HOB Refugium

[gjustinj]

Hey all!

I picked up a scooter blenney from the LFS the other day when getting some snails as they told me he would sift the sand, but after more research and talking to JaimeAdams, it seems I may have been duped and now I am in a spot where I need to build some kind of refugium for breeding Copepods to keep him fed (I honestly always planned to do something like this w. the mandarin (don't have one yet - i suppose this will be a good test)). I don't have a sump.

With that said, I was reading online and I found HOB refugiums. Anyone have any luck with these and which brand is good? Also how big do I really need for a 125G tank? It's my understanding if I get one of these and then buy some copepods to start it, and feed them pykoplankton they begin to breed.

 

[Shelbytwp123]

Ummm with 125G I would really just do sump with refuge

 

[gjustinj]

Ummm with 125G I would really just do sump with refuge

Can't do sump

 

[Shelbytwp123]

Understood... myself not sure if they make HOB refuge big enough to beneficially support tank that size but than again I am no expert but will defina9try to look it up here

 

[gjustinj]

Understood... myself not sure if they make HOB refuge big enough to beneficially support tank that size but than again I am no expert but will defina9try to look it up here

Thanks so much - I've been googling like crazy, but I am really lost haha

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You'll get bugs in the tank. Dump some in and don't sweat it.
Those fish aren't as pod sensitive as mandarins.
If you like look at the cpr refugiums. They're big.
And fwiw it's myth about copepods. Imagine if a species only ate one thing ever. It makes no sense. They eat all types of pods worms rotifers etc. so if your going to seed the tank get a variety and keep in mind they are cockroaches. The more food in the tank the more roaches. Thuy don't require that much work

 

[gjustinj]

You'll get bugs in the tank. Dump some in and don't sweat it.
Those fish aren't as pod sensitive as mandarins.
If you like look at the cpr refugiums. They're big.
And fwiw it's myth about copepods. Imagine if a species only ate one thing ever. It makes no sense. They eat all types of pods worms rotifers etc. so if your going to seed the tank get a variety and keep in mind they are cockroaches. The more food in the tank the more roaches. Thuy don't require that much work

Hi saltyfilmfolks,

So the scooter blenney is not as hard to keep as a mandarin? I do expect to get a mandarin some day. You are saying one bottle of copods is enough to feed the tank? How often should i get them? They are like 21.00 for a bottle in my LFS. I figured 'breeding' them would be the cheaper method, especially if i get a mandarin eventually.

 

[gjustinj]

Hi saltyfilmfolks,

So the scooter blenney is not as hard to keep as a mandarin? I do expect to get a mandarin some day. You are saying one bottle of copods is enough to feed the tank? How often should i get them? They are like 21.00 for a bottle in my LFS. I figured 'breeding' them would be the cheaper method, especially if i get a mandarin eventually.

@JaimeAdams any thoughts?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hi saltyfilmfolks,

So the scooter blenney is not as hard to keep as a mandarin? I do expect to get a mandarin some day. You are saying one bottle of copods is enough to feed the tank? How often should i get them? They are like 21.00 for a bottle in my LFS. I figured 'breeding' them would be the cheaper method, especially if i get a mandarin eventually.[/QUOTEyes they eat frozen and small pellets as well. Def much easier.
Look at reed mariculture. I also use aquarium Depot and get the free shipping pods for 20. Comes with probably four types of poses. Cope amphi ani ISO pods. And also just look at getting some chato as bugs come in on it. I've had mandarins scooters and pipes and have never cutltured pods out side the tank. I've also never bought the little bottle of pods Esp just a single species. Ok I did but kinda regretted it. If you do buy them make sure it's at a time you have a bit of high nutrints an some algaes etc. if you by bugs and the tanks is super clean and new they obviously won't survive long.

 

[gjustinj]

brown algae on the sand bed count? I do have a good bit of that! How often should you feed the tank a bottle of pods? I checked the website, they are the same amount to buy them alive up at wet pets.

@JaimeAdams has been great to me coming into the hobby (we live close together - we should have some beers!) He asked me to google Reef BioDiversity so I have been which led me to the refugium hob idea for pods, because this winter or early spring (next year) we plan to get a mandarin. But I had no idea that Scooter Blenney was related in any shape or form - the guy at the LFS told me it was an easy fish to keep and it would clean the top of the sand bed (remove dark brown), but I also grabbed about 6 snails too.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

But I had no idea that Scooter Blenney was related in any shape or form - the guy at the LFS told me it was an easy fish to keep

they are and it is. and yes on my non sumped tanks I have always had a HOB refugium. But it isnt 100% needed IME.

These usually have a free shipping deal. and are multi cultures. https://aquariumdepot.com/live-food
Depending on how many bugs I see in the tank Ill buy them 3 or 4 times a year, maybe. I didn't buy any last year until Nov I believe..

One thing, if you do decide to go HOB fuge I highly recommend leaving it bare bottom macros only . it WILL need to be cleaned. organics get pumped in and sink, and bugs poop a lot.

 

[gjustinj]

they are and it is. and yes on my non sumped tanks I have always had a HOB refugium. But it isnt 100% needed IME.

These usually have a free shipping deal. and are multi cultures. https://aquariumdepot.com/live-food
Depending on how many bugs I see in the tank Ill buy them 3 or 4 times a year, maybe. I didn't buy any last year until Nov I believe..

One thing, if you do decide to go HOB fuge I highly recommend leaving it bare bottom macros only . it WILL need to be cleaned. organics get pumped in and sink, and bugs poop a lot.

they sell 1000 mix of amphipods & copepods - is that what i should get? or just 250 copepods?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

they sell 1000 mix of amphipods & copepods - is that what i should get? or just 250 copepods?

I get the 250's as they usually have a free shipping deal.(cheapskate) and it usually is more Amphipod heavy.

 

[gjustinj]

I get the 250's as they usually have a free shipping deal.(cheapskate) and it usually is more Amphipod heavy.

How quickly do they typically arrive?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

How quickly do they typically arrive?

five days and most often they time to arrive on the weekend. Its florida based I believe. I'm in Southern california.

 

[gjustinj]

five days and most often they time to arrive on the weekend. Its florida based I believe. I'm in Southern california.

will my Blenney survive that long in a 2 month old tank? Perhaps this first batch i should grab at the LFS after work?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

will my Blenney survive that long in a 2 month old tank? Perhaps this first batch i should grab at the LFS after work?

Is it eating frozen? It should be.
If your concerned buying it locally wont hurt. Keep in mind whats in the bottle and also the bag is mostly just seed for the tank.

Other easy good foods are Nutrimar OVA, fish eggs, baby brine shrimp(gut loaded w spirulina.)

 

[gjustinj]

Is it eating frozen? It should be.
If your concerned buying it locally wont hurt. Keep in mind whats in the bottle and also the bag is mostly just seed for the tank.

Other easy good foods are Nutrimar OVA, fish eggs, baby brine shrimp(gut loaded w spirulina.)

Just got him yesterday, his first feeding will be tonight with the rest of the fish. Planning on soaking some mysis in garlic x-treme.

 

[gjustinj]

Is it eating frozen? It should be.
If your concerned buying it locally wont hurt. Keep in mind whats in the bottle and also the bag is mostly just seed for the tank.

Other easy good foods are Nutrimar OVA, fish eggs, baby brine shrimp(gut loaded w spirulina.)

My LFS doesn't have tisbe's, looks like only free swimmers. Is that a big issue?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

My LFS doesn't have tisbe's, looks like only free swimmers. Is that a big issue?

No, the fish is looking to pick off of rocks anyway.