Pods through return pump

plumbdogmillionaire

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I’m making an external gravity fed refugium for my AIO reef tank and I can’t decide if I should run the return drain to the display or return pump chamber. I don’t want to run it to the display because I don’t think it would look best aesthetically, and it would make it annoying to take the tank lid on/off. My actual question is, would enough pods be killed by the return pump that it wouldn’t be worth it to run the drain into that chamber?

I know most tanks have an in-sump refugugium chamber down below which obviously means pods going through the return pump. But having the option of not doing that is making me unsure.
 
My actual question is, would enough pods be killed by the return pump that it wouldn’t be worth it to run the drain into that chamber?
No, send em’ through the pump!

— I’ve had a 1” long juvenile mosquitofish survive unscathed after being sent back up to the display via the return pump in my freshwater system!

— an uncle of mine had his orchard’s aquaponic irrigation pond overrun by invasive carp after the fry were pumped in from the adjacent communal irrigation trenches! (They subsequently killed off the catfish, smallmouth bass, and crawfish the pond was initially stocked with…)
 
Surface tension is their friend. Most all of them will travel through like Agustas Gloop, unharmed and fat and happy at the other side.

Well I am not sure if Agustas was happy, but you get the point.
 
My actual question is, would enough pods be killed by the return pump that it wouldn’t be worth it to run the drain into that chamber?
No, send em’ through the pump!

— I’ve had a 1” long juvenile mosquitofish survive unscathed after being sent back up to the display via the return pump in my freshwater system!

— an uncle of mine had his orchard’s aquaponic irrigation pond overrun by invasive carp after the fry were pumped in from the adjacent communal irrigation trenches! (They subsequently killed off the catfish, smallmouth bass, and crawfish the pond was initially stocked with…)
Thank you
 

HOW MUCH DOES A FISH’S FEEDING REQUIREMENTS AFFECT YOUR STOCKING DECISIONS?

  • A lot! - I avoid fish that require frequent or specialized feeding

    Votes: 20 32.8%
  • Quite a bit, but an automatic feeder can change my answer

    Votes: 8 13.1%
  • It depends on whether my nutrient export can handle it

    Votes: 9 14.8%
  • It depends on how badly I want the fish

    Votes: 12 19.7%
  • Not much. I’m willing to adjust my routine

    Votes: 9 14.8%
  • Not at all. Feeding demands don’t limit my stocking choices

    Votes: 11 18.0%
  • I usually learn about the demanding feeding schedule after buying the fish!

    Votes: 2 3.3%
  • I haven’t really considered this before

    Votes: 4 6.6%
  • Something else (see my comments in the thread)

    Votes: 2 3.3%
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