Best invert for the job?

[mapster]

I have a refugium that is above the main display and overflows into the display (via gravity). It is unlit and its purpous it to provide a predator free habitat for pods to live, breed and overflow into the display. The goal is to generate a live food supply for a Mandarin fish I hope to keep down the line. Although I believe the cryptic life that will eventually form will provide some additional filtration its not the main goal.

Any-who, I have concerns. I'm concerned about, what else, detritus build up. What is my best plan of attack? Heres my thoughts:

1. Cerith snails. Will these get the job done? Can they live on detritus alone?

2. Serpent Star or Green Brittle Star. I know there clean up capabilities but will they also feed on my pods if food becomes scarce?

3. Nothing. Over time will the fuge eventually generate enough critters to keep up with the level of detritus produced by the tank?

4. Something else. Is there another critter that is best suited for the gig?

5. Lose the fuge. Is the refugium a bad idea? Will it become a detritus settling chamber fueling high nutrient levels and uncontrollable algae blooms in the display?

Thank for listening. Any help will be appreciated. I dont want to have to continuously have to siphon out detritus and if its a better idea to just lose the fuge, well then, so be it. I'm in the early stages here and ditching the fuge now wouldn't be a huge ordeal. I could throw the live rock in the sump and call it a day.

MAP

[hitillidie]

The refugium in not a bod idea, you can also use if for filtration if you put some type of caluerpa in it, but you probably know that. Once the refugium kick in, it should be able to keep up. The green brittle star will not eat the copepods. But I wouldn't get one cause they will eat small fish and shrimp. Some people will tell you their experiences with them but believe me I'm taking mine back this morning. Stay with the serpent star. I would think about Nassurius Snails, they are really good.

[Geoff]

ok this is my thoughts on refugiums. they will not be able to supply food for a predator in the tank. they can keep something from being eaten to extinction in a system, but there will not be enough to feed anything.

1. pods like to stay near the bottom, or at least on the rocks. they would not be anywhere near the outlets for the refugium

2. pods will not get rid of end detritus. it will just keep filling up the refugium untill it becomes a cyano farm.

3. you will need to siphon the refugium to remove the detritus. if you want to keep pods in there i suggest large rock so you can remove them when you siphon out the refugium.

4. in order to keep a lot of pods you will need to feed the refugium. this will increase the amount of detritus in the refugium, which leads to more frequent need of siphoning out the refugium.

refugiums are good for nutrient removal if an algae is used and culled often. other than this purpose i feel they are highly over rated. obviously this JMHO.

G~

[Jimbo]

I have to agree with geoff mostly, my refugium has no sand in it and acts as a settling tank. Vacuum it out every week. It does have some cheato in it though. Plenty pod life in there. I would disgree that not many of the pods reach the display, these things lay eggs and at least some larva are getting into the display along with some tiny snails. I often see free swimming pods.

[Phishnoob]

I cannot say enough about Narsarrius snails in the sand. Mrs. Phish has a refugium that is just perfect. There are a couple of Cerith in there on polish duty.


Phishnoob

[hitillidie]

I love my refugium, all you have to do is put clean up crew in the refugium. The purpose is filtration, you put clean-up crew to take care of the detristus.

[cmiannay]

I second the Nassaurius Snails! We have sand in our fuge as well, and they keep the detritus under control. BTW, we also have a Cerith, a Margarita, a small Mexican Turbo, and a dwarf hermit down there too (along with some small LR and Cheatomorpha).

HTH,
Cathy