@%&#! Brickwall! (you'll need a minute)

[BEELZEBOB]

so i never saw this coming...

and i could be full o poo, so consider this opinion.


So heres the gig. I have 2 problems. (its really like 1 and 1a butt...)

#1.
I have had a problem for the last 3-4 months with my zoos. they look great, then not so much, and then they're gone.

not nudies.
not snails
not spiders
not worms
i thought asternas, but have killed so many that i kinda feel guilty. it GOT TEMPORAIRILY better, but the problem still exists...

pods.... this we'll came back to this one.

not kalk,not mag, calc, nitra and nitri, amm, mag, ph, SG, RO/DI, lights...
(theres a list on rc that i have gone through times and time again.)

id kind run out of possible problems to investigate. although, the pods. dont forget the pods.

see, EVERY THING ELSE, grows and grows.

my other coral is like spot on. i got a 3 acan head frag for 20 bucks about 9 months ago. now it has like 10 heads, and the color is fancy like the $50 a head ones. My lobos, a GONIPORA THAT IS FLORISHING, brains, palys, polyps, blah blah.

something is specifically getting to the zoos.

i had come to a conclusion and thought it was the pods i alway see, but upon taking the anti pod path, found problem 1a. this was like amonth ago.

Flash forward to today.

i got out one of them like 45, 90, and 180 X lightscope things and went life aquaticing around.

EUREAKA. i found the zoo eatin pods. and it aint the run of the mill pods here.

there are thes like uber mini pod likes. they look, dont judge me for this, but they look like tiny clear planktons from spoungebob squarepants.

They seem to have this tendancy to dig their heads, or butts? into my zoos. over and over again

And upon furthe inspection. I think the big normal pods are eating THEM.

now, i have addressed many a solution to issues with pods. my issues with pods is problem 1a. problem 1a is this.

i cannot add an additional "swimming" preadator that eats pods, other than my fire fish, which, i dont even know if he eats pods.

reason being is BIO LOAD.

having a mantis shrimp substantially adds to your tanks bioload (relative to tank size, mine is 18 gallons. for that one dude.) do to the, um, like carnage.

im getting a typhoone skimmer from jack, that should allow me to add a small fish, like a midget wrasse (which may be too mean) or a court jester goby etc.

but then theres the whole like $45 fish getting its head smashed issue...

soooooooo another animal that eats as much (ie poops as much... plop!) is kinda pushing its way out of the question.

i will not replace my fire fish. he is my homeboy.

and i hate the fact that if i get somethin, Bane might just kill 'em.


soooooooooooooooo.

there ya have it. (ive never received an award for brevity)

whats cheap and kill pods?

[tbittner]

Mandarin... Temporarily...

It would clean out the pods very quickly, they're very docile, but I don't know how long it would survive with the mantis.

[reefer4200]

i would take them out, just my 2cents....but i think that would be your best best. but i have yet to have any problems with mine. best of luck to you....

[BEELZEBOB]

Originally Posted by reefer4200

i would take them out, just my 2cents....but i think that would be your best best. but i have yet to have any problems with mine. best of luck to you....

how DO i take them out?

[tbittner]

Tweezers and a magnifying glass...

[rlcline76]

I like zoas so this is a downer to me.
Have you tried removing the zoas and dipping them? Obviously it would not kill every single bozo pod, but it might just cause a bunch off of that colony to abandon ship.

[BEELZEBOB]

well no.

i just found them today, so its a direction.

good work ladyfriend

[rlcline76]

I've been reading up, and WWM says that there are predatory pods that can feed on your zoanthids...I have a feeling if you asked, their answer would strongly depend on who answers the question. They do not give a scientific name for the pods so that you can compare to your situation. Is it possible that you may have some sort of algae that they may be feeding on making you think they are targeting the coral itself? Any parameter issues?

[goldenmean]

Freshwater dip will kill the pods that are on the rock with the zoas.
That should reduce their numbers.
You will probably need to do multiple FW dips over several days
Good luck Bob!

[BEELZEBOB]

[rlcline76]

I don't want to know about your tinglings, Bob!

[sasquatch]

Bob, I used to have pods, then the power went out and things got cold, the only thing I lost were the pods

[dobejazz]

Interceptor will kill them also - but you'd need to move the shrimp

[rmlevasseur]

I say you give the mantis a temporary home while some mandarins clean house and get fat. I'll even take them off your hands when you are done

[BEELZEBOB]

man.

they really move around. ive been watching them.

i dont know how effective dippings gonna be. it'll get some, but i doubt all.

yea, chemicals are kinda out of the question