Refugiums in the overflow

[rocketeer]

Cellpore? Maybe you can put a powerhead in there to stir up the detritus.

Jack

[NaCl_H2O]

I keep assorted small fish in my overflows ;)

[rocketeer]

Reguardless, I like the refugium idea. Your overflows are probably bigger than some nano reefs.
:grin:

[duc]

I keep assorted small fish in my overflows ;)

First off I love your tank setup! I sent a link to all my family and they may love it more than you or I, if a crazy looking woman shows up at your door don't open it :lol:
What kind of fish do you keep in your overflows? How much light do you get in them, I only run a light for 4-5 hrs a day max in my overflow. Or is that smiley winking and not being serious?
Clif

[Richard]

I wouldn't put sand in them but some liverock and macro or xenia is a good idea if your getting enough light to them. Without sand you could just hook a hose to a powerhead and flush them out once in awhile if they build up detritus.

One of my overflows is full of thousands of mysid shrimp, pods, and a bunch of zebra hermit crabs. I have know idea how the hermits managed to get in there. In the other overflow I keep firefish skeletons :( .

[Instar]

I have a tiny bit of rubble sand in my overflow, a wad of feather caulerpa, various pods, snails, tunicates, hair algaes and 3 mangroves. Don't see any detritus in there but there's 1000 gallons going over to keep it out of there. I pull the caulerpa when it looks like its going to plug the drain pipe completely off. Might be risky in that regard. Other than that, I don't see anything wrong with putting something in there. Each little place in your system is a potential place to be colonized with different strains and balances of microbes that break down waste and benefit the tank. The more variety and the more different kinds of growing environements you create, the better.

[RobertG]

I have both my overflows fill about 5-6" with sand. There are tons of pods & mysis that live in them. I dont see any bad effects form this. With all the flow going through them I dont see any detritus.

HTH

Robert