refuge without light?

[pa reef pig]

If I have a small section of my sump with a bit of sand and some rubble but no lights, will pods still reproduce in there or do they need a light cycle to survive?

 

[broomer5]

They'll LOVE IT !
as long as there's protective cover and food !

 

[reefsoe]

even with the heavy water flow of most sumps?
::hides::

 

[dave espi]

this is becomming quite popular. check out this......
ENVIRONMENTAL GADIENT website..
Click this one
http://www.dynamicecomorphology.com/getzoned.htm
read the concept and research buttons.
it is interesting.
A thread on NANO discusses it for farther also.
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/show...&threadid=4770
water flow that is high is of little or no effect onpods. they find shelter on a reef crest, and turbulance is good there too.

 

[nm reef]

For predator free pod/critter reproduction that would work fine...but you'd be limited in the benefits of nutrient export via harvesting macro algaes. But I'd bet the pods and such would be fine.....

 

[broomer5]

Some of the most productive pod areas I've ever seen are between layers of my filter media.
On the dark side of my set up.
Very little if any light exposure - but plenty to eat.

 

[reefsoe]

i would like a booming population of pods i want at least one madarin but i wont put him in untill my pods are flurishing.... i just dont see any at all im podless

 

[bobothewizard]

Instead of hoping for the sump to produce your pods put a few pieces of rubble chunks together in the corners of your tank. Pods will reproduce as long as the mandarin cannot get to them, also having very porus rock will do the same thing. A sump/fuge is not really needed for pod growth. Like i said just make a few rock/rubble chunks tightly packed so the mandarin cannot get inside where the pods would reproduce.