[Atticus]

THe pods are able to find food and shelter in the tank, but they are not able to build large populations, in a predatory environment, like they would be able to in a controlled and safe area. The reason phytoplankton additions are good for a reef tank is that you increase the available food for micro-organisms thereby increasing there survivability. Just as increasing the size of a rubble pile will increase the amount of shelter. These are small ways to increase in-tank pods, but direct culturing and feeding of the desired critters is far more productive and benificial.