jump-starting pod population

gusmanda · 03/21/2008, 01:22 PM

How do you jump-start the population on a new tank? Assuming you started out with mostly base rock, would there be enough on new corals to jump-start the population? (also assuming there is a fuge of course).

AquamanE · 03/21/2008, 01:38 PM

with fuge you should. give it some live phyto also occasionally..

styndall · 03/21/2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AquamanE
with fuge you should. give it some live phyto also occasionally..

This.

Whenever I dose my tank with live phytoplankton, I see a small explosion of copepods almost immediately, and another small explosion of amphipods soon afterwards. Small zooplankton feeds on phytoplankton, and larger zooplankton eats the small zooplankton. With more food available at the base of the food chain, you'll end up with greater quantities of life at every level.

kevin2000 · 03/21/2008, 02:52 PM

My 02

I think pods should be viewed as part of your clean up crew -- their overall population is based on food availability. As a general rule feeding the clean up crew is counter productive.

If your trying to grow pods for Mandarins or something similar .. then setup a 10 gallon tank with some sand, live rock, and then periodically drop in some fine/crushed flake food or some phyto. Use chaeto or something similar to transfer pods to the show tank.

03/21/2008, 01:22 PM	#1
gusmanda Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Guadalajara, (central west Mexico) Posts: 848	jump-starting pod population How do you jump-start the population on a new tank? Assuming you started out with mostly base rock, would there be enough on new corals to jump-start the population? (also assuming there is a fuge of course).

03/21/2008, 01:38 PM	#2
AquamanE Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 6,544	with fuge you should. give it some live phyto also occasionally.. __________________ Eddie Soler FMAS BOD Member MACNA 2013 Chairman "I'd rather die living than live to die" Current Tank Info: 200G mixed reef with 60G sump, Radion LED’s , Bubble King skimmer, blah blah blah.

03/21/2008, 02:52 PM	#4
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	My 02 I think pods should be viewed as part of your clean up crew -- their overall population is based on food availability. As a general rule feeding the clean up crew is counter productive. If your trying to grow pods for Mandarins or something similar .. then setup a 10 gallon tank with some sand, live rock, and then periodically drop in some fine/crushed flake food or some phyto. Use chaeto or something similar to transfer pods to the show tank.