refugium question (1 Viewer)

[jesusq]

I'm setting up a new 120 Gal tank. Have a custom sump/refugium in the bottom and just bought a CPR HOB refugium on the back of the aquarium.

I'm having a difficult time deciding whether I should go with miracle mud on the refugium or sand, and if I go with miracle mud, would I need to also get gfo or bio pellets later on. This is a new setup and am thinking ahead. I don't have anything to test for right now, but am planning ahead.

at both refugium, I have enough to build a 4" sand/mud bed.

What recommendations do you suggest?

 

[Slayer311]

Miracle mud is nice because it can release trace elements into the water over time, sand isn't really needed as refugiums can get messy and at times you want to pull the ball of cheato out and clean it up a bit. I would not suggest running GFO along with the refugium, the gfo will starve the refugium and kill off the macro algaes thus releasing decaying plant matter into the tank. One or the other imho.

 

[Pure Magic]

Miracle mud is nice because it can release trace elements into the water over time, sand isn't really needed as refugiums can get messy and at times you want to pull the ball of cheato out and clean it up a bit. I would not suggest running GFO along with the refugium, the gfo will starve the refugium and kill off the macro algaes thus releasing decaying plant matter into the tank. One or the other imho.

I wish someone would have told me about the GFO and cheato don't mix. I didn't know that and wondered why my cheato kept disappearing. Now that is good to know info. Thank you Slayer.

 

[zeek]

I wish someone would have told me about the GFO and cheato don't mix. I didn't know that and wondered why my cheato kept disappearing. Now that is good to know info. Thank you Slayer.

not nescesarily a bad sign either right? If the cheato is starving and I've learned anything there are no nutrients to export and that's a good thing just remove algae?

....right?

 

[rparker2112]

What ive noticed with my tank, when i used purgein and chaeto, my chaeto hardly ever grew.

I took out the purgein and my parameters are still perfect, but my chaeto has gotten so much more thicker and nice deep green. Doubles in size every week, i just throw it out.

My sump is a ten, my display is a ten. My refuguim has approx 3 gallons in it (out of 7 gallons). My tank is low bioload and i feed every other day, if that sometimes.

Sent from my Home Phone using a Tapatalk 2

 

[Pure Magic]

not nescesarily a bad sign either right? If the cheato is starving and I've learned anything there are no nutrients to export and that's a good thing just remove algae?

....right?

Right