Best way to add the micro life back to tank?

Jeff000 · 08/21/2018, 12:05 AM

My 330g had a small crash a few months ago. And I'm back to where I feel I can start the climb back.

I've noticed I'm missing all my pods, micro brittle stars, etc.

I spent a lot of time making sure I don't have pests, and want to keep it that way.

So what's my best bet?

mcgyvr · 08/21/2018, 04:34 AM

Purchase pods and micro brittles ..
Lots of places to buy pods.. A few places sell brittles.. (at crazy prices IMO).
I'm not sure of any that are in Canada or ship there though..

Are you going to be buying corals? I always get brittles coming in on corals in the rocks they are attached to..
OR find someone local to give you some brittles or get some in their chaeto along with pods or whatever..

Jeff000 · 08/21/2018, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Purchase pods and micro brittles ..
Lots of places to buy pods.. A few places sell brittles.. (at crazy prices IMO).
I'm not sure of any that are in Canada or ship there though..

Are you going to be buying corals? I always get brittles coming in on corals in the rocks they are attached to..
OR find someone local to give you some brittles or get some in their chaeto along with pods or whatever..

I'm really nervous about introducing something bad to the tank by buying cheato though.

I've seen bottles of pods, but never any other micro life. Getting stuff in Canada sucks.

mcgyvr · 08/21/2018, 08:02 AM

IMO if you are that nervous... Get out of the hobby.. Seriously..

Its so rare that something "really bad" is introduced into a tank..
Its very common to people to somehow think "minor" issues are "really bad"..
But I don't sweat the small stuff and know that most things are an easy fix or whatever..

Jeff000 · 08/21/2018, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

IMO if you are that nervous... Get out of the hobby.. Seriously..

Its so rare that something "really bad" is introduced into a tank..
Its very common to people to somehow think "minor" issues are "really bad"..
But I don't sweat the small stuff and know that most things are an easy fix or whatever..

Going on 8 years in the hobby now.
My little crash caused by my leaky roof dripping contamination into my sump caused massive losses for me still, about a grand worth of fish and a very large magnifica that may or may not recover. I still have 1800+$ worth of fish that I'd rather not lose.
I don't know about you, but for me that kind of loss isn't easy to replace.

RioReefr · 08/21/2018, 08:33 AM

You could start at the lowest level with some bacteria:

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/insta...bio-spira.html

Then, add in some phtyoplankton/pods:

https://www.algaebarn.com/product/pods-phyto-pp/

And maybe some live-sand:

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/oolit...reef-sand.html

Subsea · 08/21/2018, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

IMO if you are that nervous... Get out of the hobby.. Seriously..

Its so rare that something "really bad" is introduced into a tank..
Its very common to people to somehow think "minor" issues are "really bad"..
But I don't sweat the small stuff and know that most things are an easy fix or whatever..

+100. I embrace biodiversity.

Jeff,
Get some real live rock, not rock with bacteria.

http://www.gulfliverock.com/premium-...tive-rock.html

http://tbsaltwater.com

Jeff000 · 08/21/2018, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subsea

+100. I embrace biodiversity.

Jeff,
Get some real live rock, not rock with bacteria.

http://www.gulfliverock.com/premium-...tive-rock.html

http://tbsaltwater.com

I would love love love that.
But I can't find anything like that in Canada. Not even close.

Sugar Magnolia · 08/21/2018, 12:26 PM

IPSF.com sells pods, micro stars, bristleworms, etc.

Jeff000 · 08/22/2018, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

IPSF.com sells pods, micro stars, bristleworms, etc.

Hmm, Anyone have an idea for something available in Canada?

Anemone · 08/22/2018, 04:58 PM

Have you done any late-night flashlight viewing of your tank? If fish and an anemone survived, I'm betting you still have pods and other micro-critters, they may just need time to re-establish larger populations.

Otherwise, a cup of sand/sludge from another established reef tank often introduces some nice bio-diversity.

Kevin

AlSimmons · 08/22/2018, 05:06 PM

Unless you have a specialized feeder that relies on this micro fauna, (Mandarin, Pipefish etc) I wouldn't worry too much about it. Biodiversity is cool and all, but if my tank just lost all the pods, worms etc overnight the tank wouldn't miss a beat. I used to be intrigued by all this life in the beginning, but the honeymoon is over. I'm much more efficient at keeping a tank healthy than these creatures will ever be.
If you do get a kick out of all the micro fauna then by all means knock yourself out. When I had a DSB years ago I ordered from IPSF and couldn't be happier. GL.

Uncle99 · 08/22/2018, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff000

Hmm, Anyone have an idea for something available in Canada?

Have you tried Canada Corals in Mississauga Ontario?
See their site.
Been to their operations several times.
Specialists.

08/21/2018, 12:05 AM	#1
Jeff000 Electrician Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,653	Best way to add the micro life back to tank? My 330g had a small crash a few months ago. And I'm back to where I feel I can start the climb back. I've noticed I'm missing all my pods, micro brittle stars, etc. I spent a lot of time making sure I don't have pests, and want to keep it that way. So what's my best bet?

08/21/2018, 04:34 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Purchase pods and micro brittles .. Lots of places to buy pods.. A few places sell brittles.. (at crazy prices IMO). I'm not sure of any that are in Canada or ship there though.. Are you going to be buying corals? I always get brittles coming in on corals in the rocks they are attached to.. OR find someone local to give you some brittles or get some in their chaeto along with pods or whatever.. __________________ Who me?

08/21/2018, 08:02 AM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	IMO if you are that nervous... Get out of the hobby.. Seriously.. Its so rare that something "really bad" is introduced into a tank.. Its very common to people to somehow think "minor" issues are "really bad".. But I don't sweat the small stuff and know that most things are an easy fix or whatever.. __________________ Who me?

08/21/2018, 12:26 PM	#9
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	IPSF.com sells pods, micro stars, bristleworms, etc. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

08/22/2018, 04:58 PM	#11
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	Have you done any late-night flashlight viewing of your tank? If fish and an anemone survived, I'm betting you still have pods and other micro-critters, they may just need time to re-establish larger populations. Otherwise, a cup of sand/sludge from another established reef tank often introduces some nice bio-diversity. Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

08/21/2018, 08:33 AM	#6
RioReefr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 394	You could start at the lowest level with some bacteria: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/insta...bio-spira.html Then, add in some phtyoplankton/pods: https://www.algaebarn.com/product/pods-phyto-pp/ And maybe some live-sand: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/oolit...reef-sand.html

08/22/2018, 05:06 PM	#12
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	Unless you have a specialized feeder that relies on this micro fauna, (Mandarin, Pipefish etc) I wouldn't worry too much about it. Biodiversity is cool and all, but if my tank just lost all the pods, worms etc overnight the tank wouldn't miss a beat. I used to be intrigued by all this life in the beginning, but the honeymoon is over. I'm much more efficient at keeping a tank healthy than these creatures will ever be. If you do get a kick out of all the micro fauna then by all means knock yourself out. When I had a DSB years ago I ordered from IPSF and couldn't be happier. GL.