Trashcan Pod Farming

[Liquid360]

A began this farm around 7months ago. It’s just a 55g Rubbermaid filled with live rock and a single powerhead. I feed it homegrown phyto three times a week. Every couple weeks, I swap out Rocks between sump and farm thereby always injecting new pods to the display. This has worked VERY well and will be more useful once my new Seahorse tank gets up and running.
I self perpetuating food source with maintenance that hardly counts as work and costs nothing except price of initial pods. I also add pods every couple months from Algaebarn. I’m sure it’s unnecessary, but it makes me feel better [emoji6]
Is my video posting?

 

[rioreef]

Any light used or lid?

 

[Liquid360]

Any light used or lid?

No light at all with lid on.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Any water changes in the bucket? Seems like some dieoff would occur from the sump to the bucket.

 

[Liquid360]

Any water changes in the bucket? Seems like some dieoff would occur from the sump to the bucket.

I’m not sure I understand what you mean... what bucket?

 

[Liquid360]

It’s difficult to capture just how thick this water is with pods. The adults on the sides you can see fine, but this water is packed beyond what I would believe is maximum capacity. It has become obvious in the extreme that pods couldn’t care less about safety or fire codes.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Sorry bucket = trashcan

 

[Muttley000]

How much phyto do you add per week?

 

[Liquid360]

How much phyto do you add per week?

Around 12oz total per week.

 

[Liquid360]

How much phyto do you add per week?

Ah, nope haven’t done a water change yet. There is a small hole in the lid which allows for evaporation so I do add water periodically, but no water changes at all. It began as just a way to keep live rock live, but the pods in the rocks kept reproducing and fast. This has required very little effort. I even, on occasion dispose of skimate in the pod farm.

 

[Subsea]

Even with no light, I expect biofilm to form on everything. Are the sides of barrel slippery? When you say pods, you mean copepods?

 

[eb_reef]

where is this trash can, in a garage? do you control the temp or just let it swing through the day?

 

[Subsea]

The pods can handle the temperature swings. I have large amphipods and AlgaeBarn copepods in 150G Rubbermade tubs on south patio in Austin, Tx. It was 105 yesterday. With much evaporative cooling and shade sails, I tumble culture macro, pods and fish generation mollies. I feed heavy and fertilize with miracle grow.

 

[Liquid360]

where is this trash can, in a garage? do you control the temp or just let it swing through the day?

It’s in my kitchen/dining room and there is a single powerhead for circulation. No need for heating/cooling.

 

[Liquid360]

Even with no light, I expect biofilm to form on everything. Are the sides of barrel slippery? When you say pods, you mean copepods?

Yes, copepods and amphipods. Negative on biofilm. It’s been running a long time.

 

[cracker]

And no water change that's cool !

 

[Subsea]

Yes, copepods and amphipods. Negative on biofilm. It’s been running a long time.

What are the pods eating?

 

[Liquid360]

What are the pods eating?

Home grown phyto at around 12/oz a week

 

[Subsea]

Outstanding. Pods are durable. At differrent life stages they are detrivore than herbivore. The large amphipods in my systems compete with bristle worms and mollies for flake food. Amphipods are bigger than mollie fry.

 

[Jl330]

I just saw this thread and I may have to do this. I have a 30 gallon tub with cured live rock in it. I could seed with pods and just keep it going. I'll have to heat it in the winter though. Would love to keep enough pods to keep my tank fed.