Refugium Question

[sacramonel]

Ok here is a very stupid question . . well probably stupid anyway. I have set up a refugium with some macro algea and it is working very well. I have a boat load of "Pods" growing and living in there. I understand that the "Pods" are a natural food source for many fish (I have a scooter blenny who loves them). My question is how do they get from the sump/refugium into the main tank. Will they somehow flow over the baffle and get sucked into the pump (I doubt this is possible) OR will I have to scoop them up and place them in the tank OR do I cut a piece of the algae out and place it into the main tank?

Stupid question I know, but I can't figure it out.

 

[JJ1234567]

the pods do indeed get taken over the wall and sucked up the pump. However, very few survive the journey compared to how many are in the sump now. That is why most people that have a fish that absolutly depends on abundant pod life (i.e. mandarins) either cram their tank full of LR to the point where its almost 2lbs a gallon instead of one, or they do an over head pod fuge, where gravity brings the water back down and all pods that start the journy make the journy alive.

 

[SkiFletch]

Yup, the only other option is to try keeping cheato in the refugium, and every now and again bringing it up to the main tank and shaking the pods out of it

 

[JJ1234567]

I had not thought of that!! that is a good idea, ill have to give it a try sometime with the new tank. Do the pods live through being out of water fora few seconds?

 

[andywg]

the pods do indeed get taken over the wall and sucked up the pump. However, very few survive the journey compared to how many are in the sump now. That is why most people that have a fish that absolutly depends on abundant pod life (i.e. mandarins) either cram their tank full of LR to the point where its almost 2lbs a gallon instead of one, or they do an over head pod fuge, where gravity brings the water back down and all pods that start the journy make the journy alive.

There are differing views on whether pods survive the pump.

Most people who say they don't have not used a fuge in the sump purely for this. Some people who do cite the fact they only have the LR in the sump, and the pods go through the pump and UV (perhaps questioning the usefulness of UV) and can then be seen swimming around the tank.

 

[SkiFletch]

I had not thought of that!! that is a good idea, ill have to give it a try sometime with the new tank. Do the pods live through being out of water fora few seconds?

Yup, how else would the survive the dry trip on liverock from your LFS in order to get to your tank in the first place?