[CollegeReefer]

Wow this thread got stickied!

As I read though my first post I noticed that I had used the term grunge, mud, and live sand. I would like to note that these are all different things that can be used to seed an aquariums sand bed and rock.

Grunge:

Grunge in my opinion is not the most aesthetically pleasing , but I am one for the fresh sand look. I know that there are many hobbyist out there that like a more rough look in there sand bed. Grunge is a mixture of everything that falls down in curing tanks for rock. It is a more course substrate with lots of small pieces of rocks, shells, coral, mud, and just about anything else that can be found in the reef. Grunge might not look like much, but is full of live. Many micro organisms enjoy the think course substrate. You will often get a wide variety of different beneficial organisms, from bristle worms and mia mia worms, to micro starts, and even a variety of different snails and hermits. You also gain the benefit of getting a variety of different types of coralline algae that makes your reef or FOWLR tank even more diverse. Also within the grunge you will find a Varity of different types of pods that benefit a tank in so many ways. Pods are not just for feeding, but are a great way to keep pest algae in check.

Mud:

Mud is a little different the grunge. A lot of times mud is actually found in grunge. Mud is pretty much what the name suggests. It is a mixture of small substrate that are full of nutrients that won’t affect your tank in a negative matter. That is because the mud is thriving with micro organisms including several different types of pods that breed and eat the organics found it. One will find that there is so much life in the mud itself. Mud is typically placed into a refugium so that all that live in will not be disturbed. Mud is a breeding ground for many beneficial organisms and bacteria for your tank.

Live sand:

Live sand is sand from an established aquarium. Depending on the grade of sand will determine the amount of life that is in it. A courser sand will allow beneficial worms, and certain types of snails to breed who like a courser substrate. All sand offers a wide range of beneficial bacteria colonies that break down organics in your tank. Sand is also teaming with specks of different coralline algae that will spread to your rocks and aquarium walls. I would encourage all to share a few cups of sand with each other to make your tank more diverse then before. Every tank is different, because every tank has rock, fish, inverts, and corals from different parts of the world. By exchanging the sand you will find that your diversity in your tank will expand and add even more ways to keep your reef running smoothly.

This is all I have for now, for I have to run to a meeting. I will continue to update this thread as I have time and find new things out.