New pod culture

[SaltyCrew4u]

I have a 36 gallon mixed reef which requires some pod population. I have a leopard wrasse and newly added pipefish. I just started my pod jars on the 22nd. When should I do my first water change? The jars seem to be green still.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I never did water changes on my pod cultures because you will inevitably lose a lot of pods. I drain all the water through a sieve and collect all the pods, then clean the container and start over again. It takes about 3 weeks to harvest the culture.

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

So the water should be good the entire 3 weeks? Obviously give or take.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Yes its fine. I forgot about a culture once for 2 months and it was fine. Just make sure to have an airline in the water to create a bit of water movement. Good luck

 

[SlowAndStupid]

I never did water changes on my pod cultures because you will inevitably lose a lot of pods. I drain all the water through a sieve and collect all the pods, then clean the container and start over again. It takes about 3 weeks to harvest the culture.

Interesting. I always drain through the sieve and get rid of the water. Couple of ml's of the harvested pods along with so. e phyto and an algae wafer and in 1 week my water is teeming with pods again.

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

Interesting. I always drain through the sieve and get rid of the water. Couple of ml's of the harvested pods along with so. e phyto and an algae wafer and in 1 week my water is teeming with pods again.

After the first few batches I would assume you have PODs at different stages so they probably populte or appear to quicker. But who knows.

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

So just checking in. My two 1 gallon jars seem to be doing well, pods everywhere. I have added about 30 ML of phyto when the water started to clear a little. Should I continue to monitor salinity and phyto or do a water change using a sieve and feed phyto again? I feel like some people say every 10 days and others say wait the 3 weeks to harvest some. Just looking for opinions.

 

[SlowAndStupid]

I harvest weekly. Like I mentioned above, I dump the water and add new water every week so don't have to check salinity. I throw in the phyto at the start of the week and don't find I need to redose but I also add in an algae wafer at the start of the week too. They do great. If youre going to try and retain water you will likely have to redose phyto occasionally.

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

So what would these tiny white specks be? Not copepods because I dont see them move. At least I dont think they are. They pop up all over my aquarium glass as well. The pics not very good, but I'm sure someone knows what they could be. It also looks like some might be floating freely. Hopefully they aren't dead copepods.