starting new tank with large pod count

jrockwater · 08/12/2008, 12:01 AM

I had to tear down my tank 3 months ago and I will be moving at the beginning of the year. I've already bought a 90 wide aquarium and I was planning to get my live rock ready. I was thinking placing cured live rock in a 42 gallon rubbermaid with little or no light. I think this may give me a large numbers of cryptic creatures, pods, and so on. Any suggestions?

Tang Salad · 08/12/2008, 12:32 AM

You could do that but I don't think it will have any benefit in the long run. You may have more zooplankton (pods) while everything is in the Rubbermaid, but after you've transferred all the LR back into your main tank, and after some time passes, you will only have left an amount equal to what you would have had if you never put the rock in the Rubbermaid to begin with.

Wow, that was a terrible explanation!

Let me try another way. Your tank can only support so many pods, and it will generally always have as many as it can support. Boosting the initial number of pods will not allow a greater number to survive long term, because the tank can only support so many pods, regardless of the rock's history.

jrockwater · 08/12/2008, 09:09 AM

thanks for your post. guess i'm just a bored reefer with no tank right now. In truth I want to add a mandarin goby to my next system and I want to make sure it has plenty food when I start. any other suggestions on things I could be doing now.

DamnPepShrimp · 08/12/2008, 10:10 AM

I ran my tank fishless for awhile and the pod number kept growing and growing and growing. Never hit a maximum amount of pods my tank could keep. Once you put fish back in the system though, your pod count will lower to a consistent amount if you have the proper fuge etc.

jrockwater · 08/12/2008, 11:45 AM

how long did you run your tank fishless and what was your lighting like. I was thinking of running actinic to promote purple coraline growth.

Mr James · 08/12/2008, 12:01 PM

I ordered pods for my new system when I got it up and running. The package came with pods, stars and other tiny dudes!! My pod population is doing great. I don't keep a mandarin nor do I plan to, but they are excellent detritus eaters. PM me if you want the name of the company.

08/12/2008, 12:01 AM	#1
jrockwater Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: georgia Posts: 70	starting new tank with large pod count I had to tear down my tank 3 months ago and I will be moving at the beginning of the year. I've already bought a 90 wide aquarium and I was planning to get my live rock ready. I was thinking placing cured live rock in a 42 gallon rubbermaid with little or no light. I think this may give me a large numbers of cryptic creatures, pods, and so on. Any suggestions?

08/12/2008, 12:32 AM	#2
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	You could do that but I don't think it will have any benefit in the long run. You may have more zooplankton (pods) while everything is in the Rubbermaid, but after you've transferred all the LR back into your main tank, and after some time passes, you will only have left an amount equal to what you would have had if you never put the rock in the Rubbermaid to begin with. Wow, that was a terrible explanation! Let me try another way. Your tank can only support so many pods, and it will generally always have as many as it can support. Boosting the initial number of pods will not allow a greater number to survive long term, because the tank can only support so many pods, regardless of the rock's history. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

08/12/2008, 09:09 AM	#3
jrockwater Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: georgia Posts: 70	thanks for your post. guess i'm just a bored reefer with no tank right now. In truth I want to add a mandarin goby to my next system and I want to make sure it has plenty food when I start. any other suggestions on things I could be doing now.

08/12/2008, 10:10 AM	#4
DamnPepShrimp Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 5,152	I ran my tank fishless for awhile and the pod number kept growing and growing and growing. Never hit a maximum amount of pods my tank could keep. Once you put fish back in the system though, your pod count will lower to a consistent amount if you have the proper fuge etc.

08/12/2008, 11:45 AM	#5
jrockwater Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: georgia Posts: 70	how long did you run your tank fishless and what was your lighting like. I was thinking of running actinic to promote purple coraline growth.

08/12/2008, 12:01 PM	#6
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	I ordered pods for my new system when I got it up and running. The package came with pods, stars and other tiny dudes!! My pod population is doing great. I don't keep a mandarin nor do I plan to, but they are excellent detritus eaters. PM me if you want the name of the company.