Canister filter = dark fuge?

[ACBlinky]

I know many people don't run filters on reef tanks, but I initially set my 65g up as a FOWLR so I reused the FilStar XP2 canister I had on the tank when it was FW. It has a spraybar that does a great job of creating surface agitation and so far it seems to be working well all around. I am slowly converting the tank to a reef, but I've got some macro in the tank that keeps NO3 down so I don't worry too much about it becoming a 'nitrate factory'.

Today I opened up the canister for the first time in nearly a month to change the carbon, and was astounded at what I found: I expected some detritus, but found the sponges contained a thick, mud-like substance that was FULL of amphipods! I rinsed out the sponges in SW and fed my fish a feast of live food! There are also little 'Q-tip' sponges inside the filter. I remember reading about dark refugiums but never thought my canister could act as one, it seems to be an unexpected advantage

 

[PatMayo]

Wow, that sounds pretty slick. How many of the critters would you suspect were available?

Regards,

Pat

 

[ACBlinky]

I'd say I pulled about fifty 1/4" 'pods out of the mud at the bottom of the rinse buckets. I'm sure there were lots left in the sponges, hopefully they'll continue to breed and provide my fish with a live meal every few weeks