When Receiving Pods:

When you receive your shipment of pods first take them out of their packaging and give them a quick look over. 

Once ensuring there is no issue due to shipping, make sure to pop the cap/remove the cap to allow the bottle to get fresh air. You are welcome to even blow in the bottle to allow for air exchange. 

It is best to add the pods either 1 hour before the lights turn on or 1 hour after the lights turn off to allow the pods to make it to the substrate without all of them getting eaten. 

If you are unable to empty the bottle of pods into your system the day of arrival, make sure to keep cap off or popped to allow for air exchange but use the bottle as soon as you can.

When Receiving Phytoplankton:

When you receive your shipment of live phytoplankton, open the cap for 15-20 mins to allow for air exchange. After shipping phytoplankton can have a slight sulfur smell and this is due to the volatile gasses it produces.

Make sure to keep the live phytoplankton in the fridge and shake daily. Shaking ensures the cells stay suspended and do not fall on top of one another and suffocate/kill the other cells. 

If you accidentally leave the phytoplankton out overnight it is not the end of the world. Hower you may have a build up of those volatile gasses. Leave the cap off for 5 mins or so and place back into the fridge. 

The fridge slows down the build up of these gasses.