2 Newbie Questions?

[Amyh24]

I have two questions I was hoping you could answer for the newbie.....

1. I read that coarser sand is better for filtration. Can I go to the beach in NJ and get sand there and mix it with Live Sand bought online or at a store? I also heard of people buying play sand at Home Depot and adding some live sand to that and saving a ton of $$$$

2. What is a refugium?

 

[scrmbld33]

you dont want them sand at the beach, to much pollutants in it, yes you can get sand at HD search for south down

a refugium is a place where macro algae is grown to eat excess nutrients

 

[Amyh24]

Thank you. So the sand from HD would be ok to mix with some good quality live sand.

 

[scrmbld33]

here the link for south down http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26193&highlight=southdown

i used it no probs yet, add the hd sand ( made by old castle) then the live on top, oh i think they may have changed the bag but its still made by oldcastle still

 

[scrmbld33]

old is on the right new is left

 

[Amyh24]

Thanks for the links and info.

What ratio of live sand to south down should I use. I have a 90 gallon tank? Just starting it up, probably next weekend.

 

[scrmbld33]

i have a 90 i used 150lbs HD 1 pound live, you can do more live sand but you really only need a pound or so, i know people who used a little dixie of live sand to start their tank, also some of the critters from the live rock will live in it too