Gf Fuge Up And Running....now Whats Next

[new2reefing]

Hey all. So finally got everything put together for my gravity fed fuge. Its a 20 gallon tank with the top 8 inches above my display. Im using a 290 gph pump which after the elbows and 5' horizontal trip is likely around 150 gph. I have a few pieces of live rock and some marco in there so far.

Now come the questions.
Whats your opinion of DSB in the fuge. I hope to have lots of critters in the fuge and lots of display worthy macro. Dsb should eventually help with nitrate and crittens should help churn the sand. And detritus would be eaten by critters.
Is pool sand fine for this appplication

Or bare bottom for ease of cleaning.

Next,
Where shouldi get starter cultures of live food/critters. Store, other rèefers

Any other recomendations.
Pics to follow

 

[new2reefing]

 

[new2reefing]

 

[Kman]

Remote places like attached fug is a perfect place to add a DSB. You could add mangroves, chato or caulerpa as well. Some stores sell Reef Nutrition Tigger-Pods and Reef Nutrition Arcti-Pods that you can use to stock the fug. But really if you have any pods in the main display they will make their way over and breed.It will just be a little slower.

 

[new2reefing]

Thx kman. Ya LFS has starter pods, but was unsure what critters to add to dsb to help churn the sand.
Im planning to get a ball of chaeto and pods this weekend. Also canadacorals had dragons breath macro but sold it. Also plan to get some mangroves down the road.
And advise on sand for DSB? or just go with argonite

 

[Nick James]

I was looking a Walt Smiths refugium mud in stead of a dsb for my Fuge plans. You could plant mangroves in it and put a thin lawyer of sand on top of the mud. It doesn't need to be as deep as a dsb and may look better aesthetically.