Refugiums!!!

[Jakuson]

I have an existing tank that have already gone through all the ANN cycle, its about 3 months old now with some soft corals and some livestocks... I am thinking of adding a sump and refugium combined tank beneath my main tank...If I were to add live sand of about 4-6 inches deep to the refugium and some live rocks...does it need to go thru the ANN cycle before I link my main tank's water with the sump/refugium tank's water below? Or can I just link it together straight away with the help of an external overflow box, and returning the water with a return pump...

[Jakuson]

Any bros out there care to help me out? Thanks in advance...

[mansiz]

You do not need to cycle again. But the LRs that you got must be already cycled LRs (cured), the sand is not a problem, but you will have to wait probably 6 months for the sand to be matured. Have you gotten some plants for your refugium?

[Jakuson]

Nopez...Not yet bought any plants...I am still making my sump/refugium tank...Glueing the arcrylic sheets...So I can just link my main tank with the sump/refugium tank? I am using live sand...and cured LRs...probably buy it from CF...although expensive but I think it is really fully cured...anyway, I wont need much for my refugiums...so the LRs dun nd too much...

[Jakuson]

Need more advice from expert bros...Thanks

[rockfish]

actually.. u dun need LR mah ..

most of the Macro Algae comes with rocks.

Cheaper also.. some of those ferns on big rocks only $3-5 dollars.

if u buy LR, nothing on it... cost more..

[Jakuson]

yahor...thanks rockfish...also thanks for answering my queries on the lightings...

[Copperband]

actually you dont really need a sandbed for a refuge.... just grow chaeto will do...

[Jakuson]

I want a sandbed so as to have amphipods and copepods inside...Plus it adds in denitrifying... As I am gonna keep mandarin in my main tank which is 2ft x 18inches x 18inches

[RockyBoy]

mandrin need bigger tanks so that enough pods is available to replenish by themselves