Quick "Pod" question

[woodymdt]

Good morning...well our 55 gallon tank is doing very well...the Nitrates have lowered to about 10ppm right now...
I have a question about the "pods"...we have about a gazillion pods running around the rocks and the sand...see them scatter when we turn the lights on.
Should we consider getting a fish that will consume some of these pods?? And if so, what different types of fish would be pod eaters??
Thanks :jumping:

 

[thegrog]

The pods are plentiful because you have a healthy system and there are no preditors to control their population. This is a good thing. As for what will eat them, pretty much any fish will if given the chance.
If your nitrates are that low, sounds like your cycle is just about over (don't know how long it has been up and running, nitrate, ammonia etc..) so you may consider adding a fish or two now. The pods will come under quick population control with only one or two fish.

 

[woodymdt]

Originally Posted by TheGrog
The pods are plentiful because you have a healthy system and there are no preditors to control their population. This is a good thing. As for what will eat them, pretty much any fish will if given the chance.
If your nitrates are that low, sounds like your cycle is just about over (don't know how long it has been up and running, nitrate, ammonia etc..) so you may consider adding a fish or two now. The pods will come under quick population control with only one or two fish.

Well Grog, this was a transfer tank...had a 40 gallon and 32 gallon that we transferred all the stuff to the 55 gallon...so there wasn't much of a cycle...just had the nitrate spike because we disturbed the sand base when moving everything.
Right now we have a perc clown and a lawnmower blenny...and I haven't seen any indication of them going after the pods.
We also have an emerald crab, fire shrimp, and peppermint shrimp.

 

[taz_12777]

Two fish that pop up are a scooter blennie or a manderine. They both eat the pods but you need to make sure you have a steady supply. You could turn one of the extra tanks into a "fuge" to keep a steady supply for them if need be.

 

[trainfever]

I would suggest a scooter blennie. They are hearty, will keep your pod population in check and will readily eat brine shrimp if your pods should happen to dwindle. Plus the fact that they are really neat looking.

 

[woodymdt]

Originally Posted by TAZ_12777
Two fish that pop up are a scooter blennie or a manderine. They both eat the pods but you need to make sure you have a steady supply. You could turn one of the extra tanks into a "fuge" to keep a steady supply for them if need be.
Thanks Taz. I've been throwing the idea of a sump/fuge around, but not having drilled tanks, and having to rely on HOB overflows and getting the figures correct, kind of makes me wince a little bit.
I'm hoping I'll be able to bite that bullet and setup a fuge area for that reason as well.