Copepod feeding

[lolly]

When and how do you add phytoplankton to feed your copepods? Should I do it at night or any time ok ? Should I turn off my filter or leave it be? I have a 40 gallon breeder , just added my first fish. Have had copepods in there for about a month. I don’t see very many though. I added about 3500.

 

[homer1475]

You do realize most pods cannot be seen with the naked eye? What you can see are breeding adults, or amphipods.

With that said, I dose my phyto when I feed my fish in the evening. I do not turn anything off.

 

[Jekyl]

I started with the stuff from algae barn. Works well and instructions on the bottle.

 

[homer1475]

While algaebarn phyto is OK, there are plenty of other alternatives that are cheaper, and offer a better product.

@Eldredge
@Dinkins Aquatic Gardens

I personally prefer to support local hobbyists, rather then a "big box" store.

 

[lolly]

Ok thank you … Yes. I just thought I would see a few more adults when I turn the light off at night and look with a flashlight.

 

[Jekyl]

While algaebarn phyto is OK, there are plenty of other alternatives that are cheaper, and offer a better product.

@Eldredge
@Dinkins Aquatic Gardens

I personally prefer to support local hobbyists, rather then a "big box" store.

Agree. Culturing your own isn't as hard as you would think also.

 

[Jekyl]

Ok thank you … Yes. I just thought I would see a few more adults when I turn the light off at night and look with a flashlight.

You have a very young tank with very little algae for them to eat. More food equals more pods.

 

[landlubber]

i'd like to start by saying i think phyto has its place and is a good thing but I also think it pays to mention, there is no imperative need to purchase pods or feed phyto to pods. You likely will yield more of them if you do but by introducing corals, even after dipping, you will end up finding them.
I only mention this because i ended up spending money on things i could have put into corals or otherwise and pods was a one of them.

 

[BlueFynn_Ian]

No need to dose overly much with phyto for your tank. The pods will survive off of algae occuring in the tank as well as small amounts of detritus. A couple splashes of phyto once or twice a week in the evening is more than enough.

Pods are one of my must haves for any tank i do. I was able to completely bypass the "ugly phase" on my latest tank just by dosing with pods and slowly ramping up my lighting. But their prices online are insane, I culture my own and as others have said its very easy to do.

 

[Jekyl]

i'd like to start by saying i think phyto has its place and is a good thing but I also think it pays to mention, there is no imperative need to purchase pods or feed phyto to pods. You likely will yield more of them if you do but by introducing corals, even after dipping, you will end up finding them.
I only mention this because i ended up spending money on things i could have put into corals or otherwise and pods was a one of them.

Agree, I'd never recommend buying pods unless a mandarin or such was in too small of a tank.

 

[vetteguy53081]

When and how do you add phytoplankton to feed your copepods? Should I do it at night or any time ok ? Should I turn off my filter or leave it be? I have a 40 gallon breeder , just added my first fish. Have had copepods in there for about a month. I don’t see very many though. I added about 3500.

Feeding is best at night with skimmer off although can be fed during the day. Start with half the bottle dosage until the feeding needs are figured out based on consumption. Then you can add twice per day if needed. One m/l per gallon is a good rule of thumb

 

[TokenReefer]

i'd like to start by saying i think phyto has its place and is a good thing but I also think it pays to mention, there is no imperative need to purchase pods or feed phyto to pods. You likely will yield more of them if you do but by introducing corals, even after dipping, you will end up finding them.
I only mention this because i ended up spending money on things i could have put into corals or otherwise and pods was a one of them.

^^Very much agree and wish someone told me this at the time

 

[TokenReefer]

That being said I was adding them as I was battling uglies and maybe they did have an impact but who can be sure. Ohh the money I spent on pods tho

 

[lolly]

Agree, I'd never recommend buying pods unless a mandarin or such was in too small of a tank.

I am planning on a mandarin once my tank matures. That’s why I am trying to get a healthy population of pods going

 

[Pridedcloth3]

Honestly i don't do anything as far as feeding and my mantis shrimp tank is taken over copepods and amphipods. I feed the coral once in a great while but that's it.

 

[Jekyl]

I am planning on a mandarin once my tank matures. That’s why I am trying to get a healthy population of pods going

Have a sump? Otherwise may need regular delivery of copepods with a 40g

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Have a sump? Otherwise may need regular delivery of copepods with a 40g

repurpose a tote or beverage container, add powdered spirulina, tiny bit of banana skin and start it off with a bottle of tough @Reef Nutrition Tigger Pods. Its easy, I'm lazy, and cheap.

Here is my culture post:

raising tig pods - tiny 2.5g tank experimental culture #2

2nd attempt at raising tig pods is officially underway. Original attempt was outdoor lazy banana leaf method I found online - that is still underway but seems to be failing. Suspect Texas temperature and full day direct sunshine is too much, but that pod culture experiment still underway. 2nd...

forum.dfwmas.org

 

[Keko21]

I started seeding my tank a bit over three months ago- dosed with pods, waited, didnt see anything, dosed again, still impatient when I didnt see them on my glass, dosed a third time. At the same time through this I was dosing ocean magik daily. Let me tell you my copepod population is off the ***king charts now! Of the ones I can see on my glass at night probably 80+ per square inch of glass in the DT and a ton more in the sump. My mandarin is getting fat quick and I've only had her for a month.

I typically put half of my phyto dose into the refugium and the other half right into the DT, usually in the evening.

I am not dosing currently as I have hydroids and I am trying to starve them out, but my tank now has enough green algae all over the rocks that I think they will all be ok without the supplemental phyto- atleast until I get rid of the hydroids then Ill start dosing again as my coral seems to like it too.

 

[NASAGeek]

If you happen to be in Texas, I recommend PodYourReef. Josh takes great care of our pod needs.