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#1
10-05-2009, 02:31 AM
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There has been a fair amount of back and forth on this stuff on the web.
My guess is you are just as well to make a DSB with aragonite sand, I like the oolitic or sugar sized. And dose your water with iron. Iron is the key if you are growing macro-algae. Here is a link on mud for you, if you scroll down you will see a post with lots of links to deep sand bed info: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...send-scam.html 
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#4
10-05-2009, 05:40 AM
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I was going to do the mircale mud thing in my refuge, but chose the deep sand bed, so I did 6-8 inches in the refuge with 2 different layers of different sized arragonite and this added a bit of live arragonite to the top... Over time I also now have about 50 or so lbs of live rock in there with it and can say I am glad I went that route.
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 Setup: 180G DT, 105G Refuge (approx. 300lbs LR, 150lbs Aragonite) Hardware: Super Reef Octopus SSS-3000, Tunze ATO, Mag 18 return, 2x MP40W, 2X Koralia 4's Wavemaker Lighting: 5ft Hamilton Belize Sun (2x250W MH, 2X80W T5HO) Type of Aquarium: mixed reef (SPS & LPS) with fish Dosing: Mg, Ca, Alk
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#6
10-05-2009, 04:55 PM
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I have read that the iron content in these products seems to get depleted in a year or two, rendering the 'mud' relatively useless. A DSB and iron dosing would seem to be a better, more permanent option (though if you're going to dose with iron, be aware that the test kits are terribly inaccurate, and you'd be best to keep a close eye on your livestock and algaes).
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Calvin --- Planning a 29 gallon mixed reef...
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#7
10-05-2009, 06:21 PM
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Quote:
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You couldn't pay me enough to install DSB, I don't recommend ever using one as they are a ticking time bomb, I know this from personal experience and from doing lots of reading. DSB's work great for a few months or years but then become super saturated and or maxed out. If you do use one make sure you set it up as a remote DSB so you can change it out whenever you want or when you notice it isn't working anymore. Once the bed is super saturated and or clogged it tends to release the built up nutrients back into the water column. The most success I ever had using a sand bed (currently bare bottom) was by employing a Plenum. You can research Plenums by checking out the GARF website or just doing a simple search. One of the most successful long term reefs I have read about actually uses a revers flow under gravel filter system, the reef has been going strong for 37 years. I simply use a bare bottom display now with a small remote mud refugium for pods, skim heavy, and use Zeovit, the tank seems very healthy. Just my 2 cents.....
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#9
10-31-2009, 09:29 AM
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Quote:
x2 !
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#10
10-31-2009, 04:40 PM
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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?
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