Adding pods into a new tank?

[zebracorr]

Hello!

My tank is quickly reaching the end of its cycling and I have come across the idea of Pods. A lot of places have said to add these before anything (including cleaners), but I have also read that they are for feeding. I'm just confused. Is there anyone who added pods first after a freshly cycled tank? Or should I wait for hungry critters? This is a 70 gallon tank. I'm crafting a sump, but I only have a store bought filter now. I have live sand and live rocks, along w macroalgae.

Quick bonus question if you want to anwer: I basically started this tank for a skunk shrimp and after research I'm not sure if it's safe to add this man first, even though I really want to. Would it be unsafe to add a shrimp before all the crabs and snails or can I add them in addition to each other? I don't want to hurt anything.

Thank you everyone!!

 

[Spare time]

The pods do a few things. They scavange, eat different algaes, and act as food. I personally would add them in a new tank as they will help keep things cleaner. Apocyclopes pods would be my pick as they can reliably live in a tank (I think tisbe too, but not tigger as the babies swim and get eaten).

As for the shrimp, you are probably fine to add it. Just properly acclimate the shrimp. Typically people get a fish first right after the initial ammonia cycle just to make sure that the tank has a robust enough filter to not cause ammonia or nitrite issues as well as to make sure the owner learns to test the water, know when to do water changes, and know how much to top off. Most of the "wait till the tank is x old to get y" has to do with how well the owner understands the rhyhtm of the tank, and not the actual age of the tank.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

If you have added macro algae then its highly likely you already seeded your display with pods. They have a way of always showing up so I wouldn't worry about adding them unless you are starting from a sterile system or need to quickly repopulate the population for mandarin/pipefish setups. You can add your skunk at any time but keep in mind they don't like high nitrate which is usually the case in new setups. Add a clean up crew and wait a week or two before the shrimp is what I would recommend.

 

[bherbold8]

I added tigger pods right after the cycle. They're still kicking around , my clown snacks on them throughout the day.

 

[zebracorr]

The pods do a few things. They scavange, eat different algaes, and act as food. I personally would add them in a new tank as they will help keep things cleaner. Apocyclopes pods would be my pick as they can reliably live in a tank (I think tisbe too, but not tigger as the babies swim and get eaten).

As for the shrimp, you are probably fine to add it. Just properly acclimate the shrimp. Typically people get a fish first right after the initial ammonia cycle just to make sure that the tank has a robust enough filter to not cause ammonia or nitrite issues as well as to make sure the owner learns to test the water, know when to do water changes, and know how much to top off. Most of the "wait till the tank is x old to get y" has to do with how well the owner understands the rhyhtm of the tank, and not the actual age of the tank.

Thank you so much. This was extremely helpful!