How much live sand ?

[JimDog2015]

I'm planning on only using live sand in the refugeim of our 150 gal tank. Should that be enough?

 

[melypr1985]

That question leads to a lot more questions for anybody to help much. Will you be having any live sand in the DT? How big is the refugium? How much sand are you wanting to put in there? Deep Sand Bed? Macro? Is the sandbed going to be a big part of your filtration?

 

[Humblefish]

IMO; using miracle mud and growing macro algae is a more beneficial way of utilizing a fuge.

 

[chimmike]

Disagree with miracle mud.

Your 150gal tank, as first responder asked: all-in-one? Or are you using a separate sump? Will the display be barebottom? If so, what do you expect of the live sand?

 

[JimDog2015]

the display tank has approx. 3 in. of crushed coral/gravel. we are using a separate sump as well. We are hoping the live sand will add enough bio material to help in the cycle of the system. we currently have zero live stock in the system.

 

[Wiz]

Imo 3" of crushed coral is bad. Crushed coral has huge particles that will trap debris and cause poor water quality. Smaller grain sand is more desirable. And unless your going with a dsb 1" or less is plenty. If you are aiming for a dsb. Crushed coral is the wrong dubstrate for reasons already listed as well as inhibiting movement of microfauna. As for the live sand, one bag will give you the same as 3. Just takes longer to populate. So same rules apply as for display.

the display tank has approx. 3 in. of crushed coral/gravel. we are using a separate sump as well. We are hoping the live sand will add enough bio material to help in the cycle of the system. we currently have zero live stock in the system.

 

[JimDog2015]

Imo 3" of crushed coral is bad. Crushed coral has huge particles that will trap debris and cause poor water quality. Smaller grain sand is more desirable. And unless your going with a dsb 1" or less is plenty. If you are aiming for a dsb. Crushed coral is the wrong dubstrate for reasons already listed as well as inhibiting movement of microfauna. As for the live sand, one bag will give you the same as 3. Just takes longer to populate. So same rules apply as for display.

What is DSB?

 

[Wiz]

What is DSB?

Deep sand bed. Great link If your interrested.
http://www.ronshimek.com/deep_sand_beds.html

 

[JimDog2015]

Ok thanks

 

[chimmike]

I suppose you could add oolitic sand to the crushed coral to fill in the 'voids'

 

[JimDog2015]

Ok I'll look into that too. Thanks

 

[jetmaker]

Disagree with miracle mud.

Your 150gal tank, as first responder asked: all-in-one? Or are you using a separate sump? Will the display be barebottom? If so, what do you expect of the live sand?

Why do you not like miracale mud

 

[chimmike]

Nobody likes miracle mud.

 

[Chris Aldrich]

You can run your system without any sand at all, if you so desire. Some folks use it purely for aesthetics, some for filtration purposes (e.g. deep sand bed), and some because a species they want to keep will require it (e.g. Halichoeres wrasses, conch). Others don't like sand at all so they don't include it for a variety of reasons - not as friendly with very high flow systems (think sand storm), it can trap detritus, etc.

My point is, if you're including it in your refugium simply for the sake of having it in the system, it's not necessary.

 

[JimDog2015]

You can run your system without any sand at all, if you so desire. Some folks use it purely for aesthetics, some for filtration purposes (e.g. deep sand bed), and some because a species they want to keep will require it (e.g. Halichoeres wrasses, conch). Others don't like sand at all so they don't include it for a variety of reasons - not as friendly with very high flow systems (think sand storm), it can trap detritus, etc.

My point is, if you're including it in your refugium simply for the sake of having it in the system, it's not necessary.

Ok thanks, I was under the impression that for a reef tank it was a MUST have.

 

[nervousmonkey]

Ok thanks, I was under the impression that for a reef tank it was a MUST have.

Not a must have at all, although properly used, it can help. There are a lot of articles about the use of sandbeds, but they eventually become detritus traps and then you will hate having a sandbed at all. If you use one for aesthetic value, that's fine, but just keep in mind that it will trap nasty stuff that will eventually come back out of that sandbed and into your system. You'll be fine with LR and no sandbed. I think that most people here will agree on that, but you'll have to figure it out on your own really. If you aren't putting it in your DT, I wouldn't use it in a refugium at all. It'll just become a trap of nastiness that you'll eventually vacuum out anyway... My $0.02.

 

[brandon429]

Agree w Chris and FLT

Zero waste retention is what matters, whether half inch or nine inch dsb. I run a dsb, very old. Kept blasted clean, so it's really in fact young.