I have a ton of amphipods in my sump and they are starting to get into the main display. I have a 25g cube with a sump. Should I worry about them? If so, what can I put in the sump or display to curb the amount?
Amphipods A problem?
- Thread starter Shawn4455
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Are you worried about your copepod population in the DT? Beyond their effect on copepod numbers, I can't see why you wouldn't enjoy amphipods cleaning up detritus in the DT? Also, they are almost certainly all over your DT already 
Vette67
Reefing since 1997
Sounds like you are ready for a mandarin goby. They love pods, and a lot of times they starve, because people don't realize their specialized dietary needs. They constantly hunt for pods, so you need to have a healthy supply to keep a mandarin.
Okay! I was just searching online people saying amphipods can actually eat some of your coral like zoa's, so it was worrying me because this is a restart tank and I'm doing so well but then I got a small explosion of amphipods in my sump, they're not a problem in the display but I know anything in the water column can get to where you don't really want them. so do you think a small mandarin goby will eventually be a good idea in the future, I really do like mandarins
GibsonGuitars
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New to reefing and my first really serious issues and deaths were caused by large amphipods. They attacked and eventually killed my Bubble tip ,anemone contributed to the death of another BTA. Then the went after my blasto, and finally I got an Arrow crab, and he kept the population in check and also makes them WAY less aggressive and bold, they don’t swarm any more. I had to actually broadcast feed brine shrimp cubes to get them to stop feeding in my BTA and blasto. That said, my amphipods where 1/4”-3/8” and swarmed like cockroaches.
GibsonGuitars
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Here are the amphipods tearing into my BTA, like an assembly line coming from the inside of the live rock they nibbled it to death.
GibsonGuitars
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And this is what the BTA looked like 3 days before the attack of the killer amphipods, lol... get an Arrow crab
Rrwilson1223
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I had a problem with my amphipod population recently. Had to let the tank go feral while I dealt with an ich outbreak. Usually, the tank is well stocked and fed, so the amphipod population took off. Without any natural predators, they started venturing out during daylight hours and irritating my zoas and acans. Soon after, the weakened corals became lunch for the opportunistic critters.
Thankfully, the feral period ended with me reintroducing the leopard wrasses. Let’s just say that their bellies are full and the corals are happy again.
Personally, I prefer other types of pods. But over and over again, the amphipods eventually win out.
Thankfully, the feral period ended with me reintroducing the leopard wrasses. Let’s just say that their bellies are full and the corals are happy again.
Personally, I prefer other types of pods. But over and over again, the amphipods eventually win out.
That's what I'm afraid of, currently they are 1/8 from what I can see, I'm afraid of arrow crabs cause I hear they attack the fish and other shrimps. Any other suggestions? Or should I put an arrow crab in the sump?
GibsonGuitars
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So far the Arrow hasn’t even looked twice at a fish, he camps out under the overhang mostly. I also have bristle worms, though I have not seen him eat one. He will also catch stray brine and missis shrimp that get kicked around when the pumps go back on, (like mr. Miyagi with his chopsticks snatching a fly) so he stays full and cleans up the excess shrimp during feeding. I don’t have to worry some much about being “messy” during direct feeding. Don’t ask me where that stick figure crab puts it all, it’s unbelievable. My best clean up crew member by far. Oh, and the sump could work... and maybe a fish that likes to snack on them for your display.
