Fuge help

[systemfan15]

I need to know what exactly I should put in my small CPR hang-on refugium. I'm getting ready to put fish in my tank after I come back from vacation in a few weeks after I lost ALL of my fish to ich . It comes with the pumps, power heads and all. I just need to know what to grow in it and which inverts to add. As I said its a small 13.5L X 4.5 W X x L

[graphixx]

I would put some LR rubble in it and some cheato. the LR will give the pods a safe place to live and populate and the cheato is a great nutrient export.

[systemfan15]

what exactly are pods, i have an idea but im not sure

[davejnz]

Pods are just slang for the small crustacean like inverts that populate a reef tank.When your lights are out,shine a flashlight in your tank and you will probably see some amphipods moveing about on the LR.

[systemfan15]

Ok, so all tanks have pods? My tank isn't exactly a reef yet, just live rock, crustaceans, and i did have fish but they all died. So all live rock has pods? Also, what else should i have in the tank.

Also, the reason why I'm gettin the refugium is to lower my nitrate levels, how does it do this? Right now my seaclone 100, and 3 biofilters are what is filtering my tank, will the refugium be able to filter well enough so I wont need my bio-filters anymore? Do, i need more than live rock to filter my entire tank? And how exactly does the refuium fitler??

Additional Info: 55 gal tank, starfish, 15 hermit crabs, 15 snails, coral banded shrimp, emerald crab 50 lbs live rock.

[graphixx]

the way that works is that your LR actually acts as a filter. you have nitrifying bacteria that lives in the rocks and the sand, they break down the bad stuff in the tank. and yes your LR has pods. they live and breed in the LR.

[jerryc]

the way that works is that your LR actually acts as a filter. you have nitrifying bacteria that lives in the rocks and the sand, they break down the bad stuff in the tank. and yes your LR has pods. they live and breed in the LR.

I will add to a little to a good post :-)
Most all live rock comes with pods on it..
But as you add livestock Thea can all be consumed by your fish faster
thin reproduction can take place.
Your Rufugium will give the pods a place of safety to multiply with out
getting eat :D

[KG]

No offense, but since you just got over ich, you'll want to leave that tank fishless for at least 6 weeks to break the cycle. Also, ich is almost always introduced into a ST from lack of QTing. Below is an article you might find very interesting. Good luck!

KG

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...marineich.html

[systemfan15]

I wasn't planning on putting any new fish in til i get back from FL which wont be for about 20 some days. And all of my fish were removed from the show tank about 20 days ago, so i'm sure the ich will be gone. Also, can someone answer my MAIN question..How exactly does the refugium filter the aqurium. And also, will I need my millenium bio filters as well? And do I only need live rock in my refugium. Now to sum things up... I need a refugium, my live rock, and my protein skimmer. Is that all the filtration I need in my 55 gal??

[jerryc]

The Micro algae you put in the refugium takes up nutrients as Thea grow
Thais removing them as you pron the micro.

And yes at least in my opinion the live rock- skimmer and refugium is all
you need