Sand in Sump

[Guest ethandvm]

I have a 120 gallon reef tank with a 30 gallon sump. I currently do not have any sand in the sump.

 

I have my 120Aqua C Skimmer, and Mag 9.5 pump in the sump. What are the benefits of having sand in the sump? If I decide to put sand in the sump what type do I put in? I currently have sand in my tank.

 

Thanks

[Larry Grenier]

There is some debate out there as to the value or necessity of a DSB. If you already have a DSB in your main tank then I don't see why you'd want to have one in your sump. If you dont have a DSB in your main tank but wand the benefits of a DSB then having one in your sump may be an alternative.

[steveoutlaw]

Are we talkiing sand in the sump or sand in a refugium???

[Guest ethandvm]

Are we talkiing sand in the sump or sand in a refugium???

the sump.

[madmax7774]

I havge a 30 gallon tank that I use as a sump/refugium. All the equipment is pushed towards one side, and the other is mound of sand, mud, calerpa, several sea shells, a rock or two, a pair of snails, a pair of hermits and several different types of algae that have sprung up. I added the mud to buffer the variety of minerals in it, the sand I added for various critters to take hold of. There are several small brittle stars that appeared out of no where, so it's definately working. I few a pair of hermit crabs in their to keep the nuisance algae from getting completely out of control, and a snail or two as well. Heck I even ahave a pair of clownfish in their, as I am rebuilding a 30 gallon hex for my bedroom, and needed a place to put em while the new rock cycles. Point is, I think that a fuge should be a gathering of as much natural stuff as possible to promote a quality ecosystem. I am always on the lookout for stuff to add to the fuge. Once I find on of those bottles of copepods I am gonna dump one in there too. I am also planning on starting to cycle 1 rock at a time from the main tank down to the fuge for a few days and then back to get them nicly loaded with critters growing in the fuge.