Refugium substrate

[Reef Mechanic]

Hello peeps, I'm looking for thoughts on a substrate for my refugium. Was thinking about a deep sand bed or maybe a commercial mud. What's your thoughts?

 

[carey]

I have a regular fine sand as the substrate in my fuge, about 3 inches of it. I went with the DSB in the DT so i went easy on the sand in the sump LOL.

 

[Reef Mechanic]

I was thinking of about the same. I hear mixed thoughts on sand beds in fuges. Have u had any problems? I am planning on some small rock pieces,cheato, and maybe a mantis shrimp for in there.

 

[Wy Renegade]

I would avoid the mud, unless you have a means of replenishing it easily and cheaply. In truth, the mud is a very, very fine sand and if you read carefully, it usually indicates that it needs replenished regularly.

 

[carey]

I have small live rock pieces,chaeto, gracliera and some caulerpa macros in my fuge. So far I have been running 0 nitrates and it's been in place about 6 months. Compared to the 55g I have that has no fuge it's a marked improvement and I'm very pleased with it.

I do have a pretty large area though, I think the larger the area of substrate and larger amount of macro will yield better results in comparison to a limited fuge area.