The sump fauna.

[Llyod276]

I've just had the new sump system in the basement for about ~4 months now, and I can't believe just how much is growing down there. It's like the Christians wrote, as it is above so it shall be below. I mean I have feather dusters growing in the glass, a limpit, that somehow is eating the algea in the skimmer/reactor section. Tons of pods and worms, the pineapple sponges are making a comeback. Amazing really. I'm wondering if there will be baby lighting maroon clowns in there one day.

 

[WheatToast]

Sumps and Refugiums are fascinating, aren't they!
My refugium has only been established for about a month; currently, it contains:
- Ulva (primary nutrient export)
- Hitchhiker Chaetomorpha
- Green hair algae
- Copepods
- Amphipods
- Munnid isopods (probably)
- Live mysis shrimp
- Dove snails
- Micro brittle stars
- Spirorbid worms
- Cryptic sponges
... and Aiptasia ;Inpain

 

[Llyod276]

Did your sump come from the ocean? I don't think I have that much stuff in mine. But who knows, I just gotta wonder how they get past the socks avoid the pumps and get settled. Even a dead moth in my return section.

 

[WheatToast]

Did your sump come from the ocean? I don't think I have that much stuff in mine. But who knows, I just gotta wonder how they get past the socks avoid the pumps and get settled. Even a dead moth in my return section.

I actually do not use filter socks (instead, I have insanely coarse Aquamesh), nor do I use a skimmer.
Most of the livestock I mentioned emerged from old LFS rock in my DT (which I believe originated from the Indo-Pacific when collection from the area was more popular and was sitting around, in the LFS, for a decade before I purchased it) and went down my overflow. However, I believe some of my refugium mud recently originated from the wild (as it contained large quantities of Mangrove leaves).