Will Copepods make it through?

[Keko21]

I am planning on dosing my refugium with pods next week and i cant seem to find an answer to this question: will they make it from the fuge to the return through a sponge filter pad (in the baffle between the fuge and return)?

should i remove this and put crushed rock instead?

I obviously want them to make it to the tank.

 

[rsumner]

I'm not sure what micron density this sponge is, but its definitely less than a filter sock, so I would say yes. If you're concerned, you could always go with something less fine like this: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aquamesh-blue-3.html

 

[GarrettT]

Unless the sponge is really needed, I would remove it.

 

[TheBear78]

FWIW my refugium and return pump is separated by sponge like this. I regularly add copepods to the 'fuge, typically with the pump off during feeding, to give them a chance of hiding. When I turn the pump on there are always a few that come straight through and a steady flow of them for a while afterwards.

 

[Jay'sReefBugs]

Yes they will I would just watch as some sponges can get clogged restricting water flow . Rubble rock is ideal for copepods to reproduce

 

[mfinn]

I use sponge in my sump to block the chaeto from getting into my return pump and I know that the sponge starts clogging up pretty fast.
If I were you, I would add the pods to the display tank.

 

[Dburr1014]

I am planning on dosing my refugium with pods next week and i cant seem to find an answer to this question: will they make it from the fuge to the return through a sponge filter pad (in the baffle between the fuge and return)?

should i remove this and put crushed rock instead?

I obviously want them to make it to the tank.

They will be everywhere in short time.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Normally, that sponge is set before the return pump section to keep any micro bubbles from entering. That means they are usually a pretty dense foam. I have replaced my foam with a much more open cell foam. It catches debris, keeps bubbles back, and is an active pod breeding bed. When I"clean" the sponge, I actually just wash it out, in the display water... Tons of pods..

 

[Lavey29]

Normally, that sponge is set before the return pump section to keep any micro bubbles from entering. That means they are usually a pretty dense foam. I have replaced my foam with a much more open cell foam. It catches debris, keeps bubbles back, and is an active pod breeding bed. When I"clean" the sponge, I actually just wash it out, in the display water... Tons of pods..

Which foam do you use?

 

[Lavey29]

I am planning on dosing my refugium with pods next week and i cant seem to find an answer to this question: will they make it from the fuge to the return through a sponge filter pad (in the baffle between the fuge and return)?

should i remove this and put crushed rock instead?

I obviously want them to make it to the tank.

I have the same deal. I don't see many pods making it all the way to the return pump chamber but some do.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Which foam do you use?

I Don't have a link. I bought a strip of it at a craft store. It is built like the aquamesh, but even more open and black.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I have the same deal. I don't see many pods making it all the way to the return pump chamber but some do.

Do you ever transfer pods actively from the fuge to the Display? I'm not fully convinced that passive transfer is enough if you have more than one or two active pod hunters. This becomes more important, the smaller the tank is or the more pod hunters you have.

Every time I thin my Chaeto, I rinse it first in a few inches of new clean SW, which is then dumped into the tank. I have to do this part at night to let the pods settle. All of my pod hunters have very fat bellies after.

 

[Lavey29]

Do you ever transfer pods actively from the fuge to the Display? I'm not fully convinced that passive transfer is enough if you have more than one or two active pod hunters. This becomes more important, the smaller the tank is or the more pod hunters you have.

Every time I thin my Chaeto, I rinse it first in a few inches of new clean SW, which is then dumped into the tank. I have to do this part at night to let the pods settle. All of my pod hunters have very fat bellies after.

No, have not tried that method. I do rinse chaeto in salt water during water changes though so maybe I'll save some water and try what you said. Now when you say night time you mean when the DT is dark? My fuge is lit up at night with pods free swimming or do you mean when the fuge is dark during daylight hours for the tank?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

No, have not tried that method. I do rinse chaeto in salt water during water changes though so maybe I'll save some water and try what you said. Now when you say night time you mean when the DT is dark? My fuge is lit up at night with pods free swimming or do you mean when the fuge is dark during daylight hours for the tank?

I mean I dump them in the display, when lights are out and most fish have retired for the night otherwise it becomes a feeding frenzy.

My goal of transferring a lot of pods isn't just to give everyone a good meal. I want them to settle, and hide, and breed. Your pod hunters will still be feasting either way. I figure it extends the buffet this way.

 

[lake985]

Every time I thin my Chaeto, I rinse it first in a few inches of new clean SW, which is then dumped into the tank. I have to do this part at night to let the pods settle. All of my pod hunters have very fat bellies after.

Great idea--I'm definitely going to do this next time. Can't believe I didn't think about this sooner.

 

[Lavey29]

Hey OP here is a pic of the bubble trap sponge you reference. You can see how porous it is for pods.

 

[Lavey29]

I mean I dump them in the display, when lights are out and most fish have retired for the night otherwise it becomes a feeding frenzy.

My goal of transferring a lot of pods isn't just to give everyone a good meal. I want them to settle, and hide, and breed. Your pod hunters will still be feasting either way. I figure it extends the buffet this way.

Ok I thought maybe you were taking the chaeto out in the dark and the pods were hiding inside it as you rinsed it out.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Ok I thought maybe you were taking the chaeto out in the dark and the pods were hiding inside it as you rinsed it out.

I've never tried pulling the Chaeto out in the dark. There's enough pods rinsed out of a bowl of Chaeto, pulled during the day, to make my skin kind of crawl.

 

[Keko21]

So I ended up cutting my foam bubble trap down to just two inches and put that in the bottom of the transfer, then put crushed rock on top- should make it easier for the pods to get down there and through to the return.

 

[Blue Cheese]

I have redsea 900 with the fuge in the secondary sump,i had the foam insert in,I only added pods to the refugium,to answer op question

yes the pods will get through that foam insert but I did remove it later,it annoys me