Transplanting Pods

[geekdafied]

Ive been wanting to get a mandarin for awhile. My tank has a lot of different pods in it BUT I am about to redo my tank sometime soon, which will probaly destroy most of my pods. I have found a place to order all different types even tigger pods (bigger then normal). So I had the idea after I change my tank to make Pods mounds and then buy a bunch of pods and put them in my tank after it recycles. Pod mounds are made by making a small pile out of reef rubble and placing a very small piece of meat( I use fresh crab meat) and the pods feed from that. This is suppose to be a great place for mandarins to be able to go to anytime of day and catch them to eat.

Any thoughts on transplanting pods ?

 

[Fishboy42]

I think they'll survive the move/renovation just fine if you have them now; they are pretty tough--think about the companies selling them in plastic bottles Making mounds of rubble can help give them some habitat/safety though--sounds like a good idea, although I don't think it's necessary to feed them a lot of extra food. Leftovers from feeding the fish should be fine, as many of them are happy eating algae and detritus. In my tanks that don't have fish, the amphipods/copepods are everywhere, but they hide or are hunted down in the fish tanks, so some habitat might be helpful. Hmm...you're out there in "no man's land!" otherwise there are probably lots of us that could share pods with you. If you leave it "mandarin-less" for a few weeks after your changes and do the pod mounds, the populations should rebound and allow you to try that mandarin.

Matt

 

[ct_vol]

I need some pods... Speaking of, ahem... I thought there was a rumor about a Reed Mariculture order... I have my 120 half filled Matt... I'm hoping to have it ready to start transferring stuff from the 135 this weekend...

 

[geekdafied]

I currently have crush coral substrate, switching over to sand and using a plenum. I had the idea for the first layer of the plenum, use my old crushed coral for that, then use sand for the rest. That should work right? I dont see any problems with it....

 

[imsqueak]

I'm in for pods, I think my filter socks have cleaned out every pod in my tank! Honesty, I never see a pod in my socks anymore.

 

[Angela Short]

The Crushed coral will work its way to the top of the sand if I am not mistaken.

 

[Fishboy42]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8556761#post8556761 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Angela Short
The Crushed coral will work its way to the top of the sand if I am not mistaken.

This has been my experience, especially with the help of any organisms that dig in the sediment. It can happen quickly if you've got particularly active bioturbators.

 

[EvilMel]

Bioturbators? hah hah.

 

[Fishboy42]

Thanks Mel I like that word-covers everything!

 

[geekdafied]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8556785#post8556785 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fishboy42
This has been my experience, especially with the help of any organisms that dig in the sediment. It can happen quickly if you've got particularly active bioturbators.

When you build a plenum RIGHT, that won't happen. The first layer which would be crushed coral in my situation is covered by nylon screening that aragonite sand can't fit thru. Sugar sand can fit thru it but thats not what Im using. I will detail how to build a plenum if you all want me to.

 

[Fishboy42]

Oh, hehe, I thought we were talking about pods and mandarins, didn't notice your plenum plans

I wasn't trying to build a plenum, never have, although I have heard Jaubert speak on it. A true "Jaubert" system would involve constant exchange with oceanwater as he did in Monaco, not something we can replicate here. "Modified Jaubert" is one way to go-- using a large skimmer w/ozone and other filtration to counteract the organics , but after all that, you don't really need the plenum anyway!

Out of curiosity, how many in the club are using DSB or plenum setups?

 

[Angela Short]

Fishdoc11 use to use a plenum but changed years ago I am thinking....He may be a first hand person to ask.
Not to discurage you as there are many ways to skin a cat, or humm, set up a reef, but I am thinking most people abandoned that method for newer ways.....I think
I personally am a DSB gal. Its the easiest IMO to set up and maintain because you don't do anything to it. Yes they can hold a ton of gunk but I never plan on having one set up for so many years that it would become fully saturated to the point of causing trouble. If I knew I was not going to move the 270 within 2 years,3 at the most I may have went a different route though. ANd I have a softy and LPS tank with a few hardy SPS. That also was a deciding factor in what type of substraite I went with.

 

[geekdafied]

Geothermal Aquaculture Research Foundation ( www.garf.org ) recommends using them anytime you use sand to keep it from becoming saturated.
GARF has a great information website and its all free!

 

[imsqueak]

Garf was good for me too when I started out (2004ish). It was great reading material and I appreciate the knowledge gained. But I personally think that local folks in ETRC will give you non-commercial advice that you can really count on vs a commercial site that wants to sell you some stuff.

 

[geekdafied]

The only thing they are selling is corals and "grunge"....

 

[Angela Short]

Yea, Grunge was the worst $40 + shipping I ever spent... Well, almost Come to think of it I spent a lot of stupid money in my new days... like a $24.99 tiny "unmounted" kenya tree frag :lol: