Increasing pods in low nutrient tank

[Chris Abbott]

I have noticed now that my ATS is off and running well my microfuana (pods etc.)have gone way down. I did have to remove the cheato from my sump because it just turns yellow and dies. So i have no place for the pods to bread, what are my options? I was thinking about some rumble rock hotels made from egg crate that can easily be move around in the sump.

 

[MondoBongo]

the rock rubble hotels are an option, but keep in mind that copepods and amphipods do consume a lot micro algae for their food (as well as some other things like bacteria). so if you're running low nutrients, the limiting factor may be how much food is available, not potential habitable zones.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...Iiq6MGuVppa2Rx7gw&sig2=RzKJqSFGiSTDhY4newVdxA

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...IU4q4fEI4grCrQ4mg&sig2=Cxacj_YVpYG1Swy0JfCjzg

 

[slief]

if you are low on nutrients, get some phytoplankton and feed the tank. The corals will also enjoy it. I get my phyto by the gallon from Algae Barn who also has great deals on pods.
http://www.algaebarn.com/

As Modno suggested, live rock rubble is your best option if you can't keep chaeto alive. Add a mess of it to an area in your sump and they should reproduce there.

 

[AdamNC]

Any idea what to do on a low nutrient system with no sump. I'm having the same issue. I have next to no algae in my tank due to my snails and lawnmower blenny. I get film algae but nothing that pods can hide and reproduce in. Maybe a rock rubble pile in the back of the tank?

 

[Dmorty217]

Any idea what to do on a low nutrient system with no sump. I'm having the same issue. I have next to no algae in my tank due to my snails and lawnmower blenny. I get film algae but nothing that pods can hide and reproduce in. Maybe a rock rubble pile in the back of the tank?

You can get the remote refugium tanks that hang on tanks. DR Fosters and Smith sells them

 

[ca1ore]

Once you get to a low nutrient condition, I have found it advantageous to the pod population to less detritus accumulate in the sumps.

 

[ViktorVaughn]

if you are low on nutrients, get some phytoplankton and feed the tank. The corals will also enjoy it. I get my phyto by the gallon from Algae Barn who also has great deals on pods.
http://www.algaebarn.com/

As Modno suggested, live rock rubble is your best option if you can't keep chaeto alive. Add a mess of it to an area in your sump and they should reproduce there.

Agreed, Algae Barn is awesome. Gotta support the same state fish businesses, even if they are from that pesky town known as Boulder.

 

[MondoBongo]

if you are low on nutrients, get some phytoplankton and feed the tank. The corals will also enjoy it. I get my phyto by the gallon from Algae Barn who also has great deals on pods.
http://www.algaebarn.com/

As Modno suggested, live rock rubble is your best option if you can't keep chaeto alive. Add a mess of it to an area in your sump and they should reproduce there.

that is awesome, thank you for the link!

they sell pods in 1/2 and 1 gallon increments! that is a dream come true when trying to bootstrap a new tank. :eek2:

 

[Chris Abbott]

Once you get to a low nutrient condition, I have found it advantageous to the pod population to less detritus accumulate in the sumps.

were you meaning to say let detritus build up in my settling area for example? i use a 20 long with low flow where detritus just settles out. I vacuum it once a month while changing water.

 

[Chris Abbott]

this is the area i will be adding the rubble hotels to