Assistance with Refugium

TexAgReefer

TexAgReefer

Premium Member
I am building a 75 gallon mixed reef tank. I have a Trigger System Crystal 36 Sump and will be using the middle chamber for a refuge. The general conclusion I've come to is that this refugium won't make a significant difference in terms of filtration and that's fine. My SOLE purpose of the refugium is to harbor and grow pods. I really want to add a mandarin at about 4-6 months. Would that be reasonable if I seed the refugium with pods from the beginning?

What is the best way to set up the refugium for this purpose? Sand or miracle mud? Which type of macro algae?

Thanks in advance!
 
I would go bare bottom in the fuge with rubble rock and chaeto. Mix up the variety of pods as much as possible.
 
@ReefJunky wrote:
I would go bare bottom in the fuge with rubble rock and chaeto. Mix up the variety of pods as much as possible. said:
agreed then you can suction out any diatris that settles. IMO you don't need to suppliment pods though they will grow, and I would say 6-9 months is a good waiting period . I waited a year when i set up my 180.
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Get a couple sandwich bags of chaeto from members with well established systems and you should have plenty of pods. I keep rubble rock, plus frag plugs in my refugium plus the chaeto.
 
I've never put any CuC in my fuges to help with algae control. I would think you would want to avoid hermits and other crabs that would be predators as far as any pods and other critters you are trying to grow are concerned.
 
I know this is a super newbie question, but once the pods are established in the sump, how do they make it into the tank to supply food for the mandarin? I will be using a trigger system sump that has the sponge between the refugium and the return pump chamber. Will this keep the pods from getting into the display tank?
 
I personally wouldn't use the sponge, but even if you did they will find a way. They just do.
 
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