Refugium on JBJ nano 28

with the refugium chamber on the back of the nanocube 28, if I put some chaeto in and some live sand, will I be able to grow enough pods to keep a madarin alive? will the pods survive going through the pump back into the tank?

 

I read that only 10% of copepods will make it from your fuge, through your pump impeller, and into your DT for your Mandarin to eat. I have a BC29 HQI with chaeto in chamber 2 with the JBJ NanoGlo light on it and apparently enough pods are in my tank to keep my Mandarin alive since (see sig). After the 6 month mark, I'll really know. I want to put some LR rubble in there with the chaeto because I guess copepods like to cling/hide/reproduce within the rubble more than the chaeto. Someone correct me if what I read was incorrect.

 

They actually prefer the cheato but will also hide on lr. I wouldn't put any sand in there just rubble. I would not try a Mandarin in that small a tank unless you plan on adding tiger pods to replenish them all the time.

 

don't you want like a deep sand bed in there as well? isn't that what a refugium should have. I would love to keep a mandarin, figured the copepods would be able to reproduce fast enough to feed him.

 

Not in a 28 gallon tank they won't. These things devore pods at an incredible rate.A DSB is a debatable issue. I guess you could as long as you can keep it from getting on the pump side.8) Deep sand beds are usually kept in the refug for mangroves and de nitrification but I think they are more trouble then they are worth.

 

I would also like to make a refugium for my 28g jbj cube. I am thinking of putting a nano glo light in it. In the 3 stage I am going to put chaeto on top, rubble in middle, carbon on bottom and maybe some purigen under that. And on the sides next to it probably crumple my sponges and put them there How does that sound?

 

if i had a 289 gallon tank a mandarin would be out of the question, unless hes eating frozen food, which almost none accept. they eat pods at an alarming rate and they would not be replenished in time.

 

i was gonna do that nanoglo too, but they are rediculously expensive. i think we going to go with an azoo palm light. 17 bucks shipped on ebay, although the big als dymex led light for 20 bucks would probably be better.

i was thinking just 4-6 inchs of live sand at the bottom and chaeto on top. I have to look at it again, it looks solid on the bottom, I didn't think the sand would actually go anywhere. I was also going to take the two side sponges out so I don't have to clean them.

 

Well I heard its good to have a sponge with chaeto because the chaeto stands might fall off and go through your filter. Also I personally wouldnt put sand back there because I heard if sands starts go through the pumps it could wear them out faster.

 

i'll have to look at it, I don't see sand getting out of there into the pumps.