can you have too many pods?

[mattypw]

When I first bought my live rock I notices a few small shrimplike inverts running around it. Now that I don't have any fish to limit them, there are literally hundreds running around. Is this a bad thing. I plan on getting a fish in about two weeks

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

They self regulate. In about 6 months of having your tank running you can get a mandarin to help with those bite size morsels.

 

[joeychitwood]

How large is your tank? If you get a pod-eating fish like a Mandarin, it may starve after eating all the pods in a small tank. If you have a large tank, the pods can generally keep up with the attrition.

 

[mattypw]

its only 20g no mandarins for me

 

[imcosmokramer]

once you get some fish in there you'll be all set. Even my chromis eat the pods.

 

[mattypw]

thanks guys, just wanted to make sure they wouldn't hurt anything

 

[joeychitwood]

As Sisterlimonpot mentions, populations of critters like pods and Collonista snails will wax and wane over time. I had several hundred Collonistas in my tank at one time and wondered what to do. There were no pods during that time, presumably because the snails were eating everything.

Soon, the snail numbers started to decrease, and over time, the pod population rose. Don't worry about numbers. The available food supply will limit their growth and numbers.

 

[alextheromanian]

ITS TIME FOR A MANDARIN!

one of the coolest fish ever...sadly not everyone can keep one due to lack of pods.

they are part of the cuc..i think and beneficial. i dont think they would thrive if the tank was doing bad.

gongrats

 

[mattypw]

Yeah, mandarins are sick, but unfortunately I am one of those who can't get one. I'm still waiting for the ick to get out of the tank (in 2 weeks it'll be 8 weeks) and I'm buying a royal gramma and than getting a gold-stripe maroon clown from a friend

 

[Toddrtrex]

Pod population will wax and wane in a newly set up tank. At first you will see a ton, then there will be a drastic drop in them. After that the population should stabilize (( excluding fish that eat them )). It all has to do with the capacity of your tank to support them, and the available food for them.

 

[imcosmokramer]

matt, I'm glad you're not getting a mandarin. Eventually, if you set up a refugium, you might be able to get one. But like I said, as soon as a predator goes in there, the population will deteriorate (also, they won't be out as much during the day)