diff --git a/pychunkedgraph/graph/meta.py b/pychunkedgraph/graph/meta.py
index f3914e2b1..83d670ffe 100644
--- a/pychunkedgraph/graph/meta.py
+++ b/pychunkedgraph/graph/meta.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import json
 from datetime import timedelta
 from typing import Dict
 from typing import List
@@ -10,6 +11,9 @@
 
 from .utils.generic import compute_bitmasks
 from .chunks.utils import get_chunks_boundary
+from ..utils.redis import keys as r_keys
+from ..utils.redis import get_rq_queue
+from ..utils.redis import get_redis_connection
 
 
 _datasource_fields = ("EDGES", "COMPONENTS", "WATERSHED", "DATA_VERSION", "CV_MIP")
@@ -80,7 +84,20 @@ def custom_data(self):
     def ws_cv(self):
         if self._ws_cv:
             return self._ws_cv
-        self._ws_cv = CloudVolume(self._data_source.WATERSHED)
+
+        cache_key = f"{self.graph_config.ID}:ws_cv_info_cached"
+        try:
+            # try reading a cached info file for distributed workers
+            # useful to avoid md5 errors on high gcs load
+            redis = get_redis_connection()
+            cached_info = json.loads(redis.get(cache_key))
+            self._ws_cv = CloudVolume(self._data_source.WATERSHED, info=cached_info)
+        except Exception:
+            self._ws_cv = CloudVolume(self._data_source.WATERSHED)
+            try:
+                redis.set(cache_key, json.dumps(self._ws_cv.info))
+            except Exception:
+                ...
         return self._ws_cv
 
     @property
diff --git a/pychunkedgraph/ingest/cli.py b/pychunkedgraph/ingest/cli.py
index 7061cd0f7..7668e8f24 100644
--- a/pychunkedgraph/ingest/cli.py
+++ b/pychunkedgraph/ingest/cli.py
@@ -2,15 +2,21 @@
 cli for running ingest
 """
 
+from os import environ
+from time import sleep
+
 import click
 import yaml
 from flask.cli import AppGroup
+from rq import Queue
 
 from .manager import IngestionManager
 from .utils import bootstrap
+from .cluster import randomize_grid_points
 from ..graph.chunkedgraph import ChunkedGraph
 from ..utils.redis import get_redis_connection
 from ..utils.redis import keys as r_keys
+from ..utils.general import chunked
 
 ingest_cli = AppGroup("ingest")
 
@@ -96,18 +102,40 @@ def queue_layer(parent_layer):
         chunk_coords = [(0, 0, 0)]
     else:
         bounds = imanager.cg_meta.layer_chunk_bounds[parent_layer]
-        chunk_coords = list(product(*[range(r) for r in bounds]))
-        np.random.shuffle(chunk_coords)
-
-    for coords in chunk_coords:
-        task_q = imanager.get_task_queue(f"l{parent_layer}")
-        task_q.enqueue(
-            create_parent_chunk,
-            job_id=chunk_id_str(parent_layer, coords),
-            job_timeout=f"{int(parent_layer * parent_layer)}m",
-            result_ttl=0,
-            args=(parent_layer, coords),
-        )
+        chunk_coords = randomize_grid_points(*bounds)
+
+    def get_chunks_not_done(coords: list) -> list:
+        """check for set membership in redis in batches"""
+        coords_strs = ["_".join(map(str, coord)) for coord in coords]
+        try:
+            completed = imanager.redis.smismember(f"{parent_layer}c", coords_strs)
+        except Exception:
+            return coords
+        return [coord for coord, c in zip(coords, completed) if not c]
+
+    batch_size = int(environ.get("JOB_BATCH_SIZE", 10000))
+    batches = chunked(chunk_coords, batch_size)
+    q = imanager.get_task_queue(f"l{parent_layer}")
+
+    for batch in batches:
+        _coords = get_chunks_not_done(batch)
+        # buffer for optimal use of redis memory
+        if len(q) > int(environ.get("QUEUE_SIZE", 100000)):
+            interval = int(environ.get("QUEUE_INTERVAL", 300))
+            sleep(interval)
+
+        job_datas = []
+        for chunk_coord in _coords:
+            job_datas.append(
+                Queue.prepare_data(
+                    create_parent_chunk,
+                    args=(parent_layer, chunk_coord),
+                    result_ttl=0,
+                    job_id=chunk_id_str(parent_layer, chunk_coord),
+                    timeout=f"{int(parent_layer * parent_layer)}m",
+                )
+            )
+        q.enqueue_many(job_datas)
 
 
 @ingest_cli.command("status")