diff --git a/lnsq/nsq.go b/lnsq/nsq.go
index 352b4e1..076f0e1 100644
--- a/lnsq/nsq.go
+++ b/lnsq/nsq.go
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 package lnsq
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
 	"time"
 	"zkillsusser/config"
 
@@ -74,3 +77,50 @@ func NewProducer() (*nsq.Producer, error) {
 
 	return producer, nil
 }
+
+type TopicStats struct {
+	TopicName    string `json:"topic_name"`
+	MessageCount int64  `json:"message_count"`
+	Depth        int64  `json:"depth"`
+}
+
+type TopicStatsResponse struct {
+	Topics []TopicStats `json:"topics"`
+}
+
+func GetTopicDepth(topic string) (int64, error) {
+	statsURL := fmt.Sprintf("http://%s:%d/stats?format=json&topic=%s", config.NSQHost, config.NSQPort+1, topic)
+	
+	client := &http.Client{Timeout: 5 * time.Second}
+	resp, err := client.Get(statsURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("failed to get topic stats: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("failed to get topic stats: status %d", resp.StatusCode)
+	}
+
+	body, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("failed to read stats response: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var statsResp struct {
+		Data struct {
+			Topics []TopicStats `json:"topics"`
+		} `json:"data"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(body, &statsResp); err != nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal stats: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	for _, t := range statsResp.Data.Topics {
+		if t.TopicName == topic {
+			return t.Depth, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 0, nil
+}
diff --git a/pipeline/reader/reader.go b/pipeline/reader/reader.go
index 61c86f0..cf261f8 100644
--- a/pipeline/reader/reader.go
+++ b/pipeline/reader/reader.go
@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@ import (
 	"zkillsusser/lnsq"
 
 	logger "git.site.quack-lab.dev/dave/cylogger"
+	"github.com/nsqio/go-nsq"
+)
+
+const (
+	PollInterval = 30 * time.Second
 )
 
 func Run(topic string, getMissing func(context.Context, *clickhouse.ClickhouseClient) ([]int64, error)) error {
@@ -32,8 +37,50 @@ func Run(topic string, getMissing func(context.Context, *clickhouse.ClickhouseCl
 	}
 	defer producer.Stop()
 
-	ctx := context.Background()
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
 
+	if err := pollAndProcess(ctx, chClient, producer, topic, getMissing); err != nil {
+		if ctx.Err() != nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+		logger.Error("Failed to process missing IDs on startup: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(PollInterval)
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			logger.Info("Reader shutting down")
+			return nil
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			if err := pollAndProcess(ctx, chClient, producer, topic, getMissing); err != nil {
+				if ctx.Err() != nil {
+					return nil
+				}
+				logger.Error("Failed to process missing IDs: %v", err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func pollAndProcess(ctx context.Context, chClient *clickhouse.ClickhouseClient, producer *nsq.Producer, topic string, getMissing func(context.Context, *clickhouse.ClickhouseClient) ([]int64, error)) error {
+	depth, err := lnsq.GetTopicDepth(topic)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get topic depth: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if depth > 0 {
+		logger.Info("Topic %s has %d messages, skipping query", topic, depth)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return processMissingIDs(ctx, chClient, producer, topic, getMissing)
+}
+
+func processMissingIDs(ctx context.Context, chClient *clickhouse.ClickhouseClient, producer *nsq.Producer, topic string, getMissing func(context.Context, *clickhouse.ClickhouseClient) ([]int64, error)) error {
 	ids, err := getMissing(ctx, chClient)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get missing IDs: %w", err)