Sump designed to create a pod haven.

[jan]

Sir chuck. I just would like to have an opinion on my sump design. As you can see on the left side of the sump, It's where my DSB is and I do have a simple aquascaping on that part. There is minimal water flow but assured of sufficient lighting. The lighting comes from the light intended for the ATS.

I just would like to know if this set up is effective in creating a pod haven?

[charlesr1958]

[gonzaimaki]

[charlesr1958]

Am quoting myself from my macroalgae article :

Copepods:

"Harpacticoids are found to be restricted to the larger grained sediments comprising 30-37% of the meiofauna community structure but only 8-12% in fine grained silted sediments due to the lowered oxygen content of such sediments. Harpacticoid copepods are known to eat a variety of foods, including bacteria, algae, and detritus but seem to prefer diatoms with different copepod species consuming a preferred diatom size in relation to their own size (Troch 2006). Second only to the nematodes in biomass and the transferring of nutrients garnered from microphytobenthos, the copepods are a vital component of the benthic food web."

As such, it would be best to lay down a fine grained sandbed first, say about two inches deep and then on top of that, put another one or two inches of "crushed coral" sized grains. This is done so that as food particles and detritus fall down between the larger grains, there are enough other groups of sand infauna in the finer grained sandbed to help process the nutrients that get down deep in the larger grained sandbed, a little ecosystem if you will.
For lighting, I would put, at a minimum, a 55w CF bulb over a square foot refugium/sump compartment, of course more intensity is better as you want to encourage algae growth which means it is okay if algae grows on top of the large grained sand.
Water flow should be kept to a moderate level, not really low but not really fast, the idea is to simply put enough flow over the top of the sandbeds to create the exchange of water in the upper area of the large grained sandbed, but not so fast as to move the top sand grains.
Depending on the species of copepods, drip dosing phytoplankton will help to feed them and encourage larger populations, but even if you don't have species that consume that particular phytoplankton species, it will still encourage a lot of other life through the entire system, more life=more diversity=more stability=a reef ecosystem. I believe every reef aquarium should be dosed with phytoplankton for the simple fact that it and other algae are the basis of all the food pyramids/chains/webs in the ocean and reefs.
Also, don't be surprised if amphipods and isopods along with a host of other such creatures find such an area to their liking and will do well also.

Charles

[jan]

Great!!! thank so much sir!