I had previously been under the impression that good-sized (e.g. distinctly visible) pod populations wern't all that doable in a nano-sized tank, especially if a pod-eating fish is present, but I just wanted to share a few observations I've made in my tanks regarding that. If lack-of-pods is the norm for small tanks, I'm wondering if the planted nano may pose an exception to the rule.
To date, I have seen little evidence of pods stemming from the LR in either of my tanks. The rock is sparse compared to what would exist in a larger tank, so there's probably not much useful habitat there to establish a large pod population. Additionally, the rock surfaces are a more exposed hunting ground. However, my various species of Caulerpa macro are booming with small crustaceans (some of which arn't pods specifically but I havn't had time to ID them closely and they seem to fill the same role).
In my 5 gallon, the population has reached the point where my yellow clown goby (Gobiodon okinawae) eats foods I supply for a couple of weeks, and then goes for nearly a week with very little interest in outside food sources while still appearing healthy/well-fed. The pods rebuild their population while the goby eats frozen foods, and then the goby looses interest in supplimental foods for the duration of the pod population peak and gradual decline. Once the pods decline, it becomes more efficient to return to eating other foods as a staple diet. And the cycle continues...in a larger tank I think I'd see a more steady natural food source for the goby (provided no other major pod-predator was present), but without the macro I suspect I would be seeing no pods at all. A small number might be able to exist within the rocks, but not enough to reproduce the current observations. My 12 gallon is showing the exact same pattern of developement, although there is no major pod-predator present and therefore the population has expanded to occupy some of the rock surfaces as well. I had no visible small crustacean life in my 12 gallon until I added the macro. Once the macro was added, I saw pods within a couple of weeks, hence why I suspect the two occurances may be related.
I'm curious to know if anyone has an alternate explaination for what's allowed for the pods to do what they have, particularly in my 5 gallon. The macro seems the most obvious explaination, but there could be something I'm missing.
To date, I have seen little evidence of pods stemming from the LR in either of my tanks. The rock is sparse compared to what would exist in a larger tank, so there's probably not much useful habitat there to establish a large pod population. Additionally, the rock surfaces are a more exposed hunting ground. However, my various species of Caulerpa macro are booming with small crustaceans (some of which arn't pods specifically but I havn't had time to ID them closely and they seem to fill the same role).
In my 5 gallon, the population has reached the point where my yellow clown goby (Gobiodon okinawae) eats foods I supply for a couple of weeks, and then goes for nearly a week with very little interest in outside food sources while still appearing healthy/well-fed. The pods rebuild their population while the goby eats frozen foods, and then the goby looses interest in supplimental foods for the duration of the pod population peak and gradual decline. Once the pods decline, it becomes more efficient to return to eating other foods as a staple diet. And the cycle continues...in a larger tank I think I'd see a more steady natural food source for the goby (provided no other major pod-predator was present), but without the macro I suspect I would be seeing no pods at all. A small number might be able to exist within the rocks, but not enough to reproduce the current observations. My 12 gallon is showing the exact same pattern of developement, although there is no major pod-predator present and therefore the population has expanded to occupy some of the rock surfaces as well. I had no visible small crustacean life in my 12 gallon until I added the macro. Once the macro was added, I saw pods within a couple of weeks, hence why I suspect the two occurances may be related.
I'm curious to know if anyone has an alternate explaination for what's allowed for the pods to do what they have, particularly in my 5 gallon. The macro seems the most obvious explaination, but there could be something I'm missing.
