate. I'm still working on that.

On a different note, how often should crushed coral be changed in a tank? What about sand? What's the best way to get it changed out? I know it will be quite an ordeal. Sorry to change the subject.

Thanks again,
Brad

[Geoff]

when you start getting HA growing on the sand it is prolly time to siphon it out and start over. CC if you are diligent with deep siphoning it can last quite a long time.

siphoning it out over time is prolly the easiest way to replace a sand bed. siphon out all it in an area and put some new stuff down there or do it all at once.

it is a super pain either way. one of the biggest reasons why i went BB. if the tank is not going to be setup there permanently, than a sand bed is ok. the next time you move the tank it is easier and smarter to replace the sand bed then.

my tank is not going anywhere for hopefully many, many years, so i did not want to have to do another sand changing sesion ever again.

G~

[Sndwave80]

I use sand, and it is working well.

[GordoB]

Thanks everyone.

Geoff, with the bare bottom tank, does it not look strange as a reef tank? Does anything ever cover the glass? What about things like brittle stars and such? Where do they hang out?

[Loverotties]

Coraline cover most!

[Geoff]

i actually have a FSB on the bottom of my tank. right now the FSB is nearly completely covered in red bubble algae, but other than that it looks like sand. i have done a completely BB tank before and you get used to it. for me the tank is so high off of the ground that most people are not even able to see the bottom of the tank. i went with a FSB this time so that i can do some funky things with my aquascaping. stuff that is impossible to do with a BB or even with a SB.

G~

[GordoB]

Geoff, I didn't see any close-up shots on your thread, but I may have been looking in the wrong place. Do you have any close-up shots of your tank? Thanks for the advice and input.

[Geoff]

hmm, i thought i had some, i will see about getting some up.

G~