Live sand in refugium

ILIKECOUGARS · #1 03-02-2009, 03:23 PM

Just wondering is there a benefit of having live sand in the refugiums? Right now I only have live rock and chaeto in it.

Zoaelite · #2 03-02-2009, 03:39 PM

Of couse live sand will help you out, keep this in mind: More Surface area means more bacteria which in turn means less nitrates! Live sand is fantastic for creating a microfauna of life and many animals require that.
Levi

Koresample · #3 03-03-2009, 06:35 PM

I have an aqua clear 110 that i modded to make a HOB refugium. I have 3 chambers, one for media (carbon in my case), one for my chaeto and the main one has a couple pounds of live sand and live rock. turned out the lights last night and shone a flashlight in there....critter city!

mark · #4 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 · #5 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 · #6 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.