Where did they go?

[CindyK]

I have been cycling some dry and live rock in a rubbermaid for about two months while I'm waiting to set up my 75 gal (had to have the floors refinished...)

The rock seems to be cycled, I've got pineapple sponges growing in there, spotted a couple of unidentified worms, feather duster, even had to kill quite a few aptaisia. In other words, living stuff.

I also had 'pods. I'm not sure which kind but there were a LOT of them. That was a couple of weeks ago, now they are gone. They made me happy, like if there were all those pods swimming around my fish would surely be fine (not that I was planning to get a fish that needed them for food anytime soon or anything).

Any idea where they might have gone? there isn't a lot of info on the web about their life cycles. I did read in one spot that they are free swimming as juveniles then live in rock as adults, so maybe they grew up? Also I read they eat detritus, etc...with no fish or anything producing waste, might they have just starved out?

Just wondering, tank setup is next weekend...FINALLY!

TIA.

 

[cubbyman60]

It's possible some died off. However, their populations seem to wax and wane in my experience. But, to be sure, if there's one...there's many.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I agree with cubbyman, their numbers will rise and fall according to available food. Have you been ghost feeding your tank? If not, then start feeding it as if you had say 5 fish or so. This will give them something to eat and their numbers should come back.

 

[abIngenui]

Have you checked at night when the lights are off? Mine only really are active at night and I can see them swimming and grazing when the fish are asleep.

 

[aaronwitt]

Yeah I would give the tank a look over at night with a red light, like abIngenui. Your LFS may have live pods to help seed but in my experience it takes a while for them to flourish.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

The pods are there if they were there before, just that the numbers have died. as others suggested use a red light at night to see what's in there. BUT go ahead and start feeding them as I outlined above and their numbers will come back.