why a HOB refuge?

[di0nysus]

its not adding much water volume and the amount of sand and LR you can fit in it would do just as good in the tank? besides adding the water flow wouldnt a power head work better i dont get the point of this addition

 

[Lotus]

One of the main functions of a refugium is to provide a place for pods to breed, so the added water/live rock isn't an issue in this case, it's the tank's ability to produce its own food.

You might want to think about using macroalgae instead of live rock, as it will provide some nutrient export by helping to remove nitrates and phosphates from the water.

 

[TRe]

i would say your much better off using macro algae instead of live rock aswell.... the macro aglae thrives on unwanted nutrients we have left over in our water .... also its a safe place for the pods to breed wich is benificial

 

[di0nysus]

ok so the pods breed and then slowly get sucked back into the main tank, is that how it works? and is this macro algae the green grass looking plant i see in most refuges?
i was thinking about doubling my water volume with a second 29 g refuge sump.

 

[TRe]

doubling your water is always a good thing

 

[Lotus]

Yes, some of the pods will go back into the tank. And, yes, the green stuff in refuges is Chaetomorpha (a type of macroalgae)

 

[di0nysus]

i found these live copepods your could buy here http://reefnutrition.com/tiggerpods/index.htm would this be an easy way to own a manderin goby?

 

[TRe]

that would help but the tank still needs to be established

 

[1979camaro]

And it will get very expensive to buy enough live pods to feed your mandarin, not to mention the difficulty of making sure only the mandarin eats them.