Hello all. I'm in the middle of a 120 build and am trying to plan ahead. I'll be using dry acid washed rock. I'm trying to keep pests out from the very beginning. How can I seed the pods that I need? Also assuming I get some to start, how should I feed them since it will be such a blank canvass?
Pod seeding
- Thread starter schwebb
- Start date
650-IS350
Active member
Good choice on acid washed rock.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=2190+3058&pcatid=3058
instead of getting macro algae from someone but inadvertently have some other stuff in there. I rather get a bottle of the pods only.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=2190+3058&pcatid=3058
instead of getting macro algae from someone but inadvertently have some other stuff in there. I rather get a bottle of the pods only.
HiFidelity
Member
pods don't mind dirty water but wait till amonia tests 0 then dump a bottle of pods in, then add phyto periodically
650-IS350
Active member
You can also culture your own phyto. I used to do this as well and pretty easy.
http://www.melevsreef.com/node/1614
http://www.melevsreef.com/node/1614
EnderTurtle
BAR - Sponsorships
We had someone from Reef Nutrition speak for us about culturing pods.
Those tigger pods in a bottle usually get eaten up by larger Amphipods in our reef aquariums.
We all get Amphipods. I bleached all of my rock. Dipped all my corals and inspected them with a watchful eye. Right now I have bristle worms, isopods, amphipods, random unidentified pods in my tank. They made it through my dipping method.
I don't think tigger pods survive and reproduce in our reef tanks.
You can culture tigger pods in a separate tank without predators like the amphipods.
You can culture other pods too. Most of my pods come from frags/corals.
Trust me you WILL end up with pods whether you want them or not.
I wouldn't worry too much about pod introduction unless you plan on keeping fish that rely on pods for food (dragonets, pipefish, etc).
Those tigger pods in a bottle usually get eaten up by larger Amphipods in our reef aquariums.
We all get Amphipods. I bleached all of my rock. Dipped all my corals and inspected them with a watchful eye. Right now I have bristle worms, isopods, amphipods, random unidentified pods in my tank. They made it through my dipping method.
I don't think tigger pods survive and reproduce in our reef tanks.
You can culture tigger pods in a separate tank without predators like the amphipods.
You can culture other pods too. Most of my pods come from frags/corals.
Trust me you WILL end up with pods whether you want them or not.
I wouldn't worry too much about pod introduction unless you plan on keeping fish that rely on pods for food (dragonets, pipefish, etc).
wpeterson
New member
+1 to everything enderturtle said.
I'm all for keeping nuisance algae and pests out of your tank, but there are helpful hitchhikers you will want in your live rock or refugium. The best place for copepods, amphipods, and other small benthic creatures to thrive is in live rock or macro algae in the refugium.
I would recommend getting live chaeto or other helpful macro algae in your tank was soon as you cycle. They absorb nutrients in the same ratio as nuisance algae and can get a foothold to take over that ecological niche in advance of pests.
If you use healthy macro algae from other reefers, you'll be well on your way to culturing a nice ecosystem of pods and small benthic critters. If you need to boost that as a food source, I'd recommend buying pods in bulk or learning to culture your own.
We setup a very active refugium during our initial tank cycle that has been a big help in nutrient export and providing a home for pods, snails, brittle stars, and other critters to reproduce. We have a breeding pair of mandarins, so I still supplement the pod population with live pods every month or two.
I'm all for keeping nuisance algae and pests out of your tank, but there are helpful hitchhikers you will want in your live rock or refugium. The best place for copepods, amphipods, and other small benthic creatures to thrive is in live rock or macro algae in the refugium.
I would recommend getting live chaeto or other helpful macro algae in your tank was soon as you cycle. They absorb nutrients in the same ratio as nuisance algae and can get a foothold to take over that ecological niche in advance of pests.
If you use healthy macro algae from other reefers, you'll be well on your way to culturing a nice ecosystem of pods and small benthic critters. If you need to boost that as a food source, I'd recommend buying pods in bulk or learning to culture your own.
We setup a very active refugium during our initial tank cycle that has been a big help in nutrient export and providing a home for pods, snails, brittle stars, and other critters to reproduce. We have a breeding pair of mandarins, so I still supplement the pod population with live pods every month or two.
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