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davidrey 
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Joined: July 15 2005
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 Topic: Refugium fish
Posted: July 29 2005 at 2:54pm |
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Does anybody keep fish in their refugium system? What are the merits and drawbacks of doing this? I'm thinking about putting a few damsels into the "bottom" of my system just to keep it more interesting.
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DCR: I'm trying to find out how much I don't yet know.
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meterman
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Posted: July 29 2005 at 3:02pm |
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In summary from what I've read on the board, I would say that most people who put fish in their refug use it for aggressive fish that they didn't think would be so aggressive. Or, for less aggressive fish that may be getting beat up by the rest of the community.
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Alex
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Shane H
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Posted: July 29 2005 at 3:10pm |
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Keeping fish in your refugium pretty much defeats the purpose. A refugium is, by definition, a refuge for smaller animals / algae that are likely to be eaten by other tank mates. By using a refugium you can keep such animals safe from predation. By adding fish, you add a predator and defeat the refuge feature of your sump.
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: July 29 2005 at 9:24pm |
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Purposes of the RDP Refugium in a Reef Aquarium Ecosystem
1. Provides nightime pH control through algal reverse daylight photosynthesis (RDP). See the February 2002 issue of the Sea Star Online (button to the left) for an explanation of this process.
2. Nutrient export through algal and micro-invertebrate growth effectively filters the entire system. Algae is the only effective natural exporter of phosphate. Algae must be periodically harvested to provide continuous nutrient export. Though Chaetomorpha is the most effective macroalgae for this purpose that is known at this time, all algae growing in the Refugium is useful as a nutrient exporter. A few snails are helpful in eating excess microalgae on the refugium sides and macroalgae surfaces.
3. Provides a refuge for micro-inverts for the purpose of letting their young get pulled in by the pump to feed the main tank.
4. An increased area of Live Sand bed provides additional waste processing for the main tank. A variety of worms and sand dwelling critters are especially crucial here.
5. Aeration at the overflow and each outlet point provides pH maintenance and water oxygenation.
6. Provides additional water volume. Dilution is part of the solution to pollution.
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Chris
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Posted: July 29 2005 at 9:43pm |
I keep a yellow clown goby in my refugium because it was nipping at my corals in my main tank. I figured that the one little fish could not eat the pods fast enough to cause a problem. He was in there for about 3 weeks then one day he was gone. I think he may have starved because I never feed him figuring he had lots of food. Or he might just be hiding somewhere waiting for the perfect time to attack me in my sleep for putting him in there. I would not keep a fish in the refugium unless it was a problem in the main tank.
Oh I also kept my baby tomato clown fish in my refugium. I did this because they were so small that I was afraid of them ending up in the overflow box.
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Kam Blake
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Posted: July 30 2005 at 1:09am |
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What about crabs snails ect. In the tank. Some sand movement is needed right.
What does everyone have in their RDP Tanks?
What pods? Worms ect. Other then sand and calerpa should we have?
How much water movement?
I have had mine up and going for over a year lots of life. 210 built in the wall upstairs and a 30 gal breeder as my RDP and a 50 gal for sump downstairs. 1800-2000 gal turn over per hour. Never a problem. SPS and softs. 25 fish.
Please comment.....
Edited by Kam Blake
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: July 30 2005 at 10:08am |
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Snails, yes.
Hermits, don't bother.
Sand movement occurs on a micro level so long as there is plenty of microscopic life in the sand. This is also true for the main tank, but...I recently added a small cucumber to both my 75 and my 40.
I've long been a proponent of undisturbed sand beds, but a recent experience with an undisturbed 4 year old sand bed has caused me to rethink.
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ljbs
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Posted: August 06 2005 at 8:42pm |
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I do on occasion have fish in my refugium. When my benjaii
cardinal releases its baby fish into the water some of them get into
the overflow and end up in the refugium. I have raised 4 down
there and now there is another one. It seems to be the only place
I can actually raise the babies since they eat what grows down there
naturally. Each time there are new babies I hope that some get
washed to the refugium since I can't catch the daddy or the babies in
the main tank.
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Linda Spencer
West Jordan
From My little corner of the sea
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