Refrugiam question

[JVH]

So I just set up my very small but hopefully effective refrugium with some rubble in the bottom some Chato Think I may be spelling that wrong but you get the idea and I also added some into pods copepods and trigger pods and some food for them..since I am new at this whole sump thing what I need to know is I have sponge blocking off the left side of the water and some other polyfil blocking off the right which in turn will keep all the bugs and little creatures within that area.. do I remove the poly fill from the one side when I am ready to send them up into the tank? Or do I just scoop out some water from that section and gather the little critters in a cup to put in the display tank? I don't know what is the best way to get them into the display tank to the naturally wonder up there on their own I have a Mandarin and I don't want to start him so I'm just going to keep adding to the display tank unless someone has a better idea.. I do know I need to keep the bubbles from getting into that area by having the sponge in the first section.. do I need to block them from getting out into the third section where my return pump is? Or do I want them to do that? Will they all go at the same time and then I'll have way too many in the display tank? That's my fear! Lol

 

[StevenBell]

Don't worry about blocking anything buddy.There's no way all of them will migrate to your display tank(the pods).Yes,some here and there will but not enough to wipe your fuge out.
As far as bubbles go,I'm not sure what type of system you run but there are baffles called bubble traps.Or you can use a sponge,but nothing too too fine as it could cause problems for your critters in there

 

[JVH]

Don't worry about blocking anything buddy.There's no way all of them will migrate to your display tank(the pods).Yes,some here and there will but not enough to wipe your fuge out.

The thing is I have a sponge on one side so the bubbles from the skimmer get cut down when they go into that area and then I have some poly fell on the other side but I am thinking it's keeping all of the bugs out of getting into the display tank and I think some of them are supposed to be traveling through aren't they? I am trying to figure out if I should be putting some in manually into the display tank so my Mandarin will always have enough to eat in or should I just manually add pods to that display tank as well?

 

[JVH]

I meant to say....how will I know if enough pods are getting through? Will the poly fill block them where I will need to scoop random cups of water mixed with pods so my mandarin gets enough!

 

[Damon]

I meant to say....how will I know if enough pods are getting through? Will the poly fill block them where I will need to scoop random cups of water mixed with pods so my meandering gets enough?

With time(and it doesn't take long, as long add the environment is conducive), and the first thing is seeing them scurry along when the lights first come on, or better yet, with a red flashlight at night.. That will tell you undoubtedly what is going on as far as pod population.. But give it a few weeks to a month or so..

That, and your fuge(the walls, pumps, everywhere). They will literally crawl with pods.. Even with a sponge, those little guys find their way everywhere!