Are Copepods a necessity?

MuffinMonster · Feb 25, 2020

Hey all, happy reefing!

I'm about to introduce my fish to my reefer 250 this weekend after 14 weeks of cycling the rock! I have 2 clownfish, 1 coral beauty, 1 royal gramma and will be adding a very small tomini tang in the next few weeks. My question is- are pods a necessity for my tank? Should i dose them now before i add my fish so they get established? I don't have a mandarin or ever plan to. I figure they are vital to the environment of the reef aquarium to a certain degree. They are expensive to dose via someone like algaebarn etc... Some cheaper home-made ones are out there. But is it something i should add right away and continue to add to them every couple/few months for the future of the tank? Or will it even make a difference with the livestock that i will have in my tank?

These are some creatures i have not been studied into very much, any feedback is appreciated!!

Klx110ripper · Feb 25, 2020

Interested as well!!!

Paul B · Feb 25, 2020

If you buy any live rock or coral, you will have copepods so don't think about it.

mcbdz · Feb 25, 2020

They will come on their own. Unless you plan too add something that is picky and needs them to survive I wouldn't worry about dosing.

MuffinMonster · Feb 25, 2020

Paul B said:
If you buy any live rock or coral, you will have copepods so don't think about it.

I started with all dry rock. That's why i was curious about dosing them to seed the tank. Wont be adding coral for another two months or so. But if nothing in my tank needs them and they aren't vital to keep the tank healthy these first few months i probably wont worry about seeding them. But if they are vital to a stable tank during the first few months i would like to.

DancingWind · Feb 25, 2020

Necessary - a strong word probably. In a sense that I don't see how you could have a reef tank without them ... unless you use some crazy QT you will get them and the only way to get rid of them is nuking the tank

That being said as long as they are not parasites they definitely help. As cleanup crew and as snack for fish.
If your fish are ready to go in then Copepods are ready to go in. And if you have a refugium (I highly recommend one) you will have a constant source of them after initial dosing (barring any tank wipes that is)

mcbdz · Feb 25, 2020

MuffinMonster said:
I started with all dry rock. That's why i was curious about dosing them to seed the tank. Wont be adding coral for another two months or so. But if nothing in my tank needs them and they aren't vital to keep the tank healthy these first few months i probably wont worry about seeding them. But if they are vital to a stable tank during the first few months i would like to.

If you setup a refuge then you'll get them with the algea and won't need to does separately.

X-37B · Feb 25, 2020

I had them in my 120.
Came with the quality live rock.
Cant see one now. The yellow coris wrasse did them in. So are they a necessity? Imo no.

Quietman · Feb 25, 2020

Necessary? Doubt it. Beneficial? Sure. Do you have to dose...probably best now a days with actual live rock being somewhat rare and having some negatives.

Do you need to constantly re-seed? No...but you'll be more successful with a refugium. Doesn't need to be lighted, macroalgae, higher maintenance though. Cryptic refugium (no light, no plants just some rocks and access to food from display) will do fine.

CuzzA · Feb 25, 2020

MuffinMonster said:
Hey all, happy reefing!

I'm about to introduce my fish to my reefer 250 this weekend after 14 weeks of cycling the rock! I have 2 clownfish, 1 coral beauty, 1 royal gramma and will be adding a very small tomini tang in the next few weeks. My question is- are pods a necessity for my tank? Should i dose them now before i add my fish so they get established? I don't have a mandarin or ever plan to. I figure they are vital to the environment of the reef aquarium to a certain degree. They are expensive to dose via someone like algaebarn etc... Some cheaper home-made ones are out there. But is it something i should add right away and continue to add to them every couple/few months for the future of the tank? Or will it even make a difference with the livestock that i will have in my tank?

These are some creatures i have not been studied into very much, any feedback is appreciated!!

They are detrivours and clean up areas where nothing else can get to. They are beneficial and adding a dirty tang to a small system will prove even more beneficial to break down waste.

Every system I have started I added tisbe pods and amphipods when adding fish. I turn off the system and lights for an hour when I add them. Rusalty.com is where I source them from. Cheap and they always have coupon codes and deals.

MuffinMonster · Feb 25, 2020

Quietman said:
Cryptic refugium (no light, no plants just some rocks and access to food from display) will do fine.

I dont have a refugium on this tank, i do have marine pure blocks in the sump- which claim they support pod life very well. The holes are very tiny though so i assume only the micro ones fit in there.

I will probably seed the tank once to get them into the porous rock and settled because i did not start with live rock. And then see how it goes from there!

Quietman · Feb 25, 2020

MuffinMonster said:
I dont have a refugium on this tank, i do have marine pure blocks in the sump- which claim they support pod life very well. The holes are very tiny though so i assume only the micro ones fit in there.

I will probably seed the tank once to get them into the porous rock and settled because i did not start with live rock. And then see how it goes from there!

Right...that media can work well for that. Maybe not optimum but not sure on the difference you'd see with other rock/media. Seed the sump and see what happens.

YankeeTankee · Feb 27, 2020

Not a necessity, although a one time buy to seed the tank isn't a bad idea.

Continuous dosing - your fish list doesnt require that. Use that dough to buy better food ie LRS or more reagent so you know whats in your water.