HOB Refugium

[Emery]

Setting up a new tank this week, with intentions of housing a mandarin down the road when the tank has matured. After doing some research I found that HOb refugiums are better for pod cultivation since they won't die when they run thru the return pump. My question is, to get the pod population up to accommodate a Manderin, how long in advance should I have the HOB Refugium up and running?

Oh and I'm not so worried about the refugiums export as I am pod population. I just want to make sure it's producing enough to keep it fed. Other things I'm interested to know are if you ran a Refugium for this purpose, how did you set it up? DSB, MM, rubble, cheato ect... Thanks

 

[JohnnyRambo]

Hey Emery, I have a twenty gallon tank with a medium sized hob refugium. I would honestly give it about a month so you know for a fact you should be housing a good amount of Copepods. I simply added a bit of old dried live sand and some chaeto. I do plan on at least adding some miracle mud to fill in some extra space.

 

[Emery]

Thanks, I have a 75 gallon tank and I'm thinking of doing the large Aquafuge2 to hang on the back. I read you want to let the tank mature a year before adding a Manderin and didn't know if the fuge has to be active for that year before adding. So I just want to figure out the timing, and how I'm going to stock it.

 

[AQSstudent]

Have you looked into ordering a captive-bred mandarin instead? They usually eat prepared diets right away.

As for your pods; the longer, the better obviously. A month would be better than a week, a year would be better than a month, and 5 years would be better than one year. It really depends on how long you want it to be set up before you want your mandarin fish. Have you though about supplementing your refuge with pods as well?

 

[NanaReefer]

With plenty of LR in your DT and minimize the number of Copepod eating fish, you wouldn't even need a refugium. Put some LR rubble in the back corners of your DT, they make great homes for copepods. Feed the pods and they will explode in numbers. Especially if as you say this happens a year from now

 

[Emery]

Thanks, I have a 75 gallon tank and I'm thinking of doing the large Aquafuge2 to hang on the back. I read you want to let the tank mature a year before adding a Manderin and didn't know if the fuge has to be active for that year before adding. So I just want to figure out the timing, and how I'm going to stock it.

 

[Congaken]

With plenty of LR in your DT and minimize the number of Copepod eating fish, you wouldn't even need a refugium. Put some LR rubble in the back corners of your DT, they make great homes for copepods. Feed the pods and they will explode in numbers. Especially if as you say this happens a year from now

what do you feed the pods?...do I need phyto or will something else do...eg. powdered algae flakes...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

They usually eat prepared diets right away.

wont matter. They feed all day.

With plenty of LR in your DT and minimize the number of Copepod eating fish, you wouldn't even need a refugium. Put some LR rubble in the back corners of your DT, they make great homes for copepods. Feed the pods and they will explode in numbers. Especially if as you say this happens a year from now

Yup.
Id still put a fuge on.

The difficulty with keeping bugs is you have to have a lot of food for bugs and that generally leads to higher nutrints.(think cockroach)
Low food, less bugs. Pod populations wax and wane even with good feeding. Iso, cope, and amphipods compete constantly and yes mandy's eat all the above. Plus worms and stuff you dont know you have.

 

[Congaken]

wont matter. They feed all day.

Yup.
Id still put a fuge on.

The difficulty with keeping bugs is you have to have a lot of food for bugs and that generally leads to higher nutrints.(think cockroach)
Low food, less bugs. Pod populations wax and wane even with good feeding. Iso, cope, and amphipods compete constantly and yes mandy's eat all the above. Plus worms and stuff you dont know you have.

Well, I ordered some phyto...have a 5 gal. tank with cheato, live rock (?), airstone and led light...will that provide enough heat...it has a glass cover...as I said, half will go directly into the DT so my butterfly and other guys can enjoy...does that sound like a good plan...need more heat?...obviously this is my first venture into copepods...thanks......since it is a separate little tank, and the light provides the heat...should I keep the lights on 24/7?

 

[Congaken]

Well, I ordered some phyto...have a 5 gal. tank with cheato, live rock (?), airstone and led light...will that provide enough heat...it has a glass cover...as I said, half will go directly into the DT so my butterfly and other guys can enjoy...does that sound like a good plan...need more heat?...obviously this is my first venture into copepods...thanks......since it is a separate little tank, and the light provides the heat...should I keep the lights on 24/7?

Thanks for the like...but I need those answers...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thanks for the like...but I need those answers...

what?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Well, I ordered some phyto...have a 5 gal. tank with cheato, live rock (?), airstone and led light...will that provide enough heat...it has a glass cover...as I said, half will go directly into the DT so my butterfly and other guys can enjoy...does that sound like a good plan...need more heat?...obviously this is my first venture into copepods...thanks......since it is a separate little tank, and the light provides the heat...should I keep the lights on 24/7?

Youul need to keep it close to normal tank parameters I believe. I don't really culture pods like that. But no on the 24/7 Imo, plants do need rest like corals.
I run mine on an opposite schedule. Rather than broadcast feeding Phyto I sprinkle flake food on the chato from time to time. (nutrient control.) but both are a good Idea. Different types of pods have different feeding needs.

 

[Congaken]

wont matter. They feed all day.

Yup.
Id still put a fuge on.

The difficulty with keeping bugs is you have to have a lot of food for bugs and that generally leads to higher nutrints.(think cockroach)
Low food, less bugs. Pod populations wax and wane even with good feeding. Iso, cope, and amphipods compete constantly and yes mandy's eat all the above. Plus worms and stuff you dont know you have.

what?

I (thought) I asked you about light, heat and my setup for copepods...it starts with "I ordered some phyto"...if you don't have it I'll write it again...my first trial at pods...thanks...

 

[Congaken]

I (thought) I asked you about light, heat and my setup for copepods...it starts with "I ordered some phyto"...if you don't have it I'll write it again...my first trial at pods...thanks...

NEVER MIND...SEE YOUR ANSWER ABOVE...THANKS

 

[Congaken]

Youul need to keep it close to normal tank parameters I believe. I don't really culture pods like that. But no on the 24/7 Imo, plants do need rest like corals.
I run mine on an opposite schedule. Rather than broadcast feeding Phyto I sprinkle flake food on the chato from time to time. (nutrient control.) but both are a good Idea. Different types of pods have different feeding needs.

Is heat an issue?...if I turn off the light at night...we only have room heat...does that matter or do I need a heater?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

NEVER MIND...SEE YOUR ANSWER ABOVE...THANKS

lol. I type slow and went to get another cup of cofee.

Is heat an issue?...if I turn off the light at night...we only have room heat...does that matter or do I need a heater?

I would default to running it at normal tank temps. If the room stays pretty close to the 70's its prob fine, but a heater for a 5 g is pretty cheap.

 

[Congaken]

lol. I type slow and went to get another cup of cofee.


I would default to running it at normal tank temps. If the room stays pretty close to the 70's its prob fine, but a heater for a 5 g is pretty cheap.

I have a little heater...I'll run it...thanks for all of your input...Ken

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have a little heater...I'll run it...thanks for all of your input...Ken

yup.

 

[Congaken]

yup.

One more question...what about cycling...are the pods sensitive to ammonia...I have some live rock pieces that may do the trick...if needed...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

..are the pods sensitive to ammonia.

yes. If you take used tank water and live rock and put it in a tank itll be just fine.