Pods Without a Refugium

[Random Aquarist]

My LR is just about done curing, so now I'm almost ready to start up my tank. I'd like a really big pod population, but my dad won't let me have a light under my stand for a refugium. He thinks it'll start a fire. Since I'll only have a pair of clowns, a BTA, and a few corals, can I just grow my pods in my LR in the display?

 

[alan214]

You can, but there's no way you have a "really big" population of pods unless you can delay adding any fish or other "predators" of the pods for at least 2 months.

 

[Random Aquarist]

Good. I won't be adding an anemone for at least a few months after I setup.

What will the pods eat? Just stuff growing on the LR?

 

[chris.hampton]

What about a HOB fuge?

 

[Random Aquarist]

It's acrylic. I'd have to epoxy the HOB onto it. I think I'll go for an island-style rock setup. Maybe I could add macroalgae around the island. That'd be pretty cool.

 

[chris.hampton]

Why would you have to epoxy it?

 

[Random Aquarist]

Because my tank has a 4" lip on every side. I'd have to cut off part of the hanger part and then somehow attach it to the lip.

 

[IPowderBlueTang]

When setting up your rockwork in a corner of the tank make a pile of LR rubble with a mixture of shells and the pods will reproduce in the pile and hidden from the predators. I have done this in my 120 gal with alot of success! Also can use a strawberry plastic container, upside down and covered with LR will also work. You actually don't really need a fuge to grow pods!

 

[Random Aquarist]

I emailed WWM about possibly using turtle weed as a sort of lawn for growing pods in the display. Maybe I should use some small LR rocks to make a breeding pile.