Tank - Refugium Substrate dilema/setup

[Bob I]

If I reply maybe someone else will show up to argue . I have recently read half the posts on sanbeds on RC It seems the originator of all our sandbeds (Dr. Ron) is now all over the place when it comes to sandbeds. When I originally started sandbeds, the idea was for the deeper anaerobic areas of the sandbed would grow anaerobic bacteria, which would convert Nitrate to free Nitrogen. All you would need were some critters to stir the sandbed to prevent concretion. Using that methodology a remote sandbed like you suggest would be ideal.
Now, however, DR. Ron has changed tacks again and again. Today he says that method will not work because the sandbed needs to be populated with a great variety of critters. These critters need to be fed and you have to get new ones every so often. So now he says a remote sandbed can't work.
Now IMO since we can't get these critters here in Alberta anyway, I would go with the remote sandbed as you suggested. This way you are taking care of Nitrate conversion, which is really all we want to do anyway IMO..
Sorry for the long windedness