CUC in Refugium

[MichaelReefer]

I am still getting very mixed information when I researched this topic.

I started a dedicated separate refugium up for my Red Sea 250 about a month ago. Now that I have the AI Prime Fuge light it is growing algae like weeds and the Chaeto is on fire.
All my algae in the main display is vanishing and it seems to be helping (bye bye red slime). My one problem is that Refugium is getting very dirty; the glass is green/brown and its starting to grow on my rubble as well. .

How do you all feel about a CUC in the Refugium? Whether it be snails, urchins, etc etc. I have heard dozens of opinions on it and just can't decide which to do.

 

[Scurvy]

I have a handful of Trochus and Astrea snails, two or three dwarf hermits and a gazillion bugs in my Fuge. Only reason i could see to not add any would be if you were worried about them getting into a skimmer or other pump. It can and will happen eventually if theyre small enough.

 

[Highgrade]

I have a handful of Trochus and Astrea snails, two or three dwarf hermits and a gazillion bugs in my Fuge. Only reason i could see to not add any would be if you were worried about them getting into a skimmer or other pump. It can and will happen eventually if theyre small enough.

I keep Scarlet reef hermits, Trochus and Turbos in my fuge.

Only two issues I've experienced, when my turbos eventually get hungry and eat any Macro algae such as Red Ogo, Green Sea lettuce and a few others. Which they shred in to a million pieces until they can get to the smaller pieces. Chaeto they won't touch. As for the Trochus they continue to breed , then my Return, UV, and Skimmer pumps gets jammed up from time to time with the smaller Trochus offspring.

 

[MichaelReefer]

I keep Scarlet reef hermits, Trochus and Turbos in my fuge.

Only two issues I've experienced, when my turbos eventually get hungry and eat any Macro algae such as Red Ogo, Green Sea lettuce and a few others. Which they shred in to a million pieces until they can get to the smaller pieces. Chaeto they won't touch. As for the Trochus they continue to breed , then my Return, UV, and Skimmer pumps gets jammed up from time to time with the smaller Trochus offspring.

I was looking at these Bulk Head Strainers. May throw them in the feed and return lines, just in case.

Bulkhead Overflow Strainers

Prevents fish snails and other tank inhabitants from getting sucked into your plumbing, sump or pump and subsequent damage. Slip Bulkhead Strainers: ½” Slip Bulkhead Strainer ¾" Slip Bulkhead Strainer 1" Slip Bulkhead Strainer Thread Bulkhead Strainers: ¾” Thread Bulkhead Strainer...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I'm not too worried about snails breeding because I will just throw them in the display and my Valentini Puffer will make dinner out of them.

 

[GJak]

The only thing in my fuge besides pods and ghost shrimp is an almost softball size tiger cowrie and he is a beast at eating any GHA that pops up. I highly recommend them.

 

[Highgrade]

I was looking at these Bulk Head Strainers. May throw them in the feed and return lines, just in case.

Bulkhead Overflow Strainers

Prevents fish snails and other tank inhabitants from getting sucked into your plumbing, sump or pump and subsequent damage. Slip Bulkhead Strainers: ½” Slip Bulkhead Strainer ¾" Slip Bulkhead Strainer 1" Slip Bulkhead Strainer Thread Bulkhead Strainers: ¾” Thread Bulkhead Strainer...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I'm not to worried about snails breeding because I will just throw them in the display and my Valentini Puffer will make dinner out of them.

These work unless you have small limpets that can make it past or clog them up.

 

[BeejReef]

No issues with it here, aside from having to clean the return pump out every few months. Didn't even place any down there, they just spawned and now plenty of snails in sump. I do kind of dislike having to reach into it without being able to see well and often coming across something slimy. For a saltwater tank keeper, I'm unusually averse to slimy

 

[MichaelReefer]

These work unless you have small limpets that can make it past or clog them up.

Yeah. I am thinking I would get some larger snails like Turbo's. If they breed i'll just manually move em to the Display for my Puffer to eat. *Free Food* lol