Good fish to eat PODs

serpentman · 06/03/2006, 09:42 AM

I guess its a good problem, however, my tank is covered with pods. Any suggestion on good fish that will eat them. I currently only have 2 clowns (soon to add a tang after quarantine) in a 92g.

dallascwbyz · 06/03/2006, 09:47 AM

If the tank has been set up for a year or moer with plenty of LR I would say a mandarin, but again only if the tank is mature. Otherwise smaller wrasses will pick them off quite readily, and accept most other foods when the pods run out.

hairymushroom · 06/03/2006, 10:40 AM

wow , first time i've seen that before ... six line wrasse love pods, so do mandarins, but i would only suggest one if you have a fuge to replenish them.

serpentman · 06/03/2006, 10:51 AM

Thanks guys. The tank is definitely too new for a mandarin. Although its new (2months), a few weeks ago I put about 35 lbs of live sand from a 3yr old tank. Ever since, the glass on my tank, sump and fuges is covered with them. I am running 2 fuges (one is low flow with light on a reverse daylight cycle, the other is high flow and lit 24/7).

Because they are there, I thought I should consider a fish or two that would benefit from them. However, I am not sure how long or if this situation will last, so I don't want to risk a mandarin yet.

Tate · 06/03/2006, 10:53 AM

Scooter blennies like pods too.

IPowderBlueTang · 06/03/2006, 11:04 AM

I have a sixline wrasse and it almost wipe out my pods, but the good note is it will eat other foods so it won't starve too death like a manadrin will!

cw150 · 06/03/2006, 12:26 PM

six line gets my vote

Reef_|<eeper · 06/03/2006, 12:28 PM

Sixlines are awesome! They look beautiful and will accept a wide variety of foods, including pods.

Randall_James · 06/03/2006, 12:35 PM

they will thin on their own in a couple weeks

Shoestring Reefer · 06/04/2006, 05:31 AM

I agree with Randall, they're probably just having a population surge.

szwab · 06/04/2006, 06:07 AM

they will naturally decrease in numbers a bit. my vote would be for an Orchid Dottyback (pseudochromis fridmani) very cool fish!

kevin2000 · 06/04/2006, 09:27 AM

Even with nothing other than clowns ... your pods are going to suddenly become scarce. Pods are beneficial critters and nothing to be concerned with.

Dubbin1 · 06/04/2006, 10:19 AM

Are you sure these pods are not flatworms?

smcnally · 06/04/2006, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dubbin1
Are you sure these pods are not flatworms?

Ooohhh...that would suck.

asmujica · 06/04/2006, 10:50 AM

Wowm maybe a nice chance to put a mandarin in there!!

How old is the tank?

Snowboarder2757 · 06/04/2006, 12:43 PM

My yellow corris wrasse and arc-eye hawk cleaned house on the pods in my tank. I have to look for awhile before I can see one now.

serpentman · 06/04/2006, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dubbin1
Are you sure these pods are not flatworms?

Definitely not flatworms. I believe most of them are tiny amphipods.

Tanks is only 2 months old.

szwab · 06/04/2006, 06:08 PM

with few predetors (more in a "aged tank) that is not out of the ordinary. I wouldn't focus on getting a fish to eat pods though unless they bother you

Sk8r · 06/04/2006, 07:12 PM

If you wish to maintain your pod population, feed a couple of teaspoons of Phytofeast every day or so. I keep a mandarin quite nicely in a 52 by supplementing food for the pods---early on I had to supplement pods as well, but now the mandarin seems to be making a nice living on the pods that are reproducing.
A way to have dragonettes (the class that mandarins and scooters belong to) is to establish a refugium and feed it. Then even at a younger age, your tank should be able to sustain them---if, and this is the ethical if---you're willing to undertake supplementing bought pods if you should run short. The problem with young tanks is exactly what I ran into, with a 3 month old tank. Right around the time I got a mandarin, I also had cyano, which lowered the pod population drastically. Several months of supplemented pods, daily Phytofeast and a refugium later, I can say my mandarin is fat and active, and I'm considering a second dragonette. But young tanks are prone to crashes that do in the pods, and you have to decide whether you're ready to undertake the expense of supplements for your dragonettes.

06/03/2006, 09:42 AM	#1
serpentman part time superhero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO) Posts: 5,698	Good fish to eat PODs I guess its a good problem, however, my tank is covered with pods. Any suggestion on good fish that will eat them. I currently only have 2 clowns (soon to add a tang after quarantine) in a 92g.

06/03/2006, 09:47 AM	#2
dallascwbyz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Seacoast NH Posts: 151	If the tank has been set up for a year or moer with plenty of LR I would say a mandarin, but again only if the tank is mature. Otherwise smaller wrasses will pick them off quite readily, and accept most other foods when the pods run out. __________________ 120G Reef, 30G refuge, 2 X 250 MH HQI, 4 X T5, LED Moons. Current Tank Info: 120g reef, clams,sps,lps, softies. fuge plumbed into basement.

06/03/2006, 10:51 AM	#4
serpentman part time superhero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO) Posts: 5,698	Thanks guys. The tank is definitely too new for a mandarin. Although its new (2months), a few weeks ago I put about 35 lbs of live sand from a 3yr old tank. Ever since, the glass on my tank, sump and fuges is covered with them. I am running 2 fuges (one is low flow with light on a reverse daylight cycle, the other is high flow and lit 24/7). Because they are there, I thought I should consider a fish or two that would benefit from them. However, I am not sure how long or if this situation will last, so I don't want to risk a mandarin yet. __________________ BS in Marine Bio ('96), First SW tank in 1992. Current Tank(s) 300g SPS with 90g frag tank and 40 anemone tank - decommissioned 46g LPS/Softy Cube 300g FOWLR under construction - decommissioned

06/03/2006, 12:28 PM	#8
Reef_\|<eeper Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 148	Sixlines are awesome! They look beautiful and will accept a wide variety of foods, including pods. __________________ Empty 30 Gal. Empty 20 Gal. Current Tank Info: 45 gal. FOWLR currently \| Flow Rate : 1165 gph \| 2x 96w Coral Life PC's \| Skilter 400 \| Penguin 350 \|

06/03/2006, 12:35 PM	#9
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	they will thin on their own in a couple weeks __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

06/03/2006, 10:40 AM	#3
hairymushroom Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 315	wow , first time i've seen that before ... six line wrasse love pods, so do mandarins, but i would only suggest one if you have a fuge to replenish them.

06/03/2006, 10:53 AM	#5
Tate Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri Posts: 388	Scooter blennies like pods too.

06/03/2006, 11:04 AM	#6
IPowderBlueTang Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Canada Posts: 769	I have a sixline wrasse and it almost wipe out my pods, but the good note is it will eat other foods so it won't starve too death like a manadrin will!

06/03/2006, 12:26 PM	#7
cw150 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: nw suburbs chicago Posts: 330	six line gets my vote

06/04/2006, 05:31 AM	#10
Shoestring Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Westerly, RI Posts: 4,989	I agree with Randall, they're probably just having a population surge. __________________ Mike Reefcentral Folding@Home team 37251 - Click my little red house to learn more and help medical science! Current Tank Info: 2, 20-gal low tech tanks

06/04/2006, 06:07 AM	#11
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	they will naturally decrease in numbers a bit. my vote would be for an Orchid Dottyback (pseudochromis fridmani) very cool fish! __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

06/04/2006, 09:27 AM	#12
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	Even with nothing other than clowns ... your pods are going to suddenly become scarce. Pods are beneficial critters and nothing to be concerned with.

06/04/2006, 10:19 AM	#13
Dubbin1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 11,540	Are you sure these pods are not flatworms?

06/04/2006, 10:50 AM	#15
asmujica Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Monterrey, México Posts: 5,580	Wowm maybe a nice chance to put a mandarin in there!! How old is the tank? __________________ Where has the tank gone?

06/04/2006, 12:43 PM	#16
Snowboarder2757 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 120	My yellow corris wrasse and arc-eye hawk cleaned house on the pods in my tank. I have to look for awhile before I can see one now. __________________ Andrew 30g reef 50g planted Current Tank Info: 30g reef, 55g planted

06/04/2006, 06:08 PM	#18
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	with few predetors (more in a "aged tank) that is not out of the ordinary. I wouldn't focus on getting a fish to eat pods though unless they bother you __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

06/04/2006, 07:12 PM	#19
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	If you wish to maintain your pod population, feed a couple of teaspoons of Phytofeast every day or so. I keep a mandarin quite nicely in a 52 by supplementing food for the pods---early on I had to supplement pods as well, but now the mandarin seems to be making a nice living on the pods that are reproducing. A way to have dragonettes (the class that mandarins and scooters belong to) is to establish a refugium and feed it. Then even at a younger age, your tank should be able to sustain them---if, and this is the ethical if---you're willing to undertake supplementing bought pods if you should run short. The problem with young tanks is exactly what I ran into, with a 3 month old tank. Right around the time I got a mandarin, I also had cyano, which lowered the pod population drastically. Several months of supplemented pods, daily Phytofeast and a refugium later, I can say my mandarin is fat and active, and I'm considering a second dragonette. But young tanks are prone to crashes that do in the pods, and you have to decide whether you're ready to undertake the expense of supplements for your dragonettes. __________________ 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%.