Live sand in refugium

mark · #1 03-03-2009, 07:57 PM

I feed my fuge raw water from the display and do notice quite a bit of settling of detritus. With no sand can easily just siphon out.

With the Chaeto, having a problem with nitrates?

ILIKECOUGARS · #2 03-03-2009, 09:27 PM

No problem with nitrates, was just wondering if there was any additional benefits of having live sand in the fuge.

naesco · #3 03-03-2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILIKECOUGARS

No problem with nitrates, was just wondering if there was any additional benefits of having live sand in the fuge.

There are those that use sand and there are those that don't. IMO put sand in.
Tiny worms and other tiny critter breed in the refugium and their eggs or larvae find there way into the water and into your main tank where they become food for your coral and fish or brood stock in your main tank.

mark · #4 03-04-2009, 12:45 AM

have sand in your display?

subman · #5 03-04-2009, 01:10 AM

how deep should the sand be?

mark · #6 03-04-2009, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subman

how deep should the sand be?

Believe Calfo was preaching less than 1" or more than 4"

subman · #7 03-04-2009, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark

Believe Calfo was preaching less than 1" or more than 4"

hmm I guess my 2 1/2" isn't good! LOL

Dolf · #8 03-04-2009, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark

Believe Calfo was preaching less than 1" or more than 4"

That sounds about right. Dr. Ron advocates over 4” for a deep sand bed. That is my preference. The live sand can contain bristle worms in addition to brittle stars etc… Toss in a couple of Nacessarius (Sp?) snails as long as you remember that they will need food as well. They will surface when you feed your tank and do a “clean up” of the refuge without harming or consuming thelife you are trying to culture. One of the major questions might be what are you keeping? For softies the bacteria and the critters can definitely help. I have no experience keeping SPS with a DSB and have never researched it. I do not know what the benefits or drawbacks might be if that is the route you are taking. I am going from memory, but I seem to recall the idea of anaerobic zones in a DSB being a benefit- though there are some who will tell you that it can lead to a collapse in the tank. I disagree and have a huge amount of sand “in waiting” for a dsb once the refugium arrives.

One last note- it appears that the sand particle size is the major concern when planning a dsb- and it is fairly small (you may have to look it up as I just do not recall anymore…)