Cuc in refugium with DSB??

[TylerJaid]

Hey everyone so I recently plumbed in a sump with a refugium 6.5 by 17.5” by 10” with a 5-6 inch sandbed. I have been doing alot of looking around and am finding mixed answers and explanations everywhere. I also have a ball of chaeto and some rubble rock in there, in my situation with having the sand should I add in some clean up crew? I don’t really know what to do here, also thinking of adding a mangrove or two to penetrate the sand bed unless that’s a bad idea! Any thoughts? Please let me know thanks!!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Nothing wrong with growing mangroves, but they generally grow slowly so won’t use lots of N and P.

I’m not a fan of deep sand beds. I don’t think they accomplish much in most cases. A CUC might eat the chaeto if they can get to it.

 

[Fish Fan]

Agreed, the 'deep sand bed' has largely come and gone, with the exception of when one wants to keep animals that require it. I think it's just too much trouble to keep clean and it can be problematic.

Some years ago I tried a remote deep sand bed (RDSB) to reduce nitrates; I don't think it did a thing towards that goal, and that experiment was relatively short lived

Good luck!

 

[TylerJaid]

Nothing wrong with growing mangroves, but they generally grow slowly so won’t use lots of N and P.

I’m not a fan of deep sand beds. I don’t think they accomplish much in most cases. A CUC might eat the chaeto if they can get to it.

I was going to use the mangrove just so the roots could penetrate, I’m kind of stuck on what to do… maybe remove the sand?? I don’t want to make a big store’s up mess either lol

 

[TylerJaid]

Agreed, the 'deep sand bed' has largely come and gone, with the exception of when one wants to keep animals that require it. I think it's just too much trouble to keep clean and it can be problematic.

Some years ago I tried a remote deep sand bed (RDSB) to reduce nitrates; I don't think it did a thing towards that goal, and that experiment was relatively short lived

Good luck!

It’s looking like mine may be short lived as well… how did you remove the sand it sounds like that would be my best option, it’s only a couple of weeks old (the sump) the tank is just over two years old

 

[Fish Fan]

It’s looking like mine may be short lived as well… how did you remove the sand it sounds like that would be my best option, it’s only a couple of weeks old (the sump) the tank is just over two years old

Mine was "remote", meaning, I had it in a separate container in my sump, and I just took mine off line, and dumped the sand in the back yard.

My suggestion for you would be to remove a relatively small percentage of the sand bed, doing that slowly over time.

 

[TylerJaid]

It’s looking like mine may be short lived as well… how did you remove the sand it sounds like that would be my best option, it’s only a couple of weeks old (the sump) the tank is just over two years old

Mine was "remote", meaning, I had it in a separate container in my sump, and I just took mine off line, and dumped the sand in the back yard.

My suggestion for you would be to remove a relatively small percentage of the sand bed, doing that slowly over time.

I may start that especially if no one chimes in with any benefits from it or any more answers about cuc. I guess all my research may have led me astray on this one.