Is it possible to have to many bugs (pods)in a tank?

jdiddy8384 · 11/23/2017, 11:03 AM

Ive had my 90g tank running for 7 months now. At night when lights turn off pods everywhere! All over rocks, sandbed, on glass, and even swimming pods. I just purchased a scooter blenny to help with the population. Im just wondering if its possible to have to many pods in a tank? Thanks in advance for the help

Daddi0 · 11/23/2017, 11:23 AM

Lucky! I dont think you can have too many. I would say that the population would be self regulating depending on how much food is available for them.

mcgyvr · 11/23/2017, 12:16 PM

Nope.

JUNBUG361 · 11/23/2017, 12:20 PM

Buffet for the live stock

Jon0807 · 11/24/2017, 01:54 AM

I wish I had your problem!

Dmorty217 · 11/24/2017, 07:10 AM

The answer to your question is no. They will run out of the excessive food source and the population will level out.

sde1500 · 11/24/2017, 08:23 AM

Or they become excessive food for fish and corals that get all fat and happy. Definitely a good thing.

Tripod1404 · 11/24/2017, 02:42 PM

Short answer; no.

Long answer;

Ampipods turn cannibalistic towards the smaller individuals if there is not enough food. One of the main food sources for amphipods are copepods. So if you have too many copepods, it will eventually cause the number of amphipods to increase. Until copepod numbers cannot support the amphipods. After that they will turn cannibalistic and cut back their own numbers. So no you cannot have excessive number of them as amphipods will start to limit their own population as well as the copepod population.

In my mature tanks, the stable pod populations I have always been copepods and a smaller number of adult/large amphipods. There is also a small number of inmature/small amphipods but that population is either very small or transient. I think the adult amphipods puts a large pressure on small ones, so small individuals can only survive if adult numbers drop. Once that happens, some small ones reach adulthood and cutback the smaller population. A nice delicate balance.

When I mono-cultured amphipods for my marine betta, cannibalism was one of the main problems. I had to separate big adults from the culture as they would eat the "baby" amphipods.

11/23/2017, 11:03 AM	#1
jdiddy8384 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 138	Is it possible to have to many bugs (pods)in a tank? Ive had my 90g tank running for 7 months now. At night when lights turn off pods everywhere! All over rocks, sandbed, on glass, and even swimming pods. I just purchased a scooter blenny to help with the population. Im just wondering if its possible to have to many pods in a tank? Thanks in advance for the help

11/23/2017, 11:23 AM	#2
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	Lucky! I dont think you can have too many. I would say that the population would be self regulating depending on how much food is available for them. __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

11/23/2017, 12:16 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Nope. __________________ Who me?

11/24/2017, 01:54 AM	#5
Jon0807 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 293	I wish I had your problem! __________________ 40g breeder DT, 40g breeder sump

11/24/2017, 07:10 AM	#6
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	The answer to your question is no. They will run out of the excessive food source and the population will level out. __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

11/23/2017, 12:20 PM	#4
JUNBUG361 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Antioch,CALIFORNIA Posts: 1,091	Buffet for the live stock

11/24/2017, 08:23 AM	#7
sde1500 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Glocester, RI Posts: 3,336	Or they become excessive food for fish and corals that get all fat and happy. Definitely a good thing. __________________ My build thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2548422 Current Tank Info: 65 gallon mixed reef, Eshopps sump and HOB overflow, RO-110int skimmer, Reefbreeder 32" photons V1.

11/24/2017, 02:42 PM	#8
Tripod1404 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,821	Short answer; no. Long answer; Ampipods turn cannibalistic towards the smaller individuals if there is not enough food. One of the main food sources for amphipods are copepods. So if you have too many copepods, it will eventually cause the number of amphipods to increase. Until copepod numbers cannot support the amphipods. After that they will turn cannibalistic and cut back their own numbers. So no you cannot have excessive number of them as amphipods will start to limit their own population as well as the copepod population. In my mature tanks, the stable pod populations I have always been copepods and a smaller number of adult/large amphipods. There is also a small number of inmature/small amphipods but that population is either very small or transient. I think the adult amphipods puts a large pressure on small ones, so small individuals can only survive if adult numbers drop. Once that happens, some small ones reach adulthood and cutback the smaller population. A nice delicate balance. When I mono-cultured amphipods for my marine betta, cannibalism was one of the main problems. I had to separate big adults from the culture as they would eat the "baby" amphipods. Last edited by Tripod1404; 11/24/2017 at 02:49 PM.