Fuge/pods/phyto

[Codeblack88]

Hi, i am going away to college in August and I will be passing my tank to my dad. He is big into coral, clams, and gobies so I want to prep the tank to that he can hold any fish/coral he wants (within reason). So I want to add a refugium to my tank as well as create a population of phytoplankton (Nannochloropsis) and copepods (Tigriopus Californicus) so that the tank is fully prepped for him. I have a few questions about these topics.

1) How much lighting is required for a refugium to be successful (I am only thinking of putting chaeto)?
2) Do protein skimmers/filter floss damage the phyto (Nannochloropsis) and copepod (Tigriopus Californicus) populations?
3) Does phyto ever become self sustaining or do you always need to add new doses to keep the pop going?
4) Aside from normal feeding of the fish, is there anything else that needs to be dosed or added via media bags in the sump to keep both the phyto and copepod populations running?

Tank specs
32 gal biocube
Coralife protein skimmer
sand bed with live rock
atm its a FOWLR tank but am going to trade out my nonreef safes when time comes

any other advice/suggestions are really appreciated

Thank you for any help you are able to offer!

 

[JanBanan]

2. Yes. You won't be able to keep the phyto in the tank, it will be consumed or filtered out very quickly, it needs to be added continuously if you want to have constant supply. The benthic copepods will be ok, they stay on your rock/glas

 

[glennkaufman]

Just added red grow light to mid chamber of smaller bio cube. This is where I will have my Red Ogo refugium with pods. Trying to keep my tank stocked with Pods for my little Dragonette. The light was cheap and rated well for growing.

 

[Codeblack88]

2. Yes. You won't be able to keep the phyto in the tank, it will be consumed or filtered out very quickly, it needs to be added continuously if you want to have constant supply. The benthic copepods will be ok, they stay on your rock/glas

Okay thank you!

 

[Codeblack88]

Just added red grow light to mid chamber of smaller bio cube. This is where I will have my Red Ogo refugium with pods. Trying to keep my tank stocked with Pods for my little Dragonette. The light was cheap and rated well for growing.

Thats awesome. Do you have a skimmer running? Also where did u find the light?

 

[Jekyl]

I haven't fed my pods in over a year and my mandarin is the fattest fish in my tank.

 

[glennkaufman]

Thats awesome. Do you have a skimmer running? Also where did u find the light?

No, I don't run a skimmer. I'm space limited. Lol. Just ChemiPure Blue and heater in chamber one. Filter floss, refugium and De-nitrate in chamber 2. Chamber 3 is clear. Deleted sponge between 2 and 3.

 

[Codeblack88]

No, I don't run a skimmer. I'm space limited. Lol. Just ChemiPure Blue and heater in chamber one. Filter floss, refugium and De-nitrate in chamber 2. Chamber 3 is clear. Deleted sponge between 2 and 3.

Okay thanks for your help