Should I put sand in my fuge?

[Bosco83]

My sump is a 30 gallon glass tank that I made a spot for a refugium in the middle section. The fuge section is 18X12X8 right now I have a good size ball of cheat and a light over it and that is it. Should I put sand in there too? I have done some searching but get confused with all the mixed results. The main tank is a 90 gallon with 130lbs of live rock.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[returnofsid]

IMO, a fuge is the best place to run a DSB. Great nitrate reduction AND the aragonite sand makes for a great buffer!!

 

[Bosco83]

Would I ever clean the sand so I don't get any gas pockets or maybe have a sand sifting star fish in there?

 

[returnofsid]

I'm not sure on that one. I believe that DSBs are to be left alone. I definitely wouldn't get a sand sifting starfish. In a very short time, your sand bed will be sterile. It'll eat EVERYTHING. Maybe a few Nassarius snails to stir it up.

 

[gotfish]

Maybe a few Nassarius snails to stir it up.

That is all I have in mine along with whatever worms and such were already in it when I transferred it from my 29g.

 

[Krish]

Should I put sand in there too?

You will find that you will get mixed results on this as many people have different preferences, not that any one is any better than the other, but rather what works best for what you are trying to achieve. I personally never liked the idea of a sand bed in my fuge (dsb) simply because I look at sand as a place for waste to get trapped so I always went the opposite route. Worked great for me, but like mentioned, go with what you feel works best for you

 

[Bosco83]

You will find that you will get mixed results on this as many people have different preferences, not that any one is any better than the other, but rather what works best for what you are trying to achieve. I personally never liked the idea of a sand bed in my fuge (dsb) simply because I look at sand as a place for waste to get trapped so I always went the opposite route. Worked great for me, but like mentioned, go with what you feel works best for you

I think I will go without sand for now I don't really have a lot more room for water to over flow anyway. I really just want to grow pods because I really want to get a mandarin goby some day. I was staring at my chaeto ball last night and I could see a whole bunch of pods crawling in it I was so excited lol.

 

[Myteemouse]

I will be going with a but load of rock and chato without sand in my sump/fuge

 

[slim_jim989]

if you just want to have copeopods then youll be fine with just rock and cheato. thats what i have in my setup and im doing good on my population

 

[Bainic]

The reason that I put a DSB in my sump was to help control ph, and to help minimize the ph swing from lights on to lights off. But agree with many other opinions on here, whether to have one or not is a personal preference, to help obtain your end goals. Good luck with your decision.