Any experience with Garf Grunge?

[tgray3]

So, I woke up today and smelled something not quite right around the tank. I'm running a 55 sumpless and it turns out that that the pump for the HOB fuge gave up the ghost, the water in the sump drained down to half the level and everything in there was dead. The params on the DT were unchanged from last Sunday when i did my last tests and inhabitants look fine and polyp extension on coral is good so I think it's OK. The sump is broken down and soaking in a vinegar solution on the back deck now while i wait for the new pump.

I was looking at using some "Garf Grunge" when i set up the fuge again. Who has used it and is it really worth it? Would you recommend this over normal sand? Any thoughts y'all have on it would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[acroholic]

I believe GARF Grunge is seasoned LR rubble and sand that is pulled out of either a refugium or a sump type system. Personally, I think you could find the same thing basically at one of our Sponsors or from fellow reefers with established systems. If I were in the market for this type product, I would go to to a LFS with a live rock vat, and ask to purchase their rubble from the bottom of it.
Dave

 

[lilrobb]

Or you can come by here, check the system and grab a bucket or so of live rock rubble...

 

[acroholic]

LilRobb;422299 wrote: Or you can come by here, check the system and grab a bucket or so of live rock rubble...

Even better!!

 

[hackman72]

Dave's right. It's nothing more than that and you could get it from any LFS or member. They just talk it up for marketing purposes.

 

[tgray3]

LilRobb;422299 wrote: Or you can come by here, check the system and grab a bucket or so of live rock rubble...

Thanks Robb! once i get the new pump I'll probably take you up on that.

Since i've got it all apart and cleaning it all up I did some research on RC and other sites on bare bottom sumps also but i don't think i'm going to go that way so i really appreciate your offer:thumbs:

If your still going to be around tomorrow I'm still open to to coming over and checking the system out...........Tom

 

[lilrobb]

Little bit of shopping in the early AM, but home all day then...

 

[tgray3]

I'll shoot you a PM before i take off. Since i work nights i usually don't even roll out of bed till 11 so it'll be afternoon before the coffee kicks in.

 

[skriz]

Garf grunge is good stuff, but just like everyone has said, it's nothing more than live rock rubble. I'd get a cub of sand from a few fellow reefers & you'll have all the diversity you'd want. Just make sure you're sampling from pest free tanks.

 

[dakota9]

Seems reading through this thread, you use the terms fuge</em> and sump </em>interchangably, but the two remain different in purpose. Not meaning to be a stickler (have you seen my spelling at times?), but 2 post prior mention a barebottom sump. Barebottom sumps are the norm, but if you meant barebottom refugium, then I'd not really bother with a refugium at all. HOB refugium are of marginal use anyway as they provide very little space relative to the tank, and taking away a DSB, would even further lessen their impact.

Either way, you said you wern't looking to go that route....

 

[tgray3]

oops Yes, i meant fuge and not sump.

I'm not sure i 100% agree on not using an HOB fuge at all because of marginal size and added water volume though. There is plenty of room for macro and maintaining a pod population. My nitrates and phosphates have also been unreadable since i started using it. IME, an HOB fuge is well worth the time when a conventional sump/fuge set up isn't practical.

 

[dakota9]

Supposedly, it depends onthe relative size of your display. A HOB fuge would truly assist a 14 gallon nano, but would loose it's signifficance on a 75 gallon tank.

Personally, I say they're kinda pretty if done right, so why not?

 

[lilrobb]

Well,

not only on the size of the tank, but also on the size of HOB fuge - Tom's is fairly large - so I do see an advantage there.

 

[captsammy]

This is an old thread, but I would like the opportunity to gain some rubble for my system. Just got the fuge running (40g breeder) under my 120. Hair algae is starting so I need to find clean up crews and rubble to kick it over the edge.

I hope to make the meet tomorrow to join and meet some of y'all