Best way to raise pods?

[dstipple]

I am debating between two different ideas for raising pods right now. I have a green mandarin that is thriving in my tank. He is fat and happy for now but don't want him to deplete the pod population which I think will happen soon in my 30g. So I want to raise my own pods so periodically add to the tank so I don't have to continually buy them online or at the LFS.

My first idea is to fill one of the two back compartments with rock rubble and add pods back there. My question with this idea is can I add base rock rubble without having the tank cycle again? With this idea I would periodically move some of the rubble to the display to move pods every so often.

My other idea is to use my spare 5g and start a pod tank. In this tank I would use rock rubble again, and just run a small HOB filter and heater. Is there anything else I would need to do for this setup to work?

So which of these two do you guys think would be the most successful? Or any other ways I may have overlooked?

 

[celamb89]

I have an area in my sump (125gal display) with live rock and chaeto... my params are good but the chaeto is just there for the pods... they move to the display tank on their own, no need to move rubble from one place to another... My mandarin has been with me for about a year (I think)...

I dont think a little rubble will be enough for pods to reproduce, the tank will not cycle either. If its dead LR then soak it in vinegar and clean it. For the pods,if you can add another bucket/rubbermaid/tank sump with chaeto (they love that stuff)...

Maybe someone else with better ideas will chime in!

 

[dstipple]

Do the pods reproduce better in the chaeto than in rocks? If I can I want to avoid adding chaeto but will if it will have the best odds of maintaining happy reproducing pods

 

[brad_G]

The body wash thing you can buy at any store...I'm not sure the technical name but the lil poof balls your ole lady uses. That will work better than anything. I would do it in your 5 gallon and have 2 or 3 with some rock rubble. Then you can take the poof out shake it in the display or blast it with a power head.

 

[Mr.Saltz]

The body wash thing you can buy at any store...I'm not sure the technical name but the lil poof balls your ole lady uses. That will work better than anything. I would do it in your 5 gallon and have 2 or 3 with some rock rubble. Then you can take the poof out shake it in the display or blast it with a power head.

It took me a minute to think of what you were talking about. The loofa right? I think that is how it is spelled.

 

[trinidiver]

It took me a minute to think of what you were talking about. The loofa right? I think that is how it is spelled.

Think i'll try that

 

[Saltydrip]

That's what I would do. In a 5gal tank I would get a piece of PVC pipe and 2 puff balls. I refuse to say the word loofa. Hmmm. Just did.

Take the PVC, cut 2 pieces, each long enough to go front to back on the top inner lip of the tank. Hang the loofa on the pipes evenly spaced in the tank and your very own pod farm! Alternate which loofa you put in the tank. I would line the bottom on the 5gal with rubble to creat a bit of a real Bio farm.

 

[Saltydrip]

That's what I would do. In a 5gal tank I would get a piece of PVC pipe and 2 puff balls. I refuse to say the word loofa. Hmmm. Just did.

Take the PVC, cut 2 pieces, each long enough to go front to back on the top inner lip of the tank. Hang the loofa on the pipes evenly spaced in the tank and your very own pod farm! Alternate which loofa you put in the tank. I would line the bottom on the 5gal with rubble to creat a bit of a real Bio farm.

 

[dstipple]

The body wash thing you can buy at any store...I'm not sure the technical name but the lil poof balls your ole lady uses. That will work better than anything. I would do it in your 5 gallon and have 2 or 3 with some rock rubble. Then you can take the poof out shake it in the display or blast it with a power head.

I think this is exactly what I'm going to do! Would have never though to use a loofa but it makes sense. And would the flow from a HOB fiter be enough for the tank?

 

[Fishbulb2]

In addition, I recommend feeding them microalgae if you can. I used Isochrysis from brineshrimp direct and my pods exploded in population both in my display and in my 5 gallon bucket I was using to raise them. When I stopped using the Iso (I ran out), the populations in both set ups has drastically been reduced.

FB

 

[brad_G]

Yea I would think any amour of flow would be OK. I've got a ton of pods in my refugium. Its 5 g and maybe 50 gph. I didn't think about a food source. Greenwater and rotifers would probably be the best choice but then I don't think you would actually need pods because you could feed rotifers to the mandarin. Any kind of froze food would also work but your nitrates and phosphate would get out of whack if you feed much.

 

[EricShane]

Ah.. Loofa! How clever