Pods

So I can see millions of what I believe are pods in my sump, which is 24 inches x 24 inches full of cheato algae and live rock.
My question is, do they enter the DT from my sump/refugium through the return pump ?
And am I ok for a mandarin now ? Would it be beneficial to introduce some other critters into the sump/refugium ? I have hermit crabs and snails in there now, should I be adding other types of pods or live food ? Shrimp ?

 

yes

The idea of a refugium is it is a place for "refuge" from predators. If you want a mandarin, it would be good to have a place for pods to breed away from predators. Shrimp may eat pods, so, I wouldn't add them. You should not need to add anything else. You could if you wanted to, but then there's that saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

 

I hear ya, I just thought I have a great big fuge, wouldn't it be nice to have it teaming with all sorts of life that could then go and feed my fish.