Do pods sleep?

[Shilpan]

I'm trying to increase my refugium's capacity for breeding pods for my wrasse and sleeper goby.

It's currently lit 23.5hrs a day (30min break for bulb). Do you think 3-4hrs dark period would be good for the tiny critters in the refugium? I've noticed fewer pods since I went 24/7 in the refuge but that could be just new tank cycles.

Also would there be any benefit to adding 1/2inch of sand in there to grow critters? I never siphon the refuge. The caulerpa actually grows its roots into the mulm on the bottom so I assume it's using it and there isn't much

 

[2quills]

I'm sure they do to some extent or another.

I still get lots of them under a 24 hour light schedule. But I think the density of the chaeto and rock rubble gives them enough dark places to retreat to if need be.

But the majority of them only come out at certain times. Typically they are nocturnal. But sometimes I'll see them all out durring day time hours. I'm sure their schedule is all screwed up with the 24/7 cycle lol.

 

[Shilpan]

Hahaha thanks for the input 2quills

I've taken your advice and only trim
About 30% of the seaweed each time, finding it's keeping macro as the dominant nutrient user instead of pesky other algae!

 

[one-fish]

Shilpan...Did you get your pod growth from your chaeto or those purchased separately or both. Didn't have success growing chaeto before but I thinking my lighting was the problem going to give it another go later...so question is what are thoughts on poseidon's feast or similar product claim to include both Tisbe & Tigriopus Pods small bottle for both the DT and sump...Thx

 

[Shilpan]

I got my pod growth from the chaeto, after I added it in I noticed a few pods. However it wasn't till I added in some coral that I got a few other pods adding to the biodiversity and then I got a significantly large population which my sand shifter goby and wrasse chew on.

It did take a few months going this way because I think a couple frags added nothing to the tank since my aggressive dipping and scrubbing cleaned them off. But eventually if you keep adding you'll get a pod hitchhiker.

One thing which got me lots of pods which I did when I started the tank was adding a coral frag without dipping, I only manually inspected. I'm sure you understand however that I was taking a risk with introducing unwanted pests to my tank.

 

[Shilpan]

Oh and the bottles apparently they take a week or two to work and the larvae you introduce can be eaten up by fish. So I think the best way to succeed with those is adding to the sand or rocks in the sump. I think if you wait long enough and add corals you'll eventually get them too

 

[one-fish]

Not thinking Corals in the near future Want to get a little seat time with the fish first maybe after that Thx thinking the bottle method might work better for me at this time

 

[florida joe]

If you are introducing pods you have cultivated via the bottle method introduce them into your tank at night with the lights off. Your return pump off but your water movement pump on.