Ian,
have you got any photos of your "small remote mud refugium"? I don't recall seeing it. It does sound interesting - especially the harbouring of various small critters. Hmmmm

Richard,

You have not seen it yet, I have only had it set up for a couple months. I bought a CPR HOB refugium and loaded it with Fiji Gold and Macroaglae, the pod production is insane. The macro does not grow very well due to the Zeovit and lack of nutrients but it still provides a great home for all of the critters.

When you come over next I will give you another tour! :lol:

Thanks for all the info everyone its been very helpful :thumb:

they are a ticking time bomb
x2 !

If you want to go the route of a DSB look up remote DSB, basically a DSB in a bucket that you can change out when it becomes loaded.

I'll be the one to defend the DSB, mine is going on 9 years and the bomb must have been diffused buy MacGyver when I wasn't looking. I do not have undesirable algae growing in my display. I think proper flow and direction of flow are major contributors to success with a DSB. A good scavenger crew is also a important. I also run DSB in my refugium with fiji mud added. My setup is not a anomaly. Unfortunately the conclusion to many problems people have in this hobby is blamed on DSB, When the real problem is mismanagement and improper setup of DSB

What is walt smith figi gold and how is it used?
I have no refugium..bare bottomed 120 gal with lots of live rock and a very cramped sump (no room for extras in that).

If I were to set up a refugium:
(1)what size
(2)can one use the "plastic" hydroponic containers rather than an aquarium
(3)how does one use the figi gold or other base mterial suggestions
(4)can you purchase a "return system" to hang on he back of your tank so you don't run the risk of flooding the refugium if the pump in it stops..or do you simply run it from a return stack so that the safety margin is built in with the stack
(5) what size return pump is common and what type is least destructive to pods
(6) what type of lighting does one use
(7)what does one grow in it to lower phosphates/nitrates, balance pH and cultive pods

Thanks for any input from those using a refugium.

??can you have a happy tank if you never have a fuge?

I run the same system as "miracle mud" but using the "mineral" mud. I have been doing so for several years without any problems. My nitates and phosphates remain undetectable without a skimmer and coral growth and health seems good. When you run the system you must change out half the mud substrate on a yearly basis. If you go to the miracle mud website, they will send you free info and a DVD expaining the system.