Any reason not to add pods?

[CayoHueso]

My 20 gallon AIO is about 6 months old. Current occupants; one clownfish, one royal gramma basslet, two rock flower anemones, two sexy shrimp, tiger conch, CUC of assorted snails. The entire time until 3 weeks ago it was dark (no lights). Never had any algae pop up, except a little film algae on the glass here and there. Now that the lights are on, I've started to get some cyano looking algae on the sand bed. I added a decent size clean up crew and I can see them putting a dent in algae, and possibly might be able to maintain it. I've also seen some algae popping up on the rock work.

My nitrate and phosphate levels are at 14.7ppm and 0.24ppm respectively. Could be considered a little on the high end. But that seems to vary based on goals. I'm looking to keep LPS. I've been bringing them down over the past two weeks from 23.1ppm and .32ppm, using heavier water changes and less feeding.

Today I got a jar of Galaxy Pods and OceanMagik from AlgaeBarn. I'm thinking about starting slowly and basically micro-dosing both and seeing how my tank responds and to prevent bottoming out my nutrients.

Anyone see any issues or reasons not to add either to my tank? TIA!

 

[kingranch2003]

That's a great question that I've wondered myself. I'll be following to see what everyone says.

 

[ajremington68]

My 20 gallon AIO is about 6 months old. Current occupants; one clownfish, one royal gramma basslet, two rock flower anemones, two sexy shrimp, tiger conch, CUC of assorted snails. The entire time until 3 weeks ago it was dark (no lights). Never had any algae pop up, except a little film algae on the glass here and there. Now that the lights are on, I've started to get some cyano looking algae on the sand bed. I added a decent size clean up crew and I can see them putting a dent in algae, and possibly might be able to maintain it. I've also seen some algae popping up on the rock work.

My nitrate and phosphate levels are at 14.7ppm and 0.24ppm respectively. Could be considered a little on the high end. But that seems to vary based on goals. I'm looking to keep LPS. I've been bringing them down over the past two weeks from 23.1ppm and .32ppm, using heavier water changes and less feeding.

Today I got a jar of Galaxy Pods and OceanMagik from AlgaeBarn. I'm thinking about starting slowly and basically micro-dosing both and seeing how my tank responds and to prevent bottoming out my nutrients.

Anyone see any issues or reasons not to add either to my tank? TIA!

You should add the pods all at one at night and cut all flow for like 30 mins. then you dose the phyto at night at a amt that I don't know but you look up. pods are good for your tank and ecosystem and a good treat for your fish. would NOT recommend pouring in that phyto all at once unless you want to skyrocket those nutrients. also pods eat phyto, and the pods are out at night and that's why you dose it at night.

 

[TX_REEF]

no reason to not add pods once you're cycled! they'll help consume microalgae and detritus and provide a live food source for your macro livestock. only time I'd say not to add pods is before tank is cycled.

 

[slingfox]

Primary reason to not dose pods is to save your money. Your tank will naturally get to some stable state pod level dictated by the tank conditions including the amount of fish and coral food you feed and predation. If you want to dose pods for certain livestock then you can culture pods yourself very easily and cheaply.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

How is the flow in the tank? Especially in area's where the cyano is growing?

 

[KC2020]

You should add the pods all at one at night and cut all flow for like 30 mins. then you dose the phyto at night at a amt that I don't know but you look up. pods are good for your tank and ecosystem and a good treat for your fish.

no reason to not add pods once you're cycled! they'll help consume microalgae and detritus and provide a live food source for your macro livestock.

I completely agree. I've only been in this hobby for 50 years so what would I know but let those pods swim !

Turn off your circulation pump for an hour when you add the pods so they can settle into the rock. Adding them after the lights are off will help them find refuge before your fish eat them all.

The phyto will live for 2-3 months in your refrigerator if you shake the bottle daily to aerate. Dose 10 ML or so a day to support the pods and feed any corals you have. You really can't over dose phyto.