How to keep CUC in Refugium?

[DracoKat]

I want to add some CUC, like snails, in my refugium in my sump.

I have the Trigger Crystal sump.. and on the first baffle wall, there's an elongated hole in the center of the wall.. about inch or so tall and nearly the width of the wall.

How would I prevent snails from crawling through to the other compartments? Should I put up a plastic canvas mesh or something? or should I let the snails loose in all compartments and not worry about them?

I am also thinking ahead if I need to throw in an aggressive fish or unwanted critter from my main DT for whatever reason too.

attached is the Ruby version of the sump, where you can clearly see the cut-out hole I am speaking of.

 

[Anthony Wood]

Plastic eggcrate. It's going to be with the light diffusers at Lowes. Don't bother asking for eggcrate because most likely the workers at Lowes won't know what your talking about from first hand experience ask for light diffusers the ones they use in offices to put in front of the long tube bulbs.

 

[DracoKat]

thanks, I think I know what you are talking about. I have some, I used it to sit under the rocks to help protect the glass.

but would it allow water flow? the water doesn't go over the baffle, it goes through the hole

 

[Anthony Wood]

Egg crate. It's comes in big 2ft x 4ft sheets cut to what ever size you want. This is just a small piece I have leftover sitting around.

 

[DracoKat]

Ah! Would the snails still crawl through that? or should I not worry about them crawling around in other compartments?

 

[Anthony Wood]

Egg crate. It's comes in big 2ft x 4ft sheets cut to what ever size you want. This is just a small piece I have leftover sitting around.

Yes it'll let flow through you just can't have super small snails. The holes are 1/2" squares.

 

[Anthony Wood]

Ah! Would the snails still crawl through that? or should I not worry about them crawling around in other compartments?

I would worry about the crawling to other compartments and getting into pumps. But if you wanna try to keep them in one department cut two pieces of the eggcrate for that section put them against the baffles on each side and have the eggcrate come out of the water above the baffle. Or if you wanna get crazy you could make a 5 sided box held together with zip ties and box off the entire section leave the open side of the box for the bottom of the sump in that section.

Idk what to tell you for snails smaller then 1/2" I personally wouldn't put mesh as it'll get clogged real quick.

 

[DracoKat]

thanks for the advice!