You dont need a refug to raise pods. A refugium give the pods a safe place to propagate, and replenish the numbers. If you dont have this its possible the mandrine will wipe out all your pods then starve. My orchid dottieback wiped out all the pods, bristleworms, side shrimp, anything he could eat is gone in a tank with no fuge. What size tank is it? If its big enough you shouldn't have to worry, say 100g or more. If not......