Refugium in sump???

[mcsassy]

Hi I have a Pro Clear 125 wet/dry and I am wondering if I can take out all my bioballs and replace them with a bunch of chaeto? I have a light down there right now...a 6500k 25 watt CF. I could buy a bottle of pods and dump them all over the chaeto...unless there is another way...where do pods come from? Do they have to be added to the tank from an outside source? (aka bottle of them) Also if I can do this, do you think the chaeto will be able to absorb the noise from the trickle of the water from the water that enters the sump? Right now there isn't any splashing because the bioballs are filled to the brim. Would it be bad to fill that compartment to the brim with chaeto? Suggestions and advice please.

 

[Almondsaz]

I don't think that one will work. You could replace the bioballs with LR rubble to deaden the noise of the water entering the filter and this would provide the correct sort of filtration. The chaeto really needs to be in water and rolling at best. IME the pods grow best in the LR when provided coverage from their predators and provided some level of food.

ANother option would be to create a pile of LR Rubble in your tank behind your existing rockwork. THis gives the pods a shelter and a place to grow. To get them started you could purchase them....be sure to put them in after lights out, otherwise you just spent money on "instant live food" and you esentially have to direct them by releasing them ontop of the LR Rubble pile you created. I have mine growing like weeds in a sump refuge and I buy 'sea lettuce' online and that seems to really help boost the population. I do clean the sl before putting it in the fuge becuase it typically contains additional unwanted bristle worms.

 

[Amphiprion]

while it wouldn't be advantageous to immediately fill it to the brim with Chaetomorpha, it would work for the better to add some. In your situation, the easiest option would be to add an extra baffle to keep the water level in that compartment relatively steady. The only issue is that your sump will be offline for a little while. As Almondsaz noted, you'll want decent water motion in that compartment. Beyond feed flow from the aquarium, I recommend adding a powerhead, like a seio, etc. for added water motion. A small compact fluorescent is all you will need for lighting.

To start with, simply get a small portion of Chaetomorpha from someone--a fistful is plenty. If you'd like to culture 'pods, as well, then you may try some of the proprietary bottled ones out there--otherwise, just give it time. Placing a small amount of rubble in a corner in the 'fuge will help a little, as well. Heh, I encourage bristleworms whenever possible--almost any kind of worm, actually.

 

[mcsassy]

Alright, I will post pics of the tank and sump when I get home later on today so I can get a better explanation. Thanks guys for the info so far.

 

[mcsassy]

 

[DominionDesign]

Having a refugium under the tank negates a big benefit as all the outflow passes through the pump. Ideally a refugium should be at or above the tanks water level with a pump/powerhead feed in and gravity flow back to the tank in order to preserve any pods/etc flowing back to the tank.

 

[mcsassy]

^ So why do most people seem to have them infused into their sumps? Can you post pictures of your set up to see how you have it? You have water going from the aquarium into the fuge and a hole in the fuge that just pours it back into the aquarium?

 

[Amphiprion]

Having a refugium under the tank negates a big benefit as all the outflow passes through the pump. Ideally a refugium should be at or above the tanks water level with a pump/powerhead feed in and gravity flow back to the tank in order to preserve any pods/etc flowing back to the tank.

This is actually a popular myth. Most of the animals we are concerned about are too small to be harmed by the impellers on our pumps. Copepods and larvae are barely affected at all. On the other hand, protein skimmers, believe it or not, do much more damage to any plankton passing through. Despite that, I've always had copepods and copepod blooms, even with an efficient skimmer.

 

[DominionDesign]

^ So why do most people seem to have them infused into their sumps? Can you post pictures of your set up to see how you have it? You have water going from the aquarium into the fuge and a hole in the fuge that just pours it back into the aquarium?

I dont have a marine tank set up right now but have had and installed many when I had my shop. The idea of having it set up as a hanging unit on the back of the tank (think large, lighted HOB filter) was the popular way of doing it and it seemed to make sense to me. Thanks Amp for the updated info, I'm assuming there has been microscopic study to show this to be true. When I think about it though, passing through a pump never seemed to bother the free floating stage of ich so I can see that it wouldnt affect pods. Thats why I love this place, theres always something new to learn.

 

[Amphiprion]

I dont have a marine tank set up right now but have had and installed many when I had my shop. The idea of having it set up as a hanging unit on the back of the tank (think large, lighted HOB filter) was the popular way of doing it and it seemed to make sense to me. Thanks Amp for the updated info, I'm assuming there has been microscopic study to show this to be true. When I think about it though, passing through a pump never seemed to bother the free floating stage of ich so I can see that it wouldnt affect pods. Thats why I love this place, theres always something new to learn.

Yep, Shimek did some work on that. I'll try to dig it up when possible. Other biologists/zoologists use pumps in certain setups to no detriment, as well.