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Live Rocks and Sand
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Live sand and live rock are the basis of a saltwater ecosystem. The basis of a saltwater refugium is live rocks and live sand. These contain innumerable microscopic and nearly-microscopic organisms that provide biological filtration and help create a balanced ecosystem.
Snails and Worms
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The livestock in a refugium are extremely small and delicate. Small snails and worms feed on algae and other organisms and also on detritus in the refugium. Snails and worms transport and transform detritus and make the refugium habitat more stable.
Crustaceans
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Many saltwater fish will only eat the crustaceans they eat in the wild. If you are using your refugium to breed feeder organisms for your fish, there are many crustaceans to choose from. Brine shrimp (also known as fairy shrimp and sea monkeys) are eaten with relish by many, as are copepods and isopods.
Echinoderms
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Tiny starfish and other echinoderms may thrive in the refugium. There are a variety of very small starfish species that do well in a refugium. A refugium is also a good place to keep delicate organisms, like brittle stars and sea cucumbers, away from large, aggressive fish who may eat them.
Plants
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The same fish that eat small animals often also relish plants. In a freshwater tank system, the refugium may be used to protect growing plants from fish. As with the saltwater tank, this refugium can also be used to protect smaller, more delicate animals, like hatchlings, from larger, hungry ones.
Quarantine
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Animals that need a break for their own safety can recover in the refugium. The refugium can provide a safe, temporary refuge for ill or injured animals from your main aquarium.
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What Is Included As Livestock in the Refugium?
A refugium is an aquarium habitat that shares water with a main tank but is inaccessible to the animals in the main tank. It is usually a separate tank hooked up to the same filtration and circulation system. Most livestock in the refugium are microfauna.