Sand in refugium?

[blennymower]

Should I add sand to my refugium? Right now that's what I'm debating. Currently I have macro-algae and rocks down there, but I don't know if adding sand will help or not. No sand means I can vacuum the bottom of detritus adding to having less junk in the tank. Having sand means I can have the benefits that sand brings of fauna and biological filtration to whatever extent it will help, but the accumulation of detritus without being able to vacuum it without making a mess and killing fauna.

Your thoughts, please.

Thanks

 

[Trevenator]

There is no sand to my refugium.
I like being able to vacuum the bottom to much.

 

[bathompson]

No sand here either. Macro and rubble only.

 

[CEA]

The accumulation of detritus in the sand will cancel out the benefit of denitrification over time. I would go without sand. DSB only work if you prevent detritus from accumulating by mechanically filtering the water before it goes over the sand and also keep a good flowrate to prevent settling.

 

[KJAhp098]

I have a 1" sand bed with Walt Smith fuge mud on top.

 

[LifeAquatic]

It doesnt really matter. Ive had 1 1/2" sand bed in my fuge since it was set up over a year a go. I also have lots of Cheato and live rock in the fuge. Its never been vacumed one time either. Everything is fine.

 

[alphaferret]

No sand here-ph keeps all detritus in the water column-if it does not i just move it around a bit and BAM-its gone.

 

[travis32]

I just bought 40 pounds of sand for my Sump. I have about a 4" sand bed in my sump now.

I like the idea of remote filtration because I only have a 2-3" sand bed in my DT.

On my 55 I also had sand in it with CC mixed in, and I have never had detectable nitrates. Granted it was under a year old when I nuked everything. It cycled and now it's housing some very sensitive corals until my DT is ready to go. So far the corals are opening and closing well. So, I think the filtration of the sand worked out well.