Refugium with pods light schedule

[blueoverbrown]

I have a refugium with pom pom macro algae. I run the lights during the day and my pH varies from 8.0-8.3. To reduce these swings, I understand I can run the lights at night instead. I was thinking of trying it but I'm worried about my copepods. They come out of hiding at night it seems and my clownfish love to gobble them up. I'm afraid if it goes dark in the refugium, they'll emerge, go into the pump and be immediately eaten by fully awake and aware clownfish. Does anyone have any insight on this?

 

[Subsea]

“I'm afraid if it goes dark in the refugium, they'll emerge, go into the pump and be immediately eaten by fully awake and aware clownfish. Does anyone have any insight on this?“

@blueoverbrown
Highly doubtful that all would get sucked out. Except for the dumb ones.

Why is feeding live pods to clown fish a problem?

Also, normal pH swings on healthy IndoPacific reefs is 7.8-8.2. Why do you need tighter pH controls?

PS: Just an observation on opposite light cycles of display tank and refugium: oxygen is much more critical during lights out in display tank than ph control. All photosynthetic organisms consume oxygen during lights out & expel carbon dioxide.

 

[MDAquatics]

“I'm afraid if it goes dark in the refugium, they'll emerge, go into the pump and be immediately eaten by fully awake and aware clownfish. Does anyone have any insight on this?“

@blueoverbrown
Highly doubtful that all would get sucked out. Except for the dumb ones.

Why is feeding live pods to clown fish a problem?

Also, normal pH swings on healthy IndoPacific reefs is 7.8-8.2. Why do you need tighter pH controls?

PS: Just an observation on opposite light cycles of display tank and refugium: oxygen is much more critical during lights out in display tank than ph control. All photosynthetic organisms consume oxygen during lights out & expel carbon dioxide.

Some good points here. But i dont think youll have an issue with fish eating all your pods. If you have a healthy population that shouldnt happen. They dont all get sucked out into the display, its more like a steady trickle

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The copepods are everywhere in your tank, all day and all night, even if you can't see them. I think you are overthinking it.

 

[blueoverbrown]

“I'm afraid if it goes dark in the refugium, they'll emerge, go into the pump and be immediately eaten by fully awake and aware clownfish. Does anyone have any insight on this?“

@blueoverbrown
Highly doubtful that all would get sucked out. Except for the dumb ones.

Why is feeding live pods to clown fish a problem?

Also, normal pH swings on healthy IndoPacific reefs is 7.8-8.2. Why do you need tighter pH controls?

PS: Just an observation on opposite light cycles of display tank and refugium: oxygen is much more critical during lights out in display tank than ph control. All photosynthetic organisms consume oxygen during lights out & expel carbon dioxide.

That’s interesting I did not consider the oxygen issue. The clowns do tend to hang out at the top of the tank after lights out..