So confused about Pods... Do I need them?

[reefiniteasy]

Do I need to add pods to my aquarium? I don't have finicky eaters that I have to feed, but do I need to add pods anyway? AlgaeBarn says they are an essential part of the saltwater aquarium, does that mean I need them even if I don't have anything to eat them? I have a CUC and 2 clowns at the moment.

 

[Steelheader09]

Do I need to add pods to my aquarium? I don't have finicky eaters that I have to feed, but do I need to add pods anyway? AlgaeBarn says they are an essential part of the saltwater aquarium, does that mean I need them even if I don't have anything to eat them? I have a CUC and 2 clowns at the moment.

Its not what eats them, its what they eat. Awesome garbage disposals.

 

[reefiniteasy]

Its not what eats them, its what they eat. Awesome garbage disposals.

Do I have enough inhabitants to support a population of pods?

 

[Steelheader09]

Do I have enough inhabitants to support a population of pods?

I was actually just asking this same question. Many are saying if you dose phytoplankton you can greatly help sustain the population. If you have a refugium it really helps. I do not unfortunately.

 

[reefiniteasy]

I was actually just asking this same question. Many are saying if you dose phytoplankton you can greatly help sustain the population. If you have a refugium it really helps. I do not unfortunately.

I don't have a refugium either. I'm willing to give the pods a try, plus I think my students would find it interesting, but... Will they get caught in the filter floss in my middle chamber of the BioCube?

 

[Doctorgori]

Pods in a fish tank? .Built it and they will come

 

[Steelheader09]

I don't have a refugium either. I'm willing to give the pods a try, plus I think my students would find it interesting, but... Will they get caught in the filter floss in my middle chamber of the BioCube?

Some might, however mine tend to stay on the glass, tank bottom, and rock/corals. I have not seen them go into the water column

 

[jsvand5]

You already have them. No need to buy any. Especially if you don’t have any fish that require pods for food.

 

[ZachR32]

You will get pods naturally if you add any coral or rock that is from an existing tank. Otherwise I always find its beneficial to get pods in after the tank has cycled. Think of them as self-regulating algae eaters that add substantially to your tanks biodiversity

 

[reefiniteasy]

You already have them. No need to buy any. Especially if you don’t have any fish that require pods for food.

Not sure how I would have them already.

You will get pods naturally if you add any coral or rock that is from an existing tank. Otherwise I always find its beneficial to get pods in after the tank has cycled. Think of them as self-regulating algae eaters that add substantially to your tanks biodiversity

We haven’t reached the point of adding coral yet. Almost there. Even though they would eat algae, most of my algae is contained in the back chambers of my BioCube. If they live amongst the rock should I also dose phytoplankton?

Also, if I order a jar from AlgaeBarn how do you add them to the aquarium? Do you dump the jar in? Is that safe?

 

[ca1ore]

You do not need pods; however, in most tanks you do end up with them ..... even if you don’t see them. They hitchhike in on rock or corals. Unless you need a lot to feed something like a mandarin, don’t bother to buy them.

 

[reefiniteasy]

How do I decide with everyone having a different viewpoint?
I’m all about not spending unnecessarily but I also like the idea of increased biodiversity.

You do not need pods; however, in most tanks you do end up with them ..... even if you don’t see them. They hitchhike in on rock or corals. Unless you need a lot to feed something like a mandarin, don’t bother to buy them.

Are there any negatives to introducing them to a small nano tank?

 

[Nanoreefer4ever]

Pods are sign your tank healthy, they consume ditrius, some fish eat pods only, they are cool too see at night

 

[Steelheader09]

I have never added them myself, mine hitchhiked in on rocks and coral.

 

[jurgenph]

just wait... as others said, they will find their way into your tank once you start adding frags.

before you know it, you're going to be posting "what eats pods! they are taking over my tank"


J.

 

[ca1ore]

How do I decide with everyone having a different viewpoint?
I’m all about not spending unnecessarily but I also like the idea of increased biodiversity.
Are there any negatives to introducing them to a small nano tank?

Decide what makes sense to you .... or pick a few folks here who seem like they know what they’re talking about and follow their advice. The only ‘downside’ is that you spend your money unecessarily. If biodiversity is what you covet, better to buy mini and micro stars. Most of the other stuff will make its way in - bristlevworms, amphipods, copepods, etc.

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

Not sure how I would have them already.



We haven’t reached the point of adding coral yet. Almost there. Even though they would eat algae, most of my algae is contained in the back chambers of my BioCube. If they live amongst the rock should I also dose phytoplankton?

Also, if I order a jar from AlgaeBarn how do you add them to the aquarium? Do you dump the jar in? Is that safe?

You may not be able to see copepods, but amphipods are large enough to be easily seen. Your pod population will naturally adjust to the food available. You can ensure that your tank is inoculated with pods by getting a scoop of live sand and/or sump chaeto from an existing mature reef tank.

 

[jsvand5]

Not sure how I would have them already.



We haven’t reached the point of adding coral yet. Almost there. Even though they would eat algae, most of my algae is contained in the back chambers of my BioCube. If they live amongst the rock should I also dose phytoplankton?

Also, if I order a jar from AlgaeBarn how do you add them to the aquarium? Do you dump the jar in? Is that safe?

If you added even one piece of live rock to start your tank you already have them. If you didn’t use any live rock at all just buy a small piece of macro algae for a couple dollars and shake it in the the tank. Then if you don’t have a fuge you can just throw away the algae. When tanks are first started usually you will see an explosion in the pod population after a couple weeks. Then the population will stabilize on its own. Try taking a flashlight and look at the glass at nighttime. You’ll probably see some.