Feather Dusters Detrimental to Refugiums???

[DeathWish302]

I am in the process of setting up a Lagoonal ref. w/ mangroves, seagrasses, and kelp-like algae. It will have a 6-8" DSB with 20lb or so of Premium Aquatics Rock Bottom Crude mixed in. Would feather dusters possibly take out some of the same things(possibly larval fish, shrimp, snails...) i'm trying to have a refuge for??? I've got a great deal on Dusters at the LFS for $1 a piece for some that are 3/4-1". If they'd benefit the refuge i'd throw 15 or so in. Any suggestions??

DW302

 

[Mac1]

Well, they are filter feeders, and will strain out and consume certain sizes and types of planktonic material and eat it. Some of that could include larval critters, phytoplankton, and other desireable forms of life that are precisely the reason you set a refugium up. The question I think that you want to be asking yourself is, how much of an impact will they make? Survival of the fittest, that sort of thing. How big is this refugium? If it's large enough, I'd still get a few of them, for decoration if nothing else. I've got a 29 Gal Refugium that I use for bugs and seaweed too, and it's so boring to sit and watch. I actually got a Glass Shrimp for it a few months ago, just because I was tired at looking at Algae, Amphipods and Copepods. The Bristle Worms are kind fun to watch, they go all throughout the Spaghetti Algae, but otherwise, it's boring. Couple of duster's may look quite nice.

- Mac