Help with refugium media

peterbrescia · 08/09/2019, 11:44 AM

Hi everyone, I just finished with my 160+ rimless, and now confused with what to use as my sump bottom.
Should I go with live sand, or mud, or a combination of both

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Vinny Kreyling · 08/09/2019, 01:40 PM

With a Mud substrate water movement could cause a problem, sand becomes a PO4 sink.
I would stay BB & be able to clean it once in a while, or not).

peterbrescia · 08/09/2019, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling

With a Mud substrate water movement could cause a problem, sand becomes a PO4 sink.
I would stay BB & be able to clean it once in a while, or not).

The sump is divided into 2 sections lengthwise, the back is inflow, with baffles going into the return area, while the hole front of the sump will be refugium with different kinds of algae , crabs, feather dusters, and other kriters, I will have glass center panels in the cabinet doors to showcase it.
There will be valve feeding water to the refugium and to media reactors, from the return pump. I'm also thinking of placing an old mp10 for water movement.

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slief · 08/09/2019, 03:41 PM

You really don’t have a big enough refugium for the sand or mud to make a worthwhile difference for your size display. Stick with bare bottom and macro such as chaeto.

badbreath · 08/11/2019, 03:43 PM

Sounds to me like the op is looking more for asthetics than full on nutrient exportation...

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peterbrescia · 08/13/2019, 06:35 AM

I guess I'm pushing the limits in trying to have as much esthetics as possible, there will be glass panels on the front doors of the stand. I thought it would be.cool to have the mecaicals displayed at night time as a night light.

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mcgyvr · 08/13/2019, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterbrescia

I thought it would be.cool to have the mecaicals displayed at night time as a night light.

"mechanicals" ?

peterbrescia · 08/13/2019, 12:20 PM

Yes that, sometimes my bad spelling is better than spell check

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tmnails · 08/17/2019, 06:22 AM

Some swear by their deep sand bed, but if heard horror stories. I've done fine without one, I vote bare bottom.

peterbrescia · 08/17/2019, 08:38 AM

Thanks, I have a deep sand bed on my current tank, and so far 10 years later my hippo rang is still growing.
How about miracle mud Vs. live sand

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mfinn · 08/24/2019, 07:08 PM

Bare bottom for sumps.
Keep your sand in the display tank.

FortyFour · 08/31/2019, 08:24 AM

If you really want to put something in there, consider media pure.

Michael Hoaster · 09/04/2019, 07:59 AM

That sounds like a cool idea, putting your refugium on display. Bare bottoms are not pretty. Scape it how YOU want it to look. I'd recommend fine mud, sand on the bottom, then a medium grade, then coarse crushed gravel on top. This will give you different pore water gradients, facilitating diverse bacteria. Also the coarse stuff on top won't get blown around by the current, plus it provides refuge for pods 'n friends.

Have fun with it and good luck!

08/09/2019, 11:44 AM	#1
peterbrescia Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Northen New Jersey Posts: 64	Help with refugium media Hi everyone, I just finished with my 160+ rimless, and now confused with what to use as my sump bottom. Should I go with live sand, or mud, or a combination of both Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

08/09/2019, 01:40 PM	#2
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	With a Mud substrate water movement could cause a problem, sand becomes a PO4 sink. I would stay BB & be able to clean it once in a while, or not). __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

08/09/2019, 03:41 PM	#4
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	You really don’t have a big enough refugium for the sand or mud to make a worthwhile difference for your size display. Stick with bare bottom and macro such as chaeto. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

08/24/2019, 07:08 PM	#11
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	Bare bottom for sumps. Keep your sand in the display tank. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

09/04/2019, 07:59 AM	#13
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	That sounds like a cool idea, putting your refugium on display. Bare bottoms are not pretty. Scape it how YOU want it to look. I'd recommend fine mud, sand on the bottom, then a medium grade, then coarse crushed gravel on top. This will give you different pore water gradients, facilitating diverse bacteria. Also the coarse stuff on top won't get blown around by the current, plus it provides refuge for pods 'n friends. Have fun with it and good luck! __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

08/11/2019, 03:43 PM	#5
badbreath Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Garden Grove 92845 Posts: 536	Sounds to me like the op is looking more for asthetics than full on nutrient exportation... Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

08/13/2019, 06:35 AM	#6
peterbrescia Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Northen New Jersey Posts: 64	I guess I'm pushing the limits in trying to have as much esthetics as possible, there will be glass panels on the front doors of the stand. I thought it would be.cool to have the mecaicals displayed at night time as a night light. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

08/13/2019, 12:20 PM	#8
peterbrescia Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Northen New Jersey Posts: 64	Yes that, sometimes my bad spelling is better than spell check Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

08/17/2019, 06:22 AM	#9
tmnails Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 25	Some swear by their deep sand bed, but if heard horror stories. I've done fine without one, I vote bare bottom.

08/17/2019, 08:38 AM	#10
peterbrescia Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Northen New Jersey Posts: 64	Thanks, I have a deep sand bed on my current tank, and so far 10 years later my hippo rang is still growing. How about miracle mud Vs. live sand Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

08/31/2019, 08:24 AM	#12
FortyFour Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 371	If you really want to put something in there, consider media pure.