Hi, i am going away to college in August and I will be passing my tank to my dad. He is big into coral, clams, and gobies so I want to prep the tank to that he can hold any fish/coral he wants (within reason). So I want to add a refugium to my tank as well as create a population of phytoplankton (Nannochloropsis) and copepods (Tigriopus Californicus) so that the tank is fully prepped for him. I have a few questions about these topics.
1) How much lighting is required for a refugium to be successful (I am only thinking of putting chaeto)?
2) Do protein skimmers/filter floss damage the phyto (Nannochloropsis) and copepod (Tigriopus Californicus) populations?
3) Does phyto ever become self sustaining or do you always need to add new doses to keep the pop going?
4) Aside from normal feeding of the fish, is there anything else that needs to be dosed or added via media bags in the sump to keep both the phyto and copepod populations running?
Tank specs
32 gal biocube
Coralife protein skimmer
sand bed with live rock
atm its a FOWLR tank but am going to trade out my nonreef safes when time comes
Thank you for any help you are able to offer!
1) How much lighting is required for a refugium to be successful (I am only thinking of putting chaeto)?
2) Do protein skimmers/filter floss damage the phyto (Nannochloropsis) and copepod (Tigriopus Californicus) populations?
3) Does phyto ever become self sustaining or do you always need to add new doses to keep the pop going?
4) Aside from normal feeding of the fish, is there anything else that needs to be dosed or added via media bags in the sump to keep both the phyto and copepod populations running?
Tank specs
32 gal biocube
Coralife protein skimmer
sand bed with live rock
atm its a FOWLR tank but am going to trade out my nonreef safes when time comes
Thank you for any help you are able to offer!