When to add pods?

[ctylermast]

New tank up and running for about two weeks and have added my fish. I don’t have plan on turning on lights for 3ish months. When can I add pods to where they will live because I know they need micro algea to feed on?

 

[Subsea]

With fish already in the system, if you want a sustainable supply of micro fauna, then you need a “refuge from predators”.

 

[exnisstech]

Personally I've never felt the need to add pods. I have quite a few different types in all of my tanks that just appear naturally over time as things are introduced.

 

[ctylermast]

With fish already in the system, if you want a sustainable supply of micro fauna, then you need a “refuge from predators”.

I mean clowns are the only fish. I have a sump, and I have lots of rock between sump and display

 

[jonelder68]

Add some now. Feed a few drops of phyto each day.

 

[Subsea]

I mean clowns are the only fish. I have a sump, and I have lots of rock between sump and display

As I looked at your tank thread, I saw new equipment with dry rock, dry substrate and bacteria in a bottle.

I suggest you eliminate a lot of grief with nasties by investing in diver collected live rock. Your new equipment will not prevent gha.

“I know they need micro algea to feed on?“
I have not seen that to be the case. They feed on film algae that exist everywhere in a mature biodiverse reef tank.

 

[ctylermast]

As I looked at your tank thread, I saw new equipment with dry rock, dry substrate and bacteria in a bottle.

I suggest you eliminate a lot of grief with nasties by investing in diver collected live rock. Your new equipment will not prevent gha.

Although I totally do want to, the cost of rock is just insane , to get it shipped in. It was definitely on my radar from tbs live rock or something. GHA is mostly inevitable. My last tank I made a lot mistakes.

 

[Subsea]

Although I totally do want to, the cost of rock is just insane , to get it shipped in. It was definitely on my radar from tbs live rock or something. GHA is mostly inevitable. My last tank I made a lot mistakes.

I don’t think expedited shipping cost is insane. When I bought live rock in bulk, I paid $0.75 per pound delivered to air freight.

Depends on your priorities.

PS: Check this out to see if it works for you.

 

[ctylermast]

I don’t think expedited shipping cost is insane. When I bought live rock in bulk, I paid $0.75 per pound delivered to air freight.

Depends on your priorities.

From who? Tbs?

 

[Subsea]

From who? Tbs?

No. GLR was in its early development and I was developing Aquaculture Ranch, a hobby retirement business and a tax shelter.

Twenty years ago, for eight months, I purchased 200 lbs of rock a month. Growout system was 10KG in a 20’ by 40’ greenhouse. I haven’t purchased rock in 10 years.

 

[exnisstech]

Even adding some live rock from an established system not just ocean rock can be a big help. Tho ocean rock would be better I have a problem with the cost also. It's been 10 years since I bought my ocean live rock and I paid $102 for 30lbs shipped overnight.

 

[Subsea]

Even adding some live rock from an established system not just ocean rock can be a big help. Tho ocean rock would be better I have a problem with the cost also. It's been 10 years since I bought my ocean live rock and I paid $102 for 30lbs shipped overnight.

I consider that reasonable priced. If you were harvesting for your livelihood what would you charge. I would charge what the market will bare or find another livelihood: Russ Kronwetter at GCE pulled the plug and sold his business in 2025.

For certain, mature rock from other tanks will bring in micro fauna.

 

[Kaimana]

New tank up and running for about two weeks and have added my fish. I don’t have plan on turning on lights for 3ish months. When can I add pods to where they will live because I know they need micro algea to feed on?

Pods feed on all kinds of things in the system but I would dose phyto each day to help their population grow. If you are looking to use pods to help as part of the cleanup crew, I would use Tisbe or Apocyclops. You want benthic pods or they will end up in the filter or in the belly of your fish shortly after dosing. If you have a refugium in your sump, add some in there as well. They will be protected from predators and as their population grow, they will naturally make their way into your display. If you are going to add any pod hunting fish, do it months after dosing to be sure the population is large enough to sustain itself.