sand for in sump refugium yes or no

[AntiSatan]

Have chamber in sump for refugium that I have set up. Debating on whether to add sand or not to

 

[degibson84]

I went bare bottom. The only way I would have added sand was if I could have added a DSB. My baffles wouldn't allow it so I went bare

 

[Dre59]

I went BB with a good amount of flow.. A DSB just adds more things to worry about with CUC or other things.. I like the "KISS" method

 

[RoganTerrance]

I would add live sand and some little pieces of live rock to help keep nitrates away.

 

[tatuaje08]

I don't believe sand in a sump does much of anything unless it is a dsb. Even then, the advantages aren't that great unless it is a rather large fuge.

 

[tcamos]

I think it depends.

For me a refugium is like a small tank and it has less flow than the rest of the sump. So for me if I'm calling it a refugium it will have sand and rock.

If I'm busting high flow through it then I won't put sand.

My old sump had a chamber with rock in it and cheato with high flow. I didn't consider this a refugium as it's not the kind of place I would put anything to take "refuge".

My current design has a second 20 gallon long that is the refugium. I purchased a mandarin a few weeks ago and it's been living in there while it gets fat enough for the main tank. I would not have put that fish in what I had before.