New fuge... To Sand or not to sand?

[aiko670]

Should I put sand/mud in my fuge or leave it bare bottom?

Thx
Adam

 

[Doubledown]

Do you have a deep sand bed in your display?

If not I recommend a 4" DSB in the 'fuge. This is how I have mine - shallow sand in the display, deep sand in the remote refugium.

If you have a DSB in the display the choice is yours as you should already have the benefits of a DSB.

If you are running bare bottom the theory is you should not need a refugium as all the disolved nutrients and waste are removed befor they can break down in the water column.

Just my $.02 - HTH

 

[pk1]

I'm putting a plenum in the fuge I am building . Is there enough surface area to be effective in reducing nitrates? Or are you thinking of using sand just for the fauna/zooplankton.

 

[aiko670]

fauna/zooplankton, it's fairly small probably around 5 gal.

 

[pk1]

I wouldn't bother with DSB for that size...how about just a thin rubble bottom, say 1/2 inch or so? Much easier to clean if a problem arises....and will support a lot of critters.

PK