Refugium Benefits

[Chameleon Bob]

I got my refuge up and going. I got chaeto and Caulerpa. I've put 2 jars of Dt's coepods and whatever shrimps and bugs that came with the plants. It's been one month since it was setup, so now the question is what critters, fish and corals benefit from this? example Mandarin gobies, sea horses, flame scallops, clams, feather dusters etc....... Do you still need to add liquid supplement food for these or just let the refuge take care of them??

[twisted]

I got my refuge up and going. I got chaeto and Caulerpa. I've put 2 jars of Dt's coepods and whatever shrimps and bugs that came with the plants. It's been one month since it was setup, so now the question is what critters, fish and corals benefit from this? example Mandarin gobies, sea horses, flame scallops, clams, feather dusters etc....... Do you still need to add liquid supplement food for these or just let the refuge take care of them??

i think pretty much everything in the tank benefits from it. the fuge is a safe haven for everything that eats...some people add phytoplankton to make sure the copepods have enough food but ive been told that an established tank makes its own phyto after time. i still add a little phyto on occasion

[Steve McKay]

As far as adding liquid supplement food,that depends on how long your tank has been setup.If it has been over six months you should be fine,There is a product called Reef Bugs that is a powder,that when stirred and allowed to sit will hatch live food.It is very good for all small organisms,but use it sparingly it is high in nutrients.

[Chameleon Bob]

Thanks guys appreciate the intel. I think I'll go get a Mandarin Gobie I've been trying to keep all along.

[Steve McKay]

If you have just added the pods and don't have a good colony established I would wait.They need about 55 pods a day.

[Chameleon Bob]

I just read a thread about dragonets and figured I'd better wait. In my fuge there's the shrimps everywhere and I can see a lot of little things wiggling their way around. I guess the question is how does one know when to add more pods or when not to add any? or is it just a every so many month type routine? I also noticed that not very many people on here don't keep dragonets, is this the reason?

[Steve McKay]

Those small shrimp are probably Gammarus shrimp,First how big is your tank and fuge?If your tank and fuge are big enough once a good colony of pods develop you should be ok.The reason is because they only eat pods in the wild and normally will only eat them in captivity.If you do get one you can try to feed it other food items such as mysis and brine shrimp,a friend was able to get one to eat blood worms.The reason you see a lot of people trying to keep them is simply because they are beautiful,many end up dying because people don't research the fish and find out it's feeding habits.They stave to death and the person wonders why it died.

[Chameleon Bob]

I have a 55 gal display, 20 gal refuge and 15 gal sump. I don't want to kill another I bought one like most people did staring through the pet stores aquariums and like you said Steve it died shortly after.

[Steve McKay]

I believe your tank and fuge will support a Mandarin,I would wait a month or two for the pods to breed and establish a good colony.When you get the mandarin just watch it (like you won't be)for any signs of starvation continually.Also try to see if it will eat other food items,try now and every couple of months.He will see other fish eating food and may possibly join in,that will supplement the pod population keeping it strong.

[Chameleon Bob]

Hey Steve thanks for the input, do you know if there is a dragonet that is a little hardy then others?

[Steve McKay]

Frankly no,I don't have enough experience to answer that.If you research you will find your answer.

[Chameleon Bob]

that's going to have to be another day, I've went cross-eyed reading all the threads on this site.

[Steve McKay]

That's a good thing,most people it seems get a tank add crushed coral,water,rock,fish and inverts without cycling.Then start asking questions.

[twisted]

hey bob! smart move on the goby! just give it a little more time for one...i have one and it also likes frozen bloodworms and frozen shrimp that comes in the marine quisine thingys...not saying that yours will but try out some bloods, you may get lucky! hell, one bloodworm equals how may copes?...it has given my tank and fuge to keep an ample supply of copepods and took the worry away should they disappear before i can restock. they are such cool and curious fish to watch.