Biopellets and GFO, should I put a refugium with cheato in my sump?

[Cowfish]

I'm getting ready to set up a 90gal with 55gal sump. I plan on using biopellets and GFO. So far what I've read is that while running biopellets and GFO there won't be any nutrients for cheato to live. I was planning on a fuge in the sump with 3-4" deep aragonite bed with cheato. Would I be better to have fuge with sand/cheato or run biopellets and GFO? I was thinking first chamber for mechanical filtration sponge and floss or filter sock them baffle/bubble trap then skimmer compartment then fuge then baffle/bubble trap them return pump chamber. Throw out some ideas please or your experiences with biopellets and GFO would be appreciated.

 

[reeffreak]

I've read a lot of threads were people
End up taking out there sand beds in there's fugues because it just gets filled with all the junk and is a pain to clean. I would just run the gfo and pellets. You can try and grow the cheato, I've read a few threads where people are doing all 3 pellets, gfo and cheato

 

[teebone110]

I've read a lot of threads were people
End up taking out there sand beds in there's fugues because it just gets filled with all the junk and is a pain to clean. I would just run the gfo and pellets. You can try and grow the cheato, I've read a few threads where people are doing all 3 pellets, gfo and cheato

Agreed +1

Keep things simple, no sand, use GFO, biopellets and you can try to grow cheat.
Personally, I wouldn't bother with the cheato unless you find that you can't cure your algae issues. I wouldn't even use biopellets unless you find that you can't manage your nitrates. All depends on your feeding, stocking and maintenance routine.

 

[spyd]

I agree. I wouldn't even bother with Chaeto and sand in the fuge. Just use that space to hold your reactors if you want. Unless you are planning an SPS tank or having a heavy bio-load, I wouldn't even bother with bio-pellets either. I ran my 75G for 2 years with a lot of SPS and never had bio-pellets running at all. GFO and carbon are all ways good to run. A good skimmer is a must. I never ran filter floss or anything either. Too much cleaning involved with those or they become nitrate traps.

Another option is to keep a seperate compartment in your sump for an RO resevoir for your Auto Top Off unit unless you are using a seperate container for that.

 

[Neopimp]

I got pellets and chaeto .. no issues... I run GFO sporadically

 

[Cowfish]

Thanks for the great advice. I've never used gfo or biopellets before just a standard sump refugium after the plenum went away. I have a JBJ ATO I was gonna use but I could opt to not use it j just add a float valve with a fresh water reservoir. I'm gonna ponder ur inputs n rethink my sump. Thanks guys much appreciated.