Critters in sump/refugium?

rob020880 · 01/07/2008, 09:36 PM

Hello everyone,

I setup a 130 gal tank with an 30 gal ADHI refugium/sump. I have my rockwork done and finally have gotten a few fish in there.

My sump has my skimmer in there and all sorts of pumps. The middle section of the sump is a refugium.

My question is should I put cleanup critters like snails or crabs into the sump to cleanup?

Should these be introduced into the refugium area, or should I let everything thats growing in there grow?

I also have detritus in certain areas of the sump that I cannot get to with a siphon. Is it ok to put in a snail, and which one will eat the detritus? I was thinking turbo snail since its larger and probably wouldn't get into any pumps.

Also will snail climb out of the water and over the baffles, or will they stay in the sections that I put them?

Any advice would be very helpful, thanks!!!

bertoni · 01/08/2008, 02:42 AM

Snails will crawl all over the place. The refugium should be fine as is. It should pick up some hitchhikers, like amphipods, to do some cleanup.

stevelkaneval · 01/08/2008, 03:08 AM

you could put eggcrate et the top of the baffles to the top of the sump that would at least discourage snails from climbing over.

snorvich · 01/08/2008, 05:17 AM

Snails go where they want, but hopefully not in places where they will get crushed or case problems. Remember the purpose of a refugium is to provide refuge. So you don't want to put much in the way of large predators there.

01/07/2008, 09:36 PM	#1
rob020880 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,019	Critters in sump/refugium? Hello everyone, I setup a 130 gal tank with an 30 gal ADHI refugium/sump. I have my rockwork done and finally have gotten a few fish in there. My sump has my skimmer in there and all sorts of pumps. The middle section of the sump is a refugium. My question is should I put cleanup critters like snails or crabs into the sump to cleanup? Should these be introduced into the refugium area, or should I let everything thats growing in there grow? I also have detritus in certain areas of the sump that I cannot get to with a siphon. Is it ok to put in a snail, and which one will eat the detritus? I was thinking turbo snail since its larger and probably wouldn't get into any pumps. Also will snail climb out of the water and over the baffles, or will they stay in the sections that I put them? Any advice would be very helpful, thanks!!!

01/08/2008, 02:42 AM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Snails will crawl all over the place. The refugium should be fine as is. It should pick up some hitchhikers, like amphipods, to do some cleanup. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/08/2008, 03:08 AM	#3
stevelkaneval Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: oshkosh wisconsin Posts: 633	you could put eggcrate et the top of the baffles to the top of the sump that would at least discourage snails from climbing over. __________________ "I live too serve you lord Megatron." "Were is the cube?" "The humans have taken it." "You fail me yet again Star Scream, get them." Current Tank Info: 20 long,korilia 1,and small ph,aquaclear70 moded fuge,coralife pc's,aqualight flouresent,seaclone skimmer,35lbs lr,green mushrooms and red and blue,and dragon eye zoas,assorted hermit crabs,nassarius snails,turbo snail,

01/08/2008, 05:17 AM	#4
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Snails go where they want, but hopefully not in places where they will get crushed or case problems. Remember the purpose of a refugium is to provide refuge. So you don't want to put much in the way of large predators there. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~