Sand bed in the fuge

rpc07 · 02/09/2010, 09:36 PM

Do i need a sand bed in the fuge part of the sump, and if so how deep do you recommend? The fuge will hold just cheato no lr

Thanks, Ryan

Playa-1 · 02/09/2010, 10:28 PM

It's a personal preference based on what it is that you're trying to accomplish with the fuge. People use the fuge for different purposes and will set them up accordingly. I would suggest that unless you have a very specific reason to have sand in there then you should probably not put sand in the fuge. You can always add it later if you decide that it will benefit your tank.

rpc07 · 02/10/2010, 04:16 AM

then let me ask this, what does the sand do for me?

cabrego · 02/10/2010, 04:22 AM

Playa summed it up.

A sand bed will provide a low oxygen zone for anerobic bacteria to consume nitrates, it will also provide refuge for pods and other life forms. I started my tank off as a bare bottom, so I installed about a 3-4 inch sand bed in my fuge area to make up for the fact that I did not have sand in the display. I later added a thin layer of sand for cosmetics. If you have a substantial layer of sand in the display, you could probably do with out it.

It just depends what you are trying to accomplish, I fidn that the pods seem to enjoy the sand.

d2mini · 02/10/2010, 11:30 AM

I was going to skip the sand and just grow chaeto but then decided to use Miracle Mud to help provide nutrients to the tank.

wdt2000 · 02/10/2010, 11:37 AM

I like to have DSB in my refuges. I don't really see any downside to having sand in the refuge but the sump is another story.

Tomaric · 02/10/2010, 11:50 AM

I to have aa about 2 to 3 inch of sand in my fug alonge with some L/R. You can't have enough anerobic bacteria in my opion. I grow algea and pods in mine. But my fug is a seperate tank from my sump.

swjim · 02/10/2010, 01:12 PM

I like having sand and some liverock in a fuge primarily because it gives more places for pods to live.

02/09/2010, 09:36 PM	#1
rpc07 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 272	Sand bed in the fuge Do i need a sand bed in the fuge part of the sump, and if so how deep do you recommend? The fuge will hold just cheato no lr Thanks, Ryan

02/10/2010, 11:30 AM	#5
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	I was going to skip the sand and just grow chaeto but then decided to use Miracle Mud to help provide nutrients to the tank. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

02/10/2010, 11:37 AM	#6
wdt2000 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Mills River NC Posts: 904	I like to have DSB in my refuges. I don't really see any downside to having sand in the refuge but the sump is another story. Last edited by wdt2000; 02/10/2010 at 12:04 PM.

02/09/2010, 10:28 PM	#2
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	It's a personal preference based on what it is that you're trying to accomplish with the fuge. People use the fuge for different purposes and will set them up accordingly. I would suggest that unless you have a very specific reason to have sand in there then you should probably not put sand in the fuge. You can always add it later if you decide that it will benefit your tank.

02/10/2010, 04:16 AM	#3
rpc07 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 272	then let me ask this, what does the sand do for me?

02/10/2010, 04:22 AM	#4
cabrego Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: McAllen,TX Posts: 720	Playa summed it up. A sand bed will provide a low oxygen zone for anerobic bacteria to consume nitrates, it will also provide refuge for pods and other life forms. I started my tank off as a bare bottom, so I installed about a 3-4 inch sand bed in my fuge area to make up for the fact that I did not have sand in the display. I later added a thin layer of sand for cosmetics. If you have a substantial layer of sand in the display, you could probably do with out it. It just depends what you are trying to accomplish, I fidn that the pods seem to enjoy the sand.

02/10/2010, 11:50 AM	#7
Tomaric Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Mid Missouri Posts: 239	I to have aa about 2 to 3 inch of sand in my fug alonge with some L/R. You can't have enough anerobic bacteria in my opion. I grow algea and pods in mine. But my fug is a seperate tank from my sump.

02/10/2010, 01:12 PM	#8
swjim Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boerne, TX Posts: 884	I like having sand and some liverock in a fuge primarily because it gives more places for pods to live.