Thinking about diy aquaclear refigium for copepods

BarbH · Apr 12, 2012

While browsing around online came across the idea of converting an aquaclear filter into a refigium. My setup is a 72 gallon running sumpless, and was interested in maybe keeping a mandarian dragonet. One of the things that makes me hesitant about being able to keep this fish is that with the lack of a sump or refigium I am not sure if I would be able to keep a replenshing supply of copepods for th fish to be able to feed upon. I had looked into the idea of setting up a small tank for copepods but decided against it because of lack of room to set up an additional tank. What I am wondering is with a hob refugium like the aquaclear idea if I would be able to keep up with replenshing my copepods for a mandarian? I realize that with this size refuge that it will probably not have much impact for controlling nitrates or phosphates in the tank. I have seen that there are hob refugiums that are available, but I am thinking that for a fraction of the cost for one of those I could do a diy that would work for the purpose that I am wanting.

impur · Apr 13, 2012

I don't think an AC70 is large enough to provide the food to sustain a mandarin. They will reproduce in there for sure, but I imagine a mandarin could wipe out all the pods in that filter in about an hour.

I think you are on the right track though. Maybe something larger like one of the acrylic HOB refugiums, I think that would work better. Or this might be a good time to start a small frag tank connected to your system. I have to use my scrapper to clear pods off the glass in my frag tank when i want to take pics lol

Reef Breeders · Apr 15, 2012

I would buy an hob fuge, a local reefer uses them on his undrilled tanks, they work pretty good. You can also get them used. Be sure to use chaeto, pods use it for shelter and food, making it the ideal habitat for amphipods and copepods.

pugbug99 · Apr 15, 2012

BarbH said:
While browsing around online came across the idea of converting an aquaclear filter into a refigium. My setup is a 72 gallon running sumpless, and was interested in maybe keeping a mandarian dragonet. One of the things that makes me hesitant about being able to keep this fish is that with the lack of a sump or refigium I am not sure if I would be able to keep a replenshing supply of copepods for th fish to be able to feed upon. I had looked into the idea of setting up a small tank for copepods but decided against it because of lack of room to set up an additional tank. What I am wondering is with a hob refugium like the aquaclear idea if I would be able to keep up with replenshing my copepods for a mandarian? I realize that with this size refuge that it will probably not have much impact for controlling nitrates or phosphates in the tank. I have seen that there are hob refugiums that are available, but I am thinking that for a fraction of the cost for one of those I could do a diy that would work for the purpose that I am wanting.

I have a 120 gal with a mandarin and I have no problems with keeping him happy. I have a total of 6 bottles of tiggerpods in the tank and have not added any for at leaast two months and he is a very well fed and happy little guy. the tiggerpods reproduce in the tank and I find them in my filter media when I service my tank. I think you should be fine with one in your 72 gal

pugbug99 · Apr 16, 2012

i want to thank you for the idea of making a refugium from an aqua clear. We decided to use one our 110's as a hob refugium so I will let you all know how it works out.

BarbH · Apr 16, 2012

welcome pugbug, please let me know how it works for you. Thinking of using a 110 over the 70. Could you by chance let me know what the dimensions are for the filter media area which would be used for the fudge part?

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impur · Apr 16, 2012

Here is a pic of mine when i used it on a 10gal nano

pugbug99 · Apr 17, 2012

over all length is about 12 to 14 in the refugium is 10 in w by 8 1/4 deep

BarbH · Apr 17, 2012

pugbug99 said:
over all length is about 12 to 14 in the refugium is 10 in w by 8 1/4 deep

Thanks that helps a lot, now will be able to compare hob fuges to the diy option better :bigsmile:

CJO · Apr 17, 2012

I have no issues keeping a mandarin in my 65 gallon tank. I do supplement sometimes with copepods, but I don't think that it's really necessary. I did, however, train him to eat frozen food too.

CJ

BarbH · Apr 18, 2012

CJO said:
I have no issues keeping a mandarin in my 65 gallon tank. I do supplement sometimes with copepods, but I don't think that it's really necessary. I did, however, train him to eat frozen food too.

CJ

Thanks CJ, the biggest thing I am concerned about is that without running a sump and not having a place for copepods to reproduce without the danger of being eaten, I want to make sure I have an area where they can reproduce. What I am thinking of is using an aquaclear 110 to create a fuge and place rock rubble and cheato into it. I have some fairly porous pieces of rock in my tank also that I think would allow for copepods to reproduce in, along with I am thinking about adding a few rock rubble areas in the tank also.

For the build I am thinking of using an impeller from one of the smaller aquaclears to slow down the rate of the flow through the filter. Will have to see what it is like and go from there.

When I finally do feel that I am ready to get my Mandarin I will being placing him/her into a qt tank, and will try to see if I am able to train it to eat frozen foods, but don't want to count on having that happen. This will be one fish that will definitly take a lot of preparing and planning but will be worth it definitly.

fyrfytr · Jan 2, 2013

:roll: bumping an old thread. How did it all work out for you?

pugbug99 · Jan 3, 2013

I have been using mine for a while great for copepods but to reduce nitrates it s not going to help really. I ve had my mandarin for a year now and i add a bottle of copepods every three months or so but really dont need to he is so filled out he looks like he s going to burst.