Pods are killing my Zoas

Sugo · Oct 5, 2011

My tank is full of them! It's to the point they casually roam with my lights on. I've been reading up on this occurrence and there are other reefers with this problem. For the past few weeks I've been spying on them at night, sure enough they're (not going to say eating them but it seems they are) irritating my Zoas. No new changes or additions to my tank and my parameters are good; only change is the amphiopod population that seems to have exploded!

What's the quickest and safest way to lower my pod population? I've read a Mandarin would help or even a temporary iodine dosing regimen. Please help, these guys have an expensive diet!

Reefpestsolutions · Oct 5, 2011

Mandarin? Wrass? Some sort of fish that prey on them.

_Alex_ · Oct 5, 2011

Go get a wrasse or 2. They will keep them in check.

firsttime · Oct 5, 2011

I have had that issue and did not believe it was pods until I saw it at night. I got a 6line and its been busy

An 6 line wrasse should keep them in check. Thats what I have done, you can do a revive dip to get an immediate relief and then you can let the wrasse do its work. Depending on how large your tank is you may need more than one wrasse.

I dont recommend mandrins because they are sensitive fish and you need a large tank to support them.

CJO · Oct 5, 2011

A wrasse would be your best bet. Many mandarins love copepods but may or may not like amphipods.

CJ

Bernie · Oct 5, 2011

Love my six line. He wiped out the pods and keep the bristle worms in check as well. Much better choice than a Mandarin in my opinion, because the 6 line will feed on other things once it's done it's job. Mine is pretty aggressive now. He'll go after anything that hits the water that is smaller than himself.

Reef Breeders · Oct 5, 2011

Mandarins can live in small tanks so long as they have proper feed.

el richie · Oct 5, 2011

Leopard wrasse

PR_Reefers · Oct 5, 2011

I had a similar experience recently & all else being fine, i arrived to the same conclusion you did so...I decided to treat my tank with interceptor to wipe out most pods. It seemed to do the trick all of the z/p's that seemed irritated are now looking good. Even so i still see pods regularly so it didnt wipe them out completely. I also keep a leopard wrasse and yellow cori which helps to some extent but sometimes the pod pop. is just too big.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wy Renegade · Oct 5, 2011

I would add a wrasse; watch the six lines as they can become very aggressive and territorial, especially in a small tank.

I generally found that they would eat the tentacles right off the polyps.

BigJohnWoody · Oct 5, 2011

IMO get a radiant wrasse. They're a great utility wrasse, stay relatively small and are gorgeous fish. Plus they're not as aggressive as a lined wrasse.

Sugo · Oct 5, 2011

I have a 40g tank and a Sixline. I guess my Sixline is lazy... Would you guys recommend me getting another Wrass or exchanging the one I have for another? I like the idea of using Interceptor as a quick solution but would also love to add one of the mentioned Wrass's.

Thanks for the quick responses btw!

Reefpestsolutions · Oct 5, 2011

Do you feed your wrass is there other fish in there? Maybe you can starve him to get him on natural food? Lazy fish LOL.

Please remember this is a family freindly forum - Thank You :angel:.

Sugo · Oct 5, 2011

Reefpestsolutions said:
Do you feed your wrass is there other fish in there? Maybe you can starve him to get him on natural food? Lazy fish LOL.

I only have my Sixline and a couple Clowns. I feed these guys once a day. My lazy Sixline is too spoiled!

Please remember this is a family friendly forum and keep the language appropriate - Thank You :angel:.

Reefpestsolutions · Oct 5, 2011

I would say so LOL. I'm not a huge clown fan they should munch pods allso. I had huge clowns they would bite me and I don't like things biteing me. How long are your lights on for? Pods like to come out at night maybe you can change the light cycle?

Sugo · Oct 5, 2011

I would change my light cycle but fear it would tick off my nem lol.

Ditto above :squigglemouth:.

Reefpestsolutions · Oct 5, 2011

Ya don't make him angry! More fish is always fun. I just got a 1" blonde naso so cool it's tiny. Maybe a 4 line wrass. Don't know if it would get along with the 6 line. The 4 line stays small 2" 3"

Wy Renegade · Oct 5, 2011

I'd do some research on that, I seem to remember reading that a six-line and a four-line cannot be kept together in the same system. However, I'm not much of a fish keeper, so I could be remembering that incorrectly.