I lack knowledge people :( In a sump refugium that is partitioned into different compartments, I see alot of people put a 6" or more sand bed to control the nitrates, and a macro algae that consumes excess phosphates.

I know that a bacteria lives in the sand and I can seed new sand with a cup of sand from an existing tank to speed things up.......BUT........How does the macro algae get there? I do put some living rock under 24 hour light in there right? Does it just grow off the rock?

you buy it...


have a reverse cycle for the light...


so when your DT's light is on, the refugium light is off... and vice versa...

leave it on 24/7

I just want something that will eat up the phosphates long term. My tank is 104 gallons arriving 4 days from now and I ordered 130 pounds of live rock. The LFS cures it for 2 weeks and cleans it up so should be sweet.

I was going to put the LR in the refugium but the LFS said he runs the macro algae in the fuge and the LR in the display. I like that idea better because I can see what I paid for (poor logic im sure)

My 177 gallon/hour skimmer, the LR, macro algae he is giving me as well as some seeded sand he is also throwing in should be a pretty sweet setup.

Unlike my LFS who hasnt done a water change on his tank in 2.5 years (although it is an amazing tank I want to aim for) I think I will go for a weekly water change.....