Sump / Refugium Maintenance & Copepods

cd77 · 08/29/2007, 03:22 PM

First off -- once again thank you to everyone who has helped me get up and running. Your suggestions regarding Chaeto and a DSB have already started helping and I feel as though the people here have really helped me get off to a better start than if I had just listed to my LFS. The tank is looking beautiful and the family loves it!

I'm using a Pro-flex 100 sump that has a built-in refugium with mud and chaeto (came with the setup) A few questions for you veterans if you don't mind

Here is a small image I found of the system to give you an idea:

1. How frequently do you clean your filter socks? Does anyone know where to purchase additional ones for the model sump I'm using -- it has a plastic ring on it, and can't seem to locate them online.

2. How frequently do you scrape the algae off of your interior refugium walls?

3. What are these copepods (sp?) that everyone talks about? Do they originate from the macro-algae? I'm to understand that my fish will eat them? How small are they? Do I need a microscope to see them?

4. There is also a compartment with a blue sponge as you can see in the picture -- should this be rinsed regularly? How often?

5. I'm using a mag 9.5 pump -- and am using the sponge filter that came with it -- is this bad? Will I be filtering out the copepods and other beneficial supplies of the refugium?

SaltyDr · 08/29/2007, 04:04 PM

I clean my filter sock every week. You can do it more frequently, but I wouldn't do it less. I take mine out, invert it, replace it with a spare and vigorously swish it around in tap water multiple times until the water stays clear. I then wash it by itself in the washing machine with any detergent. You could use bleach if you wanted but who cares how "white" the sock is. Look at Marine Depot, I think they have what you are looking for.

I don't touch my fuge. The walls were getting some build up so I threw in a few astrea snails. Now the walls are clean. In reality, all growth in the fuge is beneficial.

Pods are small inverts that are generally very snall, smaller than a grain of salt.

With the filter sock you won't have that much detritus in the sump but I'd clean that sponge at least monthly, more frequently if you notice much build up.

They have found that most pods will survive a trip through a pump. No worries.

K' Family Reef · 08/29/2007, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cd77

1. How frequently do you clean your filter socks? Does anyone know where to purchase additional ones for the model sump I'm using -- it has a plastic ring on it, and can't seem to locate them online.

use of filter sox is up to debate

would encourage you specifically to see advanced forum for recent discussion on this very topic...

since your set up is NEW
(((in my opinion atleast))) i would not run a filter sock to allow for free flow throughout your system... for a lot of reasons... one of which being to allow pods ETC to migrate to/fro your fuge/sump area... again i would reference that thread in advance forum for a more thorough discussion about this... and again there are many opinions about using these.

2. How frequently do you scrape the algae off of your interior refugium walls?

i wouldnt scrape the algae off
and would allow it to grow... ITS BETTER OFF in your fuge then inside your main display = one reasons for having the fuge!... if your fuge is a display fuge like mine then i only scrape off the front glass for viewing and i hate to do that (only when it gets real bad)... you will start to see pods growing all over inside the fuge/GLASS as well as many other 'creatures'... when you wipe them off the glass you are disturbing their habitat perhaps wiping them out etc (again just IMO)

3. What are these copepods (sp?) that everyone talks about? Do they originate from the macro-algae? I'm to understand that my fish will eat them? How small are they? Do I need a microscope to see them?

you might go to LFS
to see if you can buy a starter package of them... my lfs sells some for 10dollars that someone brings in from their home system... comes in a small cup w/ pods running around inside... some look like lil shrimp... mainly just aquarium bugs... might try a search on google to get images... they will come in on your liverock and given time you will see them all over inside your aquarium and espec in your fuge area

4. There is also a compartment with a blue sponge as you can see in the picture -- should this be rinsed regularly? How often?

again IMO
i would take out all sponges and sox (sox atleast until you get the system 'established' imo like one year or 6 mos down the road)... perhaps the only sponge one might keep in their tank (assuming you are running a reef) is the one coming off your skimmer... but like so many other things IMO and its not my intention to start and argu or debate w/ anyone about this...

5. I'm using a mag 9.5 pump -- and am using the sponge filter that came with it -- is this bad? Will I be filtering out the copepods and other beneficial supplies of the refugium?

i use the same pump on my 125
would encourage you to be sure to get a cover piece for the pump to prevent any snails etc from your fuge from getting sucked into it... you shouldnt have to worry about the pump chopping up your pods.

all the best and regards!

cd77 · 08/29/2007, 06:26 PM

Ok, thank you very much --

I've gone ahead and have posted in the debate thread you've mentioned to gather some more opinions. Seems like a lot is up for debate in the reef world

It sounds as though I need to take the protective intake filter/sponge off of the mag pump and replace it with a cover piece -- any idea as to what exactly to get and where?

K' Family Reef · 08/29/2007, 07:15 PM

your sponge guard would be better then having nothing at all on your pump although you might be sure to keep it cleaned on regular basis so that it doesnt get clogged... the plastic guard used for the pumps prob picked up at LFS or online somewhere... i dont know what the specific name for it... but whoever sells mag pumps should have it as an accessory...

i had always heard about different approaches people take to reefing and it wasnt until i learned about RC that i found out how seriously some people take their 'VIEWS' about things... i know what works for me and well i will share it w/ you if it works great or if you have a better approach perhaps then i will learn something new from you!... it doesnt take one long to realize (espec after reading some recent threads/debates) there probably is NO ONE WAY to reef that is right for everyone or in every instance... but no doubt RC is a great resource to learn and share!

regards

08/29/2007, 03:22 PM	#1
cd77 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Fishers, IN, USA Posts: 1,169	Sump / Refugium Maintenance & Copepods First off -- once again thank you to everyone who has helped me get up and running. Your suggestions regarding Chaeto and a DSB have already started helping and I feel as though the people here have really helped me get off to a better start than if I had just listed to my LFS. The tank is looking beautiful and the family loves it! I'm using a Pro-flex 100 sump that has a built-in refugium with mud and chaeto (came with the setup) A few questions for you veterans if you don't mind Here is a small image I found of the system to give you an idea: 1. How frequently do you clean your filter socks? Does anyone know where to purchase additional ones for the model sump I'm using -- it has a plastic ring on it, and can't seem to locate them online. 2. How frequently do you scrape the algae off of your interior refugium walls? 3. What are these copepods (sp?) that everyone talks about? Do they originate from the macro-algae? I'm to understand that my fish will eat them? How small are they? Do I need a microscope to see them? 4. There is also a compartment with a blue sponge as you can see in the picture -- should this be rinsed regularly? How often? 5. I'm using a mag 9.5 pump -- and am using the sponge filter that came with it -- is this bad? Will I be filtering out the copepods and other beneficial supplies of the refugium? __________________ -Chris Current Tank Info: 70G Reef (Aug 2007), 45G Reef (Dec 2007)

08/29/2007, 06:26 PM	#4
cd77 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Fishers, IN, USA Posts: 1,169	Ok, thank you very much -- I've gone ahead and have posted in the debate thread you've mentioned to gather some more opinions. Seems like a lot is up for debate in the reef world It sounds as though I need to take the protective intake filter/sponge off of the mag pump and replace it with a cover piece -- any idea as to what exactly to get and where? __________________ -Chris Current Tank Info: 70G Reef (Aug 2007), 45G Reef (Dec 2007)

08/29/2007, 04:04 PM	#2
SaltyDr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 1,191	I clean my filter sock every week. You can do it more frequently, but I wouldn't do it less. I take mine out, invert it, replace it with a spare and vigorously swish it around in tap water multiple times until the water stays clear. I then wash it by itself in the washing machine with any detergent. You could use bleach if you wanted but who cares how "white" the sock is. Look at Marine Depot, I think they have what you are looking for. I don't touch my fuge. The walls were getting some build up so I threw in a few astrea snails. Now the walls are clean. In reality, all growth in the fuge is beneficial. Pods are small inverts that are generally very snall, smaller than a grain of salt. With the filter sock you won't have that much detritus in the sump but I'd clean that sponge at least monthly, more frequently if you notice much build up. They have found that most pods will survive a trip through a pump. No worries.

08/29/2007, 07:15 PM	#5
K' Family Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,966	your sponge guard would be better then having nothing at all on your pump although you might be sure to keep it cleaned on regular basis so that it doesnt get clogged... the plastic guard used for the pumps prob picked up at LFS or online somewhere... i dont know what the specific name for it... but whoever sells mag pumps should have it as an accessory... i had always heard about different approaches people take to reefing and it wasnt until i learned about RC that i found out how seriously some people take their 'VIEWS' about things... i know what works for me and well i will share it w/ you if it works great or if you have a better approach perhaps then i will learn something new from you!... it doesnt take one long to realize (espec after reading some recent threads/debates) there probably is NO ONE WAY to reef that is right for everyone or in every instance... but no doubt RC is a great resource to learn and share! regards