pods and bristle worms in refugeum(sp?) but not in tank???

[reefertanks]

First off I am new to reef tanks and have some questions any help is greatly needed. I bought a 29 gal tank setup complete with 5 gal ref, 10 gal sump, full plumbing, lighting etc. the tank is stocked with various corals, shrimp, snails, conches, crabs and 2 fish. After I moved the tank to my house I noticed that I could not see any pods or bristle worms in the 29 gal tank but they are everywere in the ref. one of my fish is a mandrin dragonet that eats only pods. is this a problem, if so how can i help it?



j.lucas

[dark horge]

The refugium is literally a "refuge" for pods and the like, from the rapacious appetites of fish like your dragonet.

It isn't really surprising that the volume that the dragonet inhabits is short on the little bugs, but so long as the refugium keeps producing them, many will drift/migrate into the display tank to serve the dragonet's gastronomic needs. Think of the 'fuge' as the goose that lays the golden eggs, and tweak your system throughput (flowrate and general flow configuration)to control how many of the "fuge" pods get carried to the display.
Also strive for a "fuge" sized appropriately for the demands of the display.)


hth,
horge

[reefertanks]

thanks for the info on the refugium but how can i tell if there are enough pods and worms in the display tank. do they get chopped up by the propeller action inside the powerhead or does that matter. I was catching the return water(from refugium) with a net before it hit the sump to ensure pods did not get chopped up.(then i would place catchings in tank) i have recently removed this net to return water directly to sump. Which is a better method?


j.lucas