Best Substrate for a Refugium?

I am going to be starting a refugium for my tank and wanted to know what the best substrate to use, or at least what everyone else uses. I have some sand on hand, but I was also looking at the various types of mud too. Any input is appreciated. Also, what's a good, hardy algae for the refugium. Thanks.

 

its ur call, people stand diff on this alot like t5's and mh. Im trying a dsb of aragonite with a mix of cheato and mangroves. Everyone will say go with cheato. Just do some research and go from there. Lol I heard the mud smells like arse

 

deep sand bed is what i run with cheato and mangroves
like devlzluv mud stink like arse but does have its ups

 

lol if I can get past the smell and the wifey would let me I would use it but it has crazy nutritional value and I have seen proof that it effectivetly drops your nitrates and helps things grow really good in ur fuge. Ill wait to see what someone post that actually has the mud and more experience

 

I run a dsb and chaeto on a reverse light cycle and "knock on wood" consistantly have 0 nitrates.

 

sorry I never ran any Muds in my fuge....... but I was told you have to replace it every so offten Iam not sure how true that statement is but I know it would be a PITA though. I have a deep sand and cheato which I am removing the sand, most all of it from my display.

 

i use a deep sand bed and red gracilaria algae. i like that more than cheato because you can feed it to tangs and BF fish

 

100% clay kitty litter covered in a 3-4" sandbed is what I use.

 

I currently have a 4"-5" depth of Fiji Mud in my refugium. Its true, it smells like crap when placing it in for the first time. Once the water covers it, its fine. I was told by my LFS that the mud is better than the sand b/c of the nutrients that it carries and how its released little by little into the system. The only drawback to the Mud is that it "should" be replaced once a yr or two and thats a P.I.T.A. Heres what the bucket of Fiji Mud says;

Fiji Mud is collected from rare mud patches, discovered by science years ago, which are found in clear uncontaminated seawater. These patches typically occur at 40 - 50 feet of cool, clear water just off the coral reef.

Fiji Mud is unique in its ability to release essential minerals and vital nutrients that will allow hard and soft corals to flourish whether you are starting a new refugium or topping up your existing one. This product contains all the major and minor trace elements as they naturally occur as well as an elaborate network of 5-100 micron size organisms that are critical for the success with Acropora and other small polyp stony corals.


Luna

 

Thanks a lot for the responses, they really helped.