Tigger pods

[davocean]

I've used tiger pods w/ success as well.
They do recommend dosing phyto, or having macro algae to help sustain them.
Newer tanks that are still a bit sterile may especially need this.

[Redeye]

Tiger pods ARE a cold water species, why do you think you HAVE to keep in fridge or they die?
Dosing a TRUE LIVE phyto in a system w live rock will have more pods than you ever knew what to do with, not to say, a pipe fish or mandarin won't know what to do...

Selling pods to seed is a gimmick IMO, any ball of chaeto out of a reef system is gonna have more pods than any vial for $9.99

[jason142]

I always thought they were kept in a fridge to lower their metabolism, kind of like a hybernation state.

[RussM]

I always thought they were kept in a fridge to lower their metabolism, kind of like a hybernation state.

That is my understanding as well. Without refrigeration, they will quickly exhaust the food supply in the bottle... and then they die.

That particular species of 'pods is also used in a variety of scientific research, primarily for two reasons... their overall hardiness/tolerance for a broad range of environmental conditions, and their prolific breeding.

[davocean]

Agree, refrigeration to slow metablolism.
That link posted by Russ has the most accurate info.

[specvjeff]

I agree with Scott that you will end up with more pods through adding chaeto from an established fuge. Jason and Dave are correct we keep them in the fridge to slow their metabolism down so they last a lot longer (typically 2 weeks vs. 3-5 days at room temp.).

[Diver Dan]

For those that seed their tanks solely with pods, are you absolutely sure the pods you are introducing are the only ones populating the tank? Couldn't it just be the natural pods that came in from livestock and live rock that are introduced?

I've never bought a bag of pods. Phyto and other smaller organisms that don't "naturally" occur in my reef yes, but no pods.

[davocean]

I used them once to boost a system that really was too new for a mandarin.
But really, yes, chaeto will add plenty.
Not a bad idea to have bio diversity though.