Refugium or Not?

[fishytime]

things are getting taken out of context..... I said that I felt that a fuge in a sump will do little to feed a mandarin dragonet in a display.......because A) the pods in the sump first have to find the return pump and then B) have to survive the blender ride up to the display......I never said that refugiums dont breed pods

[gobytron]

Thanks for the clarification.
I still disagree.

You'll lose some pods for sure, but I'd still bank on a noticeable increase in population as so many amphipods/copods and their larvae is so tiny that no pump would kill it all before it made it into your display.

otherwise, my experience with mandarins would be a lot different than it has been.

Can't deny you wouldnt see as many as you would if you wre to just plumb your HOB directly into the display.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by fishytime

things are getting taken out of context..... I said that I felt that a fuge in a sump will do little to feed a mandarin dragonet in a display.......because A) the pods in the sump first have to find the return pump and then B) have to survive the blender ride up to the display......I never said that refugiums dont breed pods

This is not based in your opinion alone. Others have said similar. I just wanted to gather more info.

My 70 is so jammed with pods it's nuts. I have a cryptic fuge in my sump for this tank.

[evaneatspie555]

are pods beneficial even if u dont have fish who feed on them and if u dont have any since i havents seen one in 2 years on my tank is there a way to introduce some ?

[FitoPharmer]

Originally Posted by evaneatspie555

are pods beneficial even if u dont have fish who feed on them and if u dont have any since i havents seen one in 2 years on my tank is there a way to introduce some ?

Pods can help complete the reefs nitrogen cycle in sufficient numbers without feeding any fish. If you have certain types of fish they will eat every humanly visible pod in your tank. When I first introduced a 6 line wrasse to my tank I watched him for the first few days pick every pod off the front glass. They may not be listed like a mandarin because they will eat almost anything, but that will not stop them from having pod snacks. If you have bought coral from someone or LR from an established tank you have pods. They normally can be found in the corners near or on the silicone.