Help setting up a refugium

[Miah2bzy]

This is how my refugium sits today but I want to do more with it.

I have sand I can add as well as crushed live rock. My only concern is the detritus buildup around the rocks as I'm starting in on some sps with this tank. I have two large pieces now with red dragon macro glued to them.
I added phyto feast from algabarn last week, can see them at night in display.
Any thoughts?

 

[scotty b]

I think to get the full effect of the refugium, adding some faster growing macro would help.
the faster growing it is the more nutrients it wicks up to produce mass .

 

[Miah2bzy]

I forgot to add I had added chaeto to the refuge last week and it promptly dispersed everywhere instead of balling up.

 

[sethsolomon]

I think to get the full effect of the refugium, adding some faster growing macro would help.
the faster growing it is the more nutrients it wicks up to produce mass .

the only thing faster than red dragon is caulerpa....

 

[Miah2bzy]

the only thing faster than red dragon is caulerpa....

It's already doubled since I picked it up. Added it to the dt as well and seen a huge pods jump from that.

 

[sethsolomon]

It's already doubled since I picked it up. Added it to the dt as well and seen a huge pods jump from that.

yup grows fast

 

[scotty b]

hmm my dragons breath grows slow compared to my cheto and caulerpa

 

[sethsolomon]

hmm my dragons breath grows slow compared to my cheto and caulerpa

red dragon and dragon's breath are not the same.... People need to stop confusing the 2....


and as I said above....

the only thing faster than red dragon is caulerpa....

 

[Miah2bzy]

Back to te question...should I add more rock to it, crush rock, sand, ect. Or just leave the big pieces in the way it is?

 

[sethsolomon]

Here is a direct comparison:

Both together:

Red dragon - curvy growth pattern

Dragon's breath - spiky growth pattern looks like flames

 

[Munch]

I'd skip the sand personally. Seems to be more of a mess than anything. The rock will be sufficient. Easy to clean up any excess detritus buildup.

 

[charleshardy5]

I'd skip the sand personally. Seems to be more of a mess than anything. The rock will be sufficient. Easy to clean up any excess detritus buildup.

I run a DSB now in my fuge, noticed it works a lot better since I added a sand sifting star, some nassarius snails and hermits down there, definitely keeps the sand clean and my tank looks amazing, 0 algae problems

 

[Hodge Podge]

Hopefully the chaeto that you picked up will work for you this time! Great to meet you!