Want Pods, Do you need to feed phyto?

SuperNemo · 12/13/2010, 11:31 AM

hi, i would like to get some reef pods, but was wondering if they need to be feed phyto or can they live off the scraps of uneaten food.

spamreefnew · 12/13/2010, 11:34 AM

i have had them grow just fine without feeding phyto however i do notice that they seem to breed faster when there is algae and or phyto in the system.

djkms · 12/13/2010, 11:42 AM

I added a bag of reefpods about 3 months ago. I still see pods in my fuge now. I wouldn't say they are thriving but living and still around. I don't dose anything for them.

Sk8r · 12/13/2010, 11:52 AM

they eat algae off the rock, so I understand. Most tanks can feed them.

aquaman05 · 12/13/2010, 11:56 AM

What if your tank is newer and you have no algae on the rocks in your fuge?

Sk8r · 12/13/2010, 12:00 PM

If you just buy a big wad of cheatomorpha macro, you will have pods come in with it. They'll live on that very happily, and breed like rabbits. Not caulerpa: toxic and nasty. Cheatomorpha.

SuperNemo · 12/13/2010, 12:01 PM

aquaman, thats the issue i have also. i used dry rock and sand, the tank has no algae whatsoever. thats the main reason i'm asking about feeding the pods or if they can live off food scraps.

organism · 12/13/2010, 12:03 PM

They can live off food scraps and the tiny algae growing in your tank so no worries there, no sense fouling up your water with pointless phyto additives

aquaman05 · 12/13/2010, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperNemo

aquaman, thats the issue i have also. i used dry rock and sand, the tank has no algae whatsoever. thats the main reason i'm asking about feeding the pods or if they can live off food scraps.

Yeah me to. Im going to tag along

I have some(pods) now in my fuge that has chaeto in it but not much algae in the tank and none in my fuge.

Sk8r · 12/13/2010, 04:58 PM

There'll be film algae on the cheato. Macroalgae (cheato) is algae. You need a big healthy ball of it. I'm amazed at these tanks without algae, however: I was never that lucky---you have had the cycle, right?

j.p. harrington · 12/13/2010, 05:04 PM

i use gfo and i have no algae and cheato will not grow in my tank because of the gfo so i have to use caulerpa its the only thing that will grow now that i have added the gfo. i added some pods i got from atlantic sea farms and they grew like crazy my sump has all kinds of critters in there but i do dose phyto

Just2Many · 12/13/2010, 05:09 PM

Mine seem to eat whatever is laying around

Jstdv8 · 12/13/2010, 05:27 PM

so i wonder how long they live in a tanbk that doesnt have any algae growing in the DT? once they leave the macro algae in the sump.

SuperNemo · 12/13/2010, 05:37 PM

at this point i dont need any cheato's yet. there are only three fish, shrimp and emerald crabs.

jstdv8, you have a good point, how long can they live if they leave the macro algae in the sump.

i was going to get two packages of reef pods, one in the fuge (empty at the moment) and one in the display.

djkms · 12/13/2010, 05:50 PM

I would recommend getting chaeto ASAP. I purchased a ball right after my tank cycled.

Few reasons for this IMO.

The sooner you get something in there to eat up your nitrate (trust me 3 fish can add plenty) the less likely you will have to fight nitrate levels later.

Chaeto will help outcompete nuisance algae

The sooner you get a "home" for your pods the better, especially if your not dosing phyto. Getting a good pod population takes a long time, better sooner than later.

Agu · 12/13/2010, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just2Many

Mine seem to eat whatever is laying around

That's my experience also. I feed my frag tank (no fish, hermit crabs or snails) krill on a feeding skewer. It's swarmed by pods until one of the giant bristle worms makes off with dinner.

bertoni · 12/13/2010, 08:21 PM

Adding phytoplankton can help some small animals grow, but many species definitely can live on leftover fish food. So adding phytoplankton might or might not help, depending on what species are in the tank and the total amount of food available for the small animals.

Vandal996 · 12/13/2010, 08:55 PM

I was going to restock my tank a few weeks with another bottle of pods but at the same time I had a lime green diatom bloom and my pod population exploded overnight. I had not added pods since I started the tank a year ago.
IME feeding them makes for a larger population. I am ordering a culture so I can grow my own live phyto whenever I want to.
Here is a link to growing phyto.

http://www.breedclownfish.com/culturing-plankton/

SuperNemo · 12/13/2010, 09:14 PM

vandal, i thought about growing plankton also to feed rotifer and pods in the future, but thats a while away whent he tank is more fully stocked or when the clowns start having babies, whichever comes first.

Frogmanx82 · 12/13/2010, 10:19 PM

Pods will be more prolific if you dose and I have a mandarin, so I dose phyto.

jagr200 · 12/13/2010, 11:43 PM

I had TONS of pods. Started feeding phyto and they disappeared

I dunno why. I have the hardest time with pods! grrrr

jimicasper · 11/15/2011, 12:11 AM

I fed mine in the sump.

12/13/2010, 11:31 AM	#1
SuperNemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 524	Want Pods, Do you need to feed phyto? hi, i would like to get some reef pods, but was wondering if they need to be feed phyto or can they live off the scraps of uneaten food.

12/13/2010, 11:42 AM	#3
djkms Fish Freak Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Spring Hill, FL Posts: 1,136	I added a bag of reefpods about 3 months ago. I still see pods in my fuge now. I wouldn't say they are thriving but living and still around. I don't dose anything for them. __________________ Kris - 200 Gallon Baby Reef Current Tank Info: 225 Upgrade Setup 11/17/2012 72x27x27 - Custom 40g sump/Diablo DCS-250int skimmer/Blueline HD40x/2 MP40's/Tunze ATO/2 Part/BRS RODI/ Neptune apex, WXM/3 Radium 250w Galaxy Ballast/8 39w T5's/Litermeter III/Aquavitro Salinity/20%WC/Carbon/GFO/Vinegar

12/13/2010, 11:52 AM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	they eat algae off the rock, so I understand. Most tanks can feed them. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/13/2010, 12:00 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	If you just buy a big wad of cheatomorpha macro, you will have pods come in with it. They'll live on that very happily, and breed like rabbits. Not caulerpa: toxic and nasty. Cheatomorpha. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/13/2010, 04:58 PM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	There'll be film algae on the cheato. Macroalgae (cheato) is algae. You need a big healthy ball of it. I'm amazed at these tanks without algae, however: I was never that lucky---you have had the cycle, right? __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/13/2010, 11:34 AM	#2
spamreefnew Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: rhodeisland Posts: 1,491	i have had them grow just fine without feeding phyto however i do notice that they seem to breed faster when there is algae and or phyto in the system.

12/13/2010, 11:56 AM	#5
aquaman05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: indiana Posts: 722	What if your tank is newer and you have no algae on the rocks in your fuge?

12/13/2010, 12:01 PM	#7
SuperNemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 524	aquaman, thats the issue i have also. i used dry rock and sand, the tank has no algae whatsoever. thats the main reason i'm asking about feeding the pods or if they can live off food scraps.

12/13/2010, 12:03 PM	#8
organism code monkey Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: south bay Posts: 6,223	They can live off food scraps and the tiny algae growing in your tank so no worries there, no sense fouling up your water with pointless phyto additives

12/13/2010, 05:04 PM	#11
j.p. harrington Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NORTH CAROLINA Posts: 411	i use gfo and i have no algae and cheato will not grow in my tank because of the gfo so i have to use caulerpa its the only thing that will grow now that i have added the gfo. i added some pods i got from atlantic sea farms and they grew like crazy my sump has all kinds of critters in there but i do dose phyto __________________ j.p. harrington #41 Current Tank Info: 75gal MIXED REEF. working on 10-20gallon nano

12/13/2010, 05:09 PM	#12
Just2Many I love Saltwater! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tallmadge, Ohio Posts: 1,063	Mine seem to eat whatever is laying around __________________ "Quality only happens when you care enough to do your best." Current Tank Info: Small Ocean

12/13/2010, 05:27 PM	#13
Jstdv8 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wasilla, Alaska Posts: 1,420	so i wonder how long they live in a tanbk that doesnt have any algae growing in the DT? once they leave the macro algae in the sump.

12/13/2010, 05:37 PM	#14
SuperNemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 524	at this point i dont need any cheato's yet. there are only three fish, shrimp and emerald crabs. jstdv8, you have a good point, how long can they live if they leave the macro algae in the sump. i was going to get two packages of reef pods, one in the fuge (empty at the moment) and one in the display.

12/13/2010, 05:50 PM	#15
djkms Fish Freak Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Spring Hill, FL Posts: 1,136	I would recommend getting chaeto ASAP. I purchased a ball right after my tank cycled. Few reasons for this IMO. The sooner you get something in there to eat up your nitrate (trust me 3 fish can add plenty) the less likely you will have to fight nitrate levels later. Chaeto will help outcompete nuisance algae The sooner you get a "home" for your pods the better, especially if your not dosing phyto. Getting a good pod population takes a long time, better sooner than later. __________________ Kris - 200 Gallon Baby Reef Current Tank Info: 225 Upgrade Setup 11/17/2012 72x27x27 - Custom 40g sump/Diablo DCS-250int skimmer/Blueline HD40x/2 MP40's/Tunze ATO/2 Part/BRS RODI/ Neptune apex, WXM/3 Radium 250w Galaxy Ballast/8 39w T5's/Litermeter III/Aquavitro Salinity/20%WC/Carbon/GFO/Vinegar

12/13/2010, 08:21 PM	#17
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Adding phytoplankton can help some small animals grow, but many species definitely can live on leftover fish food. So adding phytoplankton might or might not help, depending on what species are in the tank and the total amount of food available for the small animals. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/13/2010, 08:55 PM	#18
Vandal996 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 86	I was going to restock my tank a few weeks with another bottle of pods but at the same time I had a lime green diatom bloom and my pod population exploded overnight. I had not added pods since I started the tank a year ago. IME feeding them makes for a larger population. I am ordering a culture so I can grow my own live phyto whenever I want to. Here is a link to growing phyto. http://www.breedclownfish.com/culturing-plankton/ __________________ 92 Gallon Corner Bowfront ASM G2 Skimmer 2 x 250 watt 1200k MH 2 Actinic CF with 2 Actinic T5s Current Tank Info: 92 gallon corner, 120 lbs of rock, 75lbs sand, 20 gallons of water in the sump. 500 watts of light. No fish. 12 hermit crabs, 10 or so snails left, 15 nano brittle stars, tons of pods, 5 ricordia heads, 1 hammer frag, 15 or so zoas and a single candy

12/13/2010, 09:14 PM	#19
SuperNemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 524	vandal, i thought about growing plankton also to feed rotifer and pods in the future, but thats a while away whent he tank is more fully stocked or when the clowns start having babies, whichever comes first.

12/13/2010, 10:19 PM	#20
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	Pods will be more prolific if you dose and I have a mandarin, so I dose phyto. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

12/13/2010, 11:43 PM	#21
jagr200 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Montana Posts: 74	I had TONS of pods. Started feeding phyto and they disappeared I dunno why. I have the hardest time with pods! grrrr

11/15/2011, 12:11 AM	#22
jimicasper Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: virginia beach Posts: 158	I fed mine in the sump.

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