Adding pods to a cycling tank

[LoudNerd]

I've set up MANY tanks over the years going back to the late 90's using live rock. When I used to cycle my tanks with live rock I never had an "ugly stage" and it makes sense that the rock already had healthy bacteria and pods on it to seed the tank. I used live sand, dry rock, and Dr. Tim's One and Only to start cycling my tank with ammonia but my question is I've heard people talk about adding pods to help avoid the ugly stage. My question is at what point are people adding pods? Do you add them right away or wait a week or two?

 

[Dan_P]

I've set up MANY tanks over the years going back to the late 90's using live rock. When I used to cycle my tanks with live rock I never had an "ugly stage" and it makes sense that the rock already had healthy bacteria and pods on it to seed the tank. I used live sand, dry rock, and Dr. Tim's One and Only to start cycling my tank with ammonia but my question is I've heard people talk about adding pods to help avoid the ugly stage. My question is at what point are people adding pods? Do you add them right away or wait a week or two?

No point in adding pods until there is something for the pods to eat. The pod story seems like another hobby fad but a harmless one except for your wallet

 

[JohnNYC8]

I've set up MANY tanks over the years going back to the late 90's using live rock. When I used to cycle my tanks with live rock I never had an "ugly stage" and it makes sense that the rock already had healthy bacteria and pods on it to seed the tank. I used live sand, dry rock, and Dr. Tim's One and Only to start cycling my tank with ammonia but my question is I've heard people talk about adding pods to help avoid the ugly stage. My question is at what point are people adding pods? Do you add them right away or wait a week or two?

I waited a week or two and had great results with 2 tanks started with dry rock. The BRS recommendation is to add them when you start to see diatoms. Tisbe or Tigger pods will reproduce and sustain a population in the tank. I wouldn’t add any “one and done” copepod strains, those are more for live feeding.

You’re going to have copepods sooner or later but adding a healthy population early jumpstarts the process and gets a key cleanup crew member in there. Unless you have fish with a special diet you only need to add them once. They’ll scale their population to their available nutrients.

In terms of food, they don’t need much to stay alive. If you dose phyto the population will boom but I wouldn’t do that until there’s more available food sources in the tank or a fish that will eat them like certain wrasses. Let them get into the sand and rockwork and munch on nuisance algae before it has time to take hold.

 

[JohnNYC8]

No point in adding pods until there is something for the pods to eat. The pod story seems like another hobby fad but a harmless one except for your wallet

I’d say the general consensus is, it can’t hurt. But according to the BRS cycling tests they really do have a positive effect. It might be a fad but it’s an inexpensive one with some data to back it up.

 

[LoudNerd]

I waited a week or two and had great results with 2 tanks started with dry rock. The BRS recommendation is to add them when you start to see diatoms. Tisbe or Tigger pods will reproduce and sustain a population in the tank. I wouldn’t add any “one and done” copepod strains, those are more for live feeding.

You’re going to have copepods sooner or later but adding a healthy population early jumpstarts the process and gets a key cleanup crew member in there. Unless you have fish with a special diet you only need to add them once. They’ll scale their population to their available nutrients.

In terms of food, they don’t need much to stay alive. If you dose phyto the population will boom but I wouldn’t do that until there’s more available food sources in the tank or a fish that will eat them like certain wrasses. Let them get into the sand and rockwork and munch on nuisance algae before it has time to take hold.

That is EXACTLY what I was thinking but was waiting for someone smarter than me to confirm it lol.

 

[Dan_P]

I’d say the general consensus is, it can’t hurt. But according to the BRS cycling tests they really do have a positive effect. It might be a fad but it’s an inexpensive one with some data to back it up.

There is a conflict of interest in every test BRS runs. The tests are poorly designed, little better than hearsay and advertisement.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Whether I do liverock or dry. I always add pods once cycle is verified. I would add in pods then phyto for food. Just from personal experience. I notice a clear difference.

 

[Austinsdepenbrock]

I added mine after the cycle was complete. I also added like four times the recommended amount. Just make sure you are feeding them Phytoplankton, since the tank will most likely still be clean.