Mike O'Brien
New member
scarlet reef hermit plankton in my 10 gallon rubble bottom.
looking for the mysid pic's
looking for the mysid pic's
Using refugium as a zooplankton producer?
- Thread starter lunarlanderboy
- Start date
hmmm....
this looks interesting.
i'm currently looking into setting up a feeder refugium myself.
(easiest way to make a feeder refugium is to mount above the tank, and then make a waterfall that trickles into the main tank.)
i was think of stocking molly's and sea hares, i hadn't thought of using bristle worms. only problem with this is sea hares occasionally release poison.
this looks interesting.
i'm currently looking into setting up a feeder refugium myself.
(easiest way to make a feeder refugium is to mount above the tank, and then make a waterfall that trickles into the main tank.)
i was think of stocking molly's and sea hares, i hadn't thought of using bristle worms. only problem with this is sea hares occasionally release poison.
http://www.ipsf.com/#anchor51705
This site is selling a critter they call sea bunnies. Supposed to be great for phyto production. Lay tons of eggs in strands you can scoop and put into the main tank. Or, if you put you fuge above the tank, (usually not practical unfortunately) have a low flow feed from your sump and gravity return to the tank then no chopping. Have not tried these myself, but it's a thought.
This site is selling a critter they call sea bunnies. Supposed to be great for phyto production. Lay tons of eggs in strands you can scoop and put into the main tank. Or, if you put you fuge above the tank, (usually not practical unfortunately) have a low flow feed from your sump and gravity return to the tank then no chopping. Have not tried these myself, but it's a thought.
lunarlanderboy
Premium Member
I didn't realize that mysis shrimp bred well in an aquarium- that would be a good food item to get going.
lunarlanderboy
Premium Member
could you explain more about that? - I'm not familiar with it.
greenbean36191
Premium Member
No they don't. It's been tested repeatedly and there is very little evidence that either of the secretions from sea hares are particularly toxic.
Basically an air lift is a rigid pipe about an inch in diameter with an air stone stuck down in the bottom of it and an elbow at the top. The rising bubbles lift the water with them. Obviously, the lift is limited to a few inches so you can't use them for anything major lifting, but they are plankton safe and work fine for transfering water from one tank to another if they are close to the same level.
lunarlanderboy
Premium Member
Wow- that is very interesting! Pretty good evidence!
greenbean36191
Premium Member
Your the engineer. 
I can't exlain the physics that make it work, but they have been used for years.
I can't exlain the physics that make it work, but they have been used for years.
HippieSmell
Occupy Reef Central
I don't know what kind of skimmer you have, but sometimes they'll overflow the collection cup with water really fast. That's an airlift, basically.
HippieSmell
Occupy Reef Central
Yeah, they are powered by a water pump, but there is air in there too. If you get too much air it can overflow. It was just an example, it wasn't meant to imply they were the same. But believe me, airlifts work. I have an airstone in my seaclown, and it will raise the water level in the skimmer 6 inches above the water level in the sump, and that's with the water pump turned off.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Airlifts are used to pump water from wells, volitile fuels from ships holds, wastewater from screening ponds, water for decorative waterfalls and in scores of other applications. The concept has been around for centuries. If I am not mistaken even the Romans used this technology in their aquaducts systems and bathhouses (along with convection circulation), though it was around long before they made use of it!
I am suprised you would even ask if this was possible (or infer that it wasn't). The concept is a rather simple application of physics and fluids. In the most basic form a UG filter is an airlift pump, and capable of 6" or so of lift above the water surface with a small airpump. Some of the first HOB filters used this method as well.
If you would like to see some methematical models you can look at the link provided.
http://nenes.eas.gatech.edu/Preprints/Airlift_TC.pdf
An airlift would provide a very safe trip for the creaturess in the fuge when they make their journey to the display.
An RCSD (reverse carlson surge) or geiyser pump would provide better lift and higher flow and could be cycled on during feeding time. This would move a lot of food quickly without the need of continuous operation.
Bean
Is http://www.ipsf.com/#anchor51705 the only site people know of? There a little expensive per pair when they could die off or get moved out of a refuguim by the pump..
How do tell male vs. femail saltwater molleys? I may try that since there cheap.
Any ideas...
How do tell male vs. femail saltwater molleys? I may try that since there cheap.
Any ideas...
ejmeier
Active member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6379171#post6379171 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by barryhc
I wonder if there is a "cork-screw" type of pump available, for this type of service? I suspect not, because other pump types have been identified and developed for effeciency, but it seems like this is what "we need".
Any thoughts?
> barryhc
I'm planning on doing almost the exact same thing as discussed here, but with a small twist. Here's a thread I started in the DIY forums on a device that looks fairly promising: (called a 'Geyser' pump.)
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=732025
Here's my tentative plans for it: (But instead, I plan to not use a sump at all, and have the water get pumped from my display tank up to the refugium, and them fall back down via-gravity into the display.)
As for the mollies - what do they eat? Would they be okay in the refugium w/ flake food? That way I could just let the babies fall down into the display. I don't want them eating all the bugs and stuff in the refugium, but I also don't want the mollies in the display tank because, at least to me, they would look a little too unnatural.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
The geyser pumps are likely loud also. It's a reverse carlson surge basically. I guess the output could be directed into a baffle box and bubble trap. You could also use an archimedes screw, but this would require the sump to be ofset from the display enough to get a reasonable angle for the screw. Archimedes screws will work past their flights angle of pitch, but at this point speed must overcome friction and the archimedes screw becomes more dependent on centrifugal force and viscocity. Not efficient likely but still quite doable.
Hose wrapped around a form would easily work. The biggest would be the output of the screw and keeping it from dripping water down the shaft. Some thoughtful design of the output end and swivel/shaft seal would easily fix the problem.
Hose wrapped around a form would easily work. The biggest would be the output of the screw and keeping it from dripping water down the shaft. Some thoughtful design of the output end and swivel/shaft seal would easily fix the problem.
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