Unique Refugiums

I

Ivan

I was having a conversation with another hobbyist at Fish Gallery on Saturday and he was telling me about hobbyists in other countries using either clams (the cheaper, non-ornamental kind) or xenia in their refugiums instead of the sand or macroalgae. It kinda makes sense given their constant filter-feeding, but I wondered if anyone here has read up on that. Not sure if I want to go to that extreme, but it is very interesting.
 
Yes, I've heard of this over the years, but I don't know anyone locally that has done it. Tony's propagation section is packed with xenia, which we saw on the tour yesterday. It wasn't necessarily his plan, but it did get it out of his tank. I think he's going to sell them to club members or perhaps get LFS store credit.

Using livestock for filtration is a nice option. Steve Tyree has spoken 'bout this method at Next Wave last year, as well as MACNA '01.
 
@tesfeld wrote:
If anyone finds some information on this said:
At the risk of sounding lazy, I have a feeling if you check out Calfo's book Coral Propagation, I'm reasonably sure you'll find more on this topic. And if you don't, tell me so I don't refer people there again in the future. :lol:
Click to expand...
 
refugiums.... soo many types.... might was well call them ad-quariums.... i think i just coined a phrase! :shock:
myself, i have mushrooms, live rubble, macro algea and a sea serpent in mine running on a reverse photo period. Calfo has a lot of good reading on this subject for sure!
8)
 
I could be wrong, but I think I remember reading that Xenia acquire most of their energy from Photosynthesis and don't really take much from the water other than iodine.

This sounds kind of strange since some species actually pump, as if they were collecting food from the water column. Some believe that the pumping is a method of gas exchange.
 
Well I have oysters and coquina clams in my fuge...plus the barnacles that are on the oysters. Haven't been there long enough for me to comment on the long term success. According to the guy I bought them from the oysters and non decorative clams fuction as a "poor man UV". I read somewhere that an oyster can filter 3 GPH. Other than that I do have about 10 different macros and two types of mangroves, LR rubble, DSB, Snails and hermits, etc and a pod population that may take over the world. I also hatch brine eggs in the fuge so I have some really big brine swimming around too. Had a big batch of anthelia in there but even hated it in the fuge.

Angela
 
Borneman has also discussed it regularly. Xenia, aiptasia, clams and several others have been used. I'm thinking about doing a small xenia section in my next fuge.
 
Just something I thought was pretty interesting. I put the oysters and coquina clams (they are cute BTW) in the fuge a few days ago and my skimmer is only pulling out about a fourth what it has in the past. I am pretty in tune to what my skimmer pulls out and can tell a huge difference depending on what I feed or if I feed the night before. I actually have been feeding more DT's specifically for the oysters and clams and am getting a LOT less skimmate, I have seen my skimmate slowly decrease since adding mangroves but this was basically overnight.

Angela
 
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