Pods--where to buy

[joegoersch]

Hello ! I'm looking for suggestions. I have a 29 gallon tank with a lot of LR and a 29 gallon refugium with Cheato and LR. I don't think I have a lot of pods in the fuge (or main tank). My tank is maybe 5 months old now. I have two firefish, two TR ocellarus clowns, an PJ Cardinal and a Yellow Watchman goby.. I'm culturing some phytoplankto, maybe I will fool around trying to raise rotifiers in case clowns breed.
Here are my questions--

1) Any thoughts-should I buy Ocean Pods or Trigger Pods ?
2) Which of the fish will eat the pods ?
3) Any place local where I can buy Ocean pods without paying the S & H or is it better to pay and get them fresh from the supplier ?
4) What is best way to see pods ? I have a microscope--is that better or magnifying glass or jeweler loop ?

Thanks.

 

[basiab]

Your best bet is to get copods from someones tank. Every once and a while someone sells them here on MR. Chances are you do have some in your fuge.
If you want amphipods I have some and could probably give you a few.
To see copods you have to look very closely on the glass and you should see some tiny things moving.
I read somewhere that tiger pods don't do well in tanks since they need cooler temperatures.
If you want to give your fish a treat I would suggest hatching brine shrimp. Just remember to feed them within six hours of hatching otherwise they have no nutrional value unless you gut feed them.
But if you want a mandarin you will have to have lots of copods.

 

[bizzarro]

If you're really desperate, try a Petco but it's $15 a small bottle. it's in a clear bottle so you can actually see it moving so you know they're not all dead.