refugium or bare sump?

[big deddy]

I have 23 gallon sump. It has 3 chambers. Overflow drain goes into first chamber. First chamber also houses my skimmer. I have live sand and chaeto in second chamber. Third chamber is return pump. I am thinking about taking the sand out of the refugium / 2nd chamber. Really don't know why except I think it would be easier to clean. I could always put some live rock rubble in the chamber with the chaeto for pods to hide/breed. What would you guys recommend? Sand or bare bottom?

 

[SamsReef]

I use the middle section of the sump middle to trap detritus, which I can easily suction out. I prefer this to using filter socks. I would say no sand.

 

[big deddy]

Yeah I drain straight to sump no filter sock or anything else. Just skimmer. I was hesitant to put sand in to start with, but though it might help lighten the load on my live rock in dt.