Refugium question....

[caspar]

Would like to get Pro's and Con's of what to use in a refugium i.e. Reef mud, live sand, crushed coral, mangrove plants what is the best options for a reef tank?

 

[micstarz]

IMO live sand, crushed coral and macroalgae (with suspended mangrove plants)

 

[ludnix]

My refugium just uses a few inches of sand with a couple pounds of live rock. I have 10 small mangrove seedlings and a large clump of chaetomorphia that has to be halved ever week or so.

The mangroves grow much slower than chaeto but I enjoy having them in my refugium all the same.

 

[bgraves]

on the mangroves, do yall put thier roots in the sand or let them float around

 

[caspar]

Think we have a good topic going, lets keep it up, interested in mangrove question as well

 

[micstarz]

ludnix, you have to HALVE the chaeto every week?? Nice! What do you add to your tank? I have a macroalgae tank and I need your tips

 

[reefscape15]

I floated my mangrove pods until i saw some roots starting to sprout, then tied it to a rock and let the roots spread over the rock. I used about 4" of Kent Refugium Sand in mine and i've had tons of little worms and dusters coming out of the sand, and there are lots of pods swimming around. I also have Chaeto and the following caulerpa, Red Grape, Green Grape, Sawblade, Mexicana

 

[REEFFER MADNESS]

I have Mangroves in my fuge sand and they are doing great. However, you do need to keep them clipped so they do not grow out of control. I got mine delivered from Ewa Beach, Hawaii and I have heard that you can filter your tank on Mangroves alone, no skimming. Bamboo to.

 

[reeftrinh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14788335#post14788335 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by REEFFER MADNESS
I have Mangroves in my fuge sand and they are doing great. However, you do need to keep them clipped so they do not grow out of control. I got mine delivered from Ewa Beach, Hawaii and I have heard that you can filter your tank on Mangroves alone, no skimming. Bamboo to.

This is an interesting threads... do you have any sources for the mangroves and bamboo? i'd like to look into that too. bamboo is freaken cheap and easy to maintain. i am building my sump next and plan to use a mixture of sand/crushed coral live rock and a mangrove tree.

 

[KDDG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14783464#post14783464 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ludnix
My refugium just uses a few inches of sand with a couple pounds of live rock. I have 10 small mangrove seedlings and a large clump of chaetomorphia that has to be halved ever week or so.

The mangroves grow much slower than chaeto but I enjoy having them in my refugium all the same.

Curious,

What do you do with the chaeto you remove. Do you reuse it somehow?

 

[corbett_n]

all I use is some live rock and cheato. I feel like mangroves are more for looks than exporting nitrates and phosphates. Cheato is the way to go, it grows like crazy and brought my nitrates and phosphates I was struggling with down to Zero. I love the stuff. I do like the look of Mangroves though. I don't even think a sand bed is crucial in a refugium. Just my opinion.

 

[reeftrinh]

i've seen some reef keepers that have magnificent tanks run a sump with just live rock and a filter bag. they also have the mechanical filtration like protein skimmers and calc reactors, chillers etc. but no sand just lots of live rock rubble and filter bag.