Copepod culture/Phytoplankton

[Reefen]

I am trying to cultivate copepods, and I wonder if there is such a thing as too much phyo in the culture, the phyto has grow alot in my copepod culture and Its hard to see in there LOL, is this a problem

 

[Cyanohater]

I wouldn't think so but I haven't the foggiest. I have a culture going but it's not going quick enough for the density. ofc it's in a 10 gal tank.

 

[cpschult]

I am trying to cultivate copepods, and I wonder if there is such a thing as too much phyo in the culture, the phyto has grow alot in my copepod culture and Its hard to see in there LOL, is this a problem

Yes, it is possible to crash your copepods with over feeding. Biggest thing is keeping an eye on your ammonia in it. Maybe get an ammonia badge? If the phyto is growing you are probably okay. There is a guy on here who has a lazy copepod farm where he starts with a banana peel and then feeds spirulina. But he grows them outside lol.

 

[Jay'sReefBugs]

It's a yes and no answer it seems you started a phytoplankton culture instead lol

 

[Reefen]

it's a yes and no answer it seems you started a phytoplankton culture instead lol

I did a water change and it helped, there are pods in there

 

[floridareeflabs]

Hello,
Yes there can be too much phyto. If you add phyto faster than the copepods can consume you will usually end up in phyto die off and get nitrate and ammonia spikes and crash your culture. Start adding say 5ml twice a day and see how fast it goes clear. If clears up in less than 12 hours then add another couple ml and see. You basically want a green light tint always but never clear or dark green. If your trying to culture more than day a couple gallons then you may be dosing oz vs ml as well. Also, if you notice your water getting cloudy (usually after 3-6 weeks or more) its time to do a 50% water change on the culture. Filter (seeve at 53 micron) them and rinse back and add fresh saltwater to the 50% water left etc. Lastly, if your culturing your own always have 2 cultures running and alternate the one you harvest from each week. So if you harvest from culture A 3 times one week switch to culture 2 to harvest the next. Over harvesting will crash the culture eventually but also if one does crash you have a backup.

 

[bradreef]

What type of pods, tigrio are more tolerance of bad water quality. Maybe reduce light exposure to slow the phyto growth.