Where did the Tigger Pods go?

educom · 02/10/2010, 05:20 PM

I set up a 20G fuge with 3 pieces of live rock, a sand bed, and some chaeto that is growing nicely and already noticeably reducing my nitrates. The flow in/out of the fuge is slow, but detritus started to build somewhat so I added a maxijet 1200 to move the water around. About a week later I added some Tigger Pods to the fuge. The next morning I can't see any of them. So, what happened to them? The gravity flow rate out of the fuge is slow and I can't imagine all of them draining out in less than 12 hours considering they don't hang out at the top of the waterline. Are they hiding in the live rocks or the sand, or is it possible the maxijet sucked all 2,000-3,000 of them up and killed them in the small propeller? The guy at the LFS said they are in the rocks and they hide from the light. This might be true but I can't see any, even if I flick on a flashlight at the fuge.

bertoni · 02/10/2010, 05:51 PM

They might be hiding. I'm not familiar with that species, though. I'd wait a while, at least a few weeks, before worrying much.

captstinky · 02/11/2010, 08:34 AM

Nothing good happens fast.

I see periodic odd behavior from my fish- they dart around like they are whacked out. Closer inspection shows a 'bloom' of pods in the tank. This is noticed once a month or so- it ends fast as the fish scarf up the pods. It may occur more often when I'm not home- dunno. If you have food sources and stable parameters then they will reproduce. If you don't see any critters in a month or so, you might add more. If I turn lights on early- the rocks crawls with pods- like turning lights on in a bad truck stop restroom...

w16227 · 02/11/2010, 08:56 AM

That MJ1200 may be too much for the fuge. Slow flow is what helps with nitrate reduction over a deep sand bed (you did not specify, I am assuming DSB).

Some flow may help (chaeto likes flow- but a 1200 in a 20g may stir things up too much. Better with something like a Korilla K1 or nano pump. You need balance - between flow for the chaeto, and NOT stirring up too much stuff.

My fuge is where I WANT dietrus to settle - wither to be broken down, eaten by critters (have snails and small hermits in there) or if it becomes too much, then I can syphon out during a waterchange.

To best see the pods - us a red lens on your flashlight and look at night.

educom · 02/14/2010, 03:00 PM

I have a 4"-5" DSB in the fuge. The 1200 maxijet started making a wierd noise, and I turned it off a couple days ago, so now there is little flow in the tank. I'll watch it another week or so, and then add some more pods if necesary but this time I'll run it without a pump on to see what difference it makes.

02/10/2010, 05:20 PM	#1
educom Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Biloxi, MS Posts: 28	Where did the Tigger Pods go? I set up a 20G fuge with 3 pieces of live rock, a sand bed, and some chaeto that is growing nicely and already noticeably reducing my nitrates. The flow in/out of the fuge is slow, but detritus started to build somewhat so I added a maxijet 1200 to move the water around. About a week later I added some Tigger Pods to the fuge. The next morning I can't see any of them. So, what happened to them? The gravity flow rate out of the fuge is slow and I can't imagine all of them draining out in less than 12 hours considering they don't hang out at the top of the waterline. Are they hiding in the live rocks or the sand, or is it possible the maxijet sucked all 2,000-3,000 of them up and killed them in the small propeller? The guy at the LFS said they are in the rocks and they hide from the light. This might be true but I can't see any, even if I flick on a flashlight at the fuge.

02/10/2010, 05:51 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	They might be hiding. I'm not familiar with that species, though. I'd wait a while, at least a few weeks, before worrying much. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/11/2010, 08:56 AM	#4
w16227 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: chicago Burbs Posts: 479	That MJ1200 may be too much for the fuge. Slow flow is what helps with nitrate reduction over a deep sand bed (you did not specify, I am assuming DSB). Some flow may help (chaeto likes flow- but a 1200 in a 20g may stir things up too much. Better with something like a Korilla K1 or nano pump. You need balance - between flow for the chaeto, and NOT stirring up too much stuff. My fuge is where I WANT dietrus to settle - wither to be broken down, eaten by critters (have snails and small hermits in there) or if it becomes too much, then I can syphon out during a waterchange. To best see the pods - us a red lens on your flashlight and look at night. __________________ call me "w" - easier to remember Current Tank Info: 125g All Glass rr, 50g sump/fuge, RKE, T5 Retrofit Lights, Deltec Turbo Skimmer, PM Kalk Reactor

02/11/2010, 08:34 AM	#3
captstinky Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 309	Nothing good happens fast. I see periodic odd behavior from my fish- they dart around like they are whacked out. Closer inspection shows a 'bloom' of pods in the tank. This is noticed once a month or so- it ends fast as the fish scarf up the pods. It may occur more often when I'm not home- dunno. If you have food sources and stable parameters then they will reproduce. If you don't see any critters in a month or so, you might add more. If I turn lights on early- the rocks crawls with pods- like turning lights on in a bad truck stop restroom...

02/14/2010, 03:00 PM	#5
educom Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Biloxi, MS Posts: 28	I have a 4"-5" DSB in the fuge. The 1200 maxijet started making a wierd noise, and I turned it off a couple days ago, so now there is little flow in the tank. I'll watch it another week or so, and then add some more pods if necesary but this time I'll run it without a pump on to see what difference it makes.