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PODs
- Thread starter hjp109
- Start date
i don't think there is any formula for success other than live rock and an area in the tank or sump where you don't have a fish constantly eating them.
Also pods is a rather generic term. There are copepods or there are amphipods. There are also nasty isopods (e.g. ones with huge eyes that stick on to clownfish and suck their fluids...nasty). Tiger pods are just a commercial gimmick in my opinion. I believe they feed on phytoplankton - which is not very common to have in most reef tanks unless you dose it. I could be totally wrong as I have no experience with tiger pods. Copepods thrive in my sump - they came with my LR, not sure what they eat but presume microalgae. Amphipods are larger shrimp-like critters that basically sulk around the LR at night eating detritus and such.
Also pods is a rather generic term. There are copepods or there are amphipods. There are also nasty isopods (e.g. ones with huge eyes that stick on to clownfish and suck their fluids...nasty). Tiger pods are just a commercial gimmick in my opinion. I believe they feed on phytoplankton - which is not very common to have in most reef tanks unless you dose it. I could be totally wrong as I have no experience with tiger pods. Copepods thrive in my sump - they came with my LR, not sure what they eat but presume microalgae. Amphipods are larger shrimp-like critters that basically sulk around the LR at night eating detritus and such.
Providing a good environment for them to thrive is about all you can do to help.
They do much better when there are plenty of hiding spaces (live rock, macro algae, etc.) where fish that eat them can't get to. This can be done by piling small and medium sized rubble pieces of LR so there are tiny openings between them to make shelter for the pods.
I believe they breed faster with warmer temps, which is probably why they populate so well in my sump. The heater is in there and it's near my big clump of chaeto. Plus, I tend to leave my sump light on longer than my display lights to promote the chaeto growth. Since the sump light is close, it's slightly warmer than the rest of my system. I have pods jumping and swimming all over the place down there. 8)
Just give them safe places to hide, warm temps, and food (I don't "feed" them directly, they just get whatever is naturally in my tank although you could add some phytoplankton to help) and they take care of the rest.
If you have a separate small tank or a HOB filter that you could use to breed them, that would work even better.
They do much better when there are plenty of hiding spaces (live rock, macro algae, etc.) where fish that eat them can't get to. This can be done by piling small and medium sized rubble pieces of LR so there are tiny openings between them to make shelter for the pods.
I believe they breed faster with warmer temps, which is probably why they populate so well in my sump. The heater is in there and it's near my big clump of chaeto. Plus, I tend to leave my sump light on longer than my display lights to promote the chaeto growth. Since the sump light is close, it's slightly warmer than the rest of my system. I have pods jumping and swimming all over the place down there. 8)
Just give them safe places to hide, warm temps, and food (I don't "feed" them directly, they just get whatever is naturally in my tank although you could add some phytoplankton to help) and they take care of the rest.
If you have a separate small tank or a HOB filter that you could use to breed them, that would work even better.
