A myth about pods?

[JimKelly12203]

Ok, so honestly... I'm sick of speculating on this and i never seem to get a straight answer.

many people suggest that before one purchase a dragonette (or other pod-dependant predator) they first establish a refugium breeding ground for this food source.

Do pods really make it through return pumps from refugiums located below main display tanks?

I ask because i've seen quite a few tank builds that have a fuge which drains (via gravity) into the DT from above. This is not an option for me. Having a stable and vibrant refugium located below my tank is.

Will copepod larvae, adults or otherwise really survive the trip through my sump return pump? Or should i plan my aquascape such that massively unaccessible area's exist in the middle of my rock structure?

My guess is both (plan for unaccessable areas and bank on pods surviving the trip through the fuge return pump). However, i'm really curious about this. I seem to hear that they do make the trip but also that they don't.

 

[mrme]

just grow some cheatomorpha, either in the display or sump.
As long as you have sufficient live rock, there will be plenty of places for pod production.
The best place for pods to breed though is in plants.
Try to get plants that grow in clumps, such as Cheatomorpha, or Fachea sp.

 

[JimKelly12203]

I have felt this way myself through my fairly exaustive research.

When i do add a dragonette, it will only be after i have seen (literally) insane pod spawnage first.

You are suggesting that when i do see that, the dragonnette will be fine? Again, this has always been my assumption. I have friends with dragon's that have lived for years, but it really is important to me that said dragon doesn't find itself out of live food EVER!

I can wait. but can a 90G system sustain such a fish on live food if the sump return pump is, indeed, fatal to pods?

 

[swsmr]

I totally agree, pods larvae will find there way to the main tank some will become coral food and some will hide in the rocks and grow , also if you take out the marcoalgae and shack it in the water in release the large pods to feed your fish

 

[JimKelly12203]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11893323#post11893323 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by swsmr
I also if you take out the marcoalgae and shack it in the water in release the large pods to feed your fish

AMAZING advice. Thank you! I guarantee you i'll be doing this.

whether it is needed or not.

 

[xenon]

You can also get the type of cheato that tangs love to eat.

It sure beats throwing 1/2 of it away once it gets too big.

 

[swsmr]

also there is a guy on ebay selling live pods, 1000 for $17 i think this give your refugium a great boost and you have the fish you want in days instead of waiting weeks

http://cgi.ebay.com/1000-pods-LIVE-...ryZ20759QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[mixed_reefer]

Holy cow look at their 15000g saltwater "pool"!!!

I need me one of those, think of all the tangs i could keep!

 

[melev]

Yes, pods will survive the trip through your pumps.

I was once pumping water out of my sump into a nearby barrel, and used a Rio 2100 with a borg-like impellar. That thing should destroy anything it touches. However, I had a number of baby brittle starfish go through completely unaffected and undamaged. If starfish that have a footprint that easily spans a quarter can make it through, then I guaranty that any dot-sized copepods will make it safely to your display tank.

And then your mandarin can devour it.

 

[skinnyjoe1976]

i agree that pods can make it. i breed them in a 55 gallon with just hangon filters. i raise AMPHIPODS like the guy does on ebay and all four of the filters are covered with them. they imbead themselves into the filter material. hope this helps. btw if you don't want to use algea i use bioballs for them hide out in then i just pull the balls out and shake them where i want them

 

[Roy G. Biv]

There was a thread not too long ago that someone posted that they banished a goby to the sump and the next day it was back in the tank apparently taking a ride up the return. If that could happen, I would guess pods could do it easily.

 

[Roy G. Biv]

Just found it.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1313529&highlight=goby+AND+banish