Amphipods escalation during fallow period

[chipchipbro]

hey guys

I am actually in a fallow period due to a velvet outbreak end november.
Now as I am fishless I noticed that the amphipods are getting more and more and at night theres like an invasion over my corals.

What can I do to keep the amphipod population at an "okish" level?

I think they attack my zoas more and more.

My cleaner shrimp does not eat the amphipods I guess..

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

hey guys

I am actually in a fallow period due to a velvet outbreak end november.
Now as I am fishless I noticed that the amphipods are getting more and more and at night theres like an invasion over my corals.

What can I do to keep the amphipod population at an "okish" level?

I think they attack my zoas more and more.

My cleaner shrimp does not eat the amphipods I guess..

What about a Clearwater Pod Hotel to isolate them and then harvest them? $30 at BRS. I've heard of people making their own traps out of clean scrubber pads and such.

Jay

 

[Chrisv.]

Brace yourself for the wave of people "explaining" that amphipods would never ever eat a healthy coral, lol

I have no idea how to solve this problem. I experienced it too. I guess just accept some losses and get a wrasse qt'd so that you're ready to put him in the tank when the fallow period is over.

 

[homer1475]

Feed them and they won't eat your corals. The poor suckers are starving. Thats why they are eating your coral.

I've seen it happen during a fallow period too. Started dosing live phyto, and they stopped eating my coral.

 

[chipchipbro]

Feed them and they won't eat your corals. The poor suckers are starving. Thats why they are eating your coral.

I've seen it happen during a fallow period too. Started dosing live phyto, and they stopped eating my coral.

thats a good point yeah..
but honestly I do already dose live phyto and also ghost feed my tank like 1-2 times day
are they that hungry?

Maybe I need to feed more?

 

[homer1475]

How much phyto are you dosing, and is it one species and live?

I currently have ramped up my dosing of live phyto from 1ml/G to 3ml/G and have noticed very positive results.

 

[chipchipbro]

How much phyto are you dosing, and is it one species and live?

I currently have ramped up my dosing of live phyto from 1ml/G to 3ml/G and have noticed very positive results.

Well, I am using the Colombo Live Phyto ( https://colombo.nl/marine/phytoplankton/ )
And I do dose 3ml for my 20gal daily.

Would you dose even more? I mean u dose aaaaaalot

 

[homer1475]

3ml per gallon or 3ml total?

If the latter, I would up the dosage for sure. I would start at 1ml/g(what most vendors recommend starting at). So for you, 20ml to start would be a good jumping off point.

If the one your buying is full of fertilizer, I might back it down(log your PO4 and if it's going up, your dosing too much). Only downside to dosing phyto is how much fert is in it as it can raise your PO4. If the one your buying is relatively low in fertilizer, then by all means jump up the dosing.

 

[littlebeard]

I personally would do the removal Jay suggested while upping feeding. My guess is their population will continue to grow while you feed them, at some point this population may attack your corals. I have personally experienced this. My ultimate solution was to buy a wrasse to deal with them.

 

[lion king]

Feed them and they won't eat your corals. The poor suckers are starving. Thats why they are eating your coral.

I've seen it happen during a fallow period too. Started dosing live phyto, and they stopped eating my coral.

While feeding them does sound like a good idea, this will add to their population, so its a catch 22. Are there any inverts that est them? And yes they will eat your corals.

 

[chipchipbro]

3ml per gallon or 3ml total?

If the latter, I would up the dosage for sure. I would start at 1ml/g(what most vendors recommend starting at). So for you, 20ml to start would be a good jumping off point.

If the one your buying is full of fertilizer, I might back it down(log your PO4 and if it's going up, your dosing too much). Only downside to dosing phyto is how much fert is in it as it can raise your PO4. If the one your buying is relatively low in fertilizer, then by all means jump up the dosing.

Yes, 3ml total per my 20gal
So they said add 1ml per 50litres of water first in the description..

Need to check po4, but at the moment my po4 is kinda stable at 0.07

 

[chipchipbro]

I personally would do the removal Jay suggested while upping feeding. My guess is their population will continue to grow while you feed them, at some point this population may attack your corals. I have personally experienced this. My ultimate solution was to buy a wrasse to deal with them.

I would love to add a wrasse - but I am in a fallow period unfortunately..

 

[homer1475]

Do people actually read threads or just titles? Well can't even say they read the title as the word FALLOW is in the title. lol

Hes FALLOW for ich, so adding a fish to combat the population isn't an option right now.

 

[chipchipbro]

While feeding them does sound like a good idea, this will add to their population, so its a catch 22. Are there any inverts that est them? And yes they will eat your corals.

No, I dont have inverts other then my cleaner shrimp.
But yes, would need to feed them more it seems..

maybe add some pelletts when light go out?

 

[homer1475]

You can certainly try it.

I have had chemiclean decimate a pod population in the past as well. I've used it a total of 3 times over the course of 20 some odd years, and all 3 times my pod population went on a very dramatic decline.

Once was during a fallow period, and I could noticeably watch the amphipods die.

 

[chipchipbro]

You can certainly try it.

I have had chemiclean decimate a pod population in the past as well. I've used it a total of 3 times over the course of 20 some odd years, and all 3 times my pod population went on a very dramatic decline.

Once was during a fallow period, and I could noticeably watch the amphipods die.

Well, what exactly is chemiclean and why do the pods die?
I did add some peroxide the last 5 days (dino outbreak) and the crazy thing is, since I added peroxide it seems the pods population is exploding...

There is no other solution I guess.

 

[homer1475]

Let me repost something I just read by someone who sells live phyto. Now this was in relation to breeding pods, but feel it's got some weight in this conversation:

Pods are kind of like fish - they have varying dietary needs. Not all fish will survive on dead flake food, and not all pods will survive on dead phyto. There are also other organisms in your system that will consume the phyto. Again, some will want/need live/motile phyto and others won't care. The size of the phyto cell also matters for many organisms. Of course nutrient content (which varies among different species of phyto) is also important. It is also very difficult to overdose live phyto, so you don't have to be too concerned about that when dosing live. In my opinion, dosing phyto to a system is a great help, and dosing a blend of live, motile phyto is definitely ideal. A good blend of live phyto will provide a wide range of sizes, motility, and nutritional profiles that will benefit many different organisms and corals.

And what I've seen in my tank. It's nearly impossible to over dose live phyto. Only thing I've seen when overdosing, my water tends to get a little green. I'll back off the dosing a bit till it clears up.

 

[homer1475]

chemiclean is an antibiotic, erythromycin I believe to be specific. It's used to eradicate cyano.

 

[homer1475]

Well, what exactly is chemiclean and why do the pods die?
I did add some peroxide the last 5 days (dino outbreak) and the crazy thing is, since I added peroxide it seems the pods population is exploding...

There is no other solution I guess.

Some dino's are toxic. They could have been keeping the pod population in check by poisoning them? No idea to be quite honest, just an idea I had when I read your post about the dino's.

 

[GARRIGA]

Catch them and sell them. Flash a strong light at night near a shrimp net and export them. Could also create a box to house them with some chaeto. Keep them out of the display yet have a food source for later plus they eat algae.