Populating a Refugium

Biologist · 01/29/2009, 08:51 AM

Hello,

I'd like to hear what critters you would or have put in a refugium? Mine is below the tank and is going to have chaeto and has a thin sand layer on bottom. Would you recommend small rocks in the fuge? I don't want to get a detritus problem in there. Adjoining the refugium, separated by a baffle, is a dsb.

In researching this topic, I've seen recommendations to not put "predators" in there. I was going to put some hermits in there but I will avoid it if you think they will predate the things I hope to flourish there.

Uncle Salty 05 · 01/29/2009, 09:38 AM

Tigger Pods and Amphipods, maybe a snail or two but no crabs and no fish.
I have a few rocks in mine but they were originally put there to anchor macroalgae. Not sure you need rocks at all, just a matter of personal preferrence.

Reverend Reefer · 01/29/2009, 09:48 AM

i have cheatomorpha, a sand bed, two mangrove pods, some live rock rubble and dragon's breath halymenia macroalgae.

i ended up moving all my blue legged hermit crabs into the refugium since they were doing too much damage in DT.

i didn't have any pods growing in DT so someone told me having live rock rubble encouraged their growth in the refugium. i know have lots of pods and life in the fuge, even though there are hermits (predators?).

snails just appeared in my fuge (i didn't put them in there).

i also have a spiny urchin in my fuge, who got put there because he was munching on coralline leavin bleached white spots on the rockwork in DT. so he got moved to the fuge as well.

Uncle Salty 05 · 01/29/2009, 10:02 AM

What kind of damage were the Blue legs doing in DT?
I have never had a problem with them.
If there are pods in your fuge and no mechanical filtration between it and your DT they are pods in DT too you just can't see them and the fish keep their numbers low.

01/29/2009, 08:51 AM	#1
Biologist Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 80	Populating a Refugium Hello, I'd like to hear what critters you would or have put in a refugium? Mine is below the tank and is going to have chaeto and has a thin sand layer on bottom. Would you recommend small rocks in the fuge? I don't want to get a detritus problem in there. Adjoining the refugium, separated by a baffle, is a dsb. In researching this topic, I've seen recommendations to not put "predators" in there. I was going to put some hermits in there but I will avoid it if you think they will predate the things I hope to flourish there.

01/29/2009, 09:38 AM	#2
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	Tigger Pods and Amphipods, maybe a snail or two but no crabs and no fish. I have a few rocks in mine but they were originally put there to anchor macroalgae. Not sure you need rocks at all, just a matter of personal preferrence. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

01/29/2009, 09:48 AM	#3
Reverend Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 883	i have cheatomorpha, a sand bed, two mangrove pods, some live rock rubble and dragon's breath halymenia macroalgae. i ended up moving all my blue legged hermit crabs into the refugium since they were doing too much damage in DT. i didn't have any pods growing in DT so someone told me having live rock rubble encouraged their growth in the refugium. i know have lots of pods and life in the fuge, even though there are hermits (predators?). snails just appeared in my fuge (i didn't put them in there). i also have a spiny urchin in my fuge, who got put there because he was munching on coralline leavin bleached white spots on the rockwork in DT. so he got moved to the fuge as well. __________________ - Rev. Tank: 65G glass 48" long tank; Sump/Fuge: 30G. Lighting: LEDs+single T5 strip. Maintenance: ATO Kalkwasser + 10% weekly WC, daily feedings LPS+Softies dominated.

01/29/2009, 10:02 AM	#4
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	What kind of damage were the Blue legs doing in DT? I have never had a problem with them. If there are pods in your fuge and no mechanical filtration between it and your DT they are pods in DT too you just can't see them and the fish keep their numbers low. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.