Copepods and sump gunk

[Shackleton]

Hi all, I have a Fluval 13.5 and have turned the middle chamber into a refugium for algae and copepods. All seem to be doing well in there, but I’d like to vacuum out the dead algae bits and whatever else has accumulated there. Problem is. I’m worried about decimating the pod community. Do I clean or leave alone? How do you handle this?

 

[WVNed]

I dump it into a large white bowl I got at the dollar store and pick out what I want to go back in the tank.
The animals will settle to the bottom and then you can pour most of the water off.
You may catch more than a few pods.

 

[CasaReefer]

I dump it into a large white bowl I got at the dollar store and pick out what I want to go back in the tank.
The animals will settle to the bottom and then you can pour most of the water off.
You may catch more than a few pods.

What a Great Idea Ned.... You do have the Gift...

 

[WVNed]

I do this when I put a filter sock into my tank. I do not run them all the time but sometimes I put one in for a day and see whats going around in the flow.

 

[Shackleton]

By filter sock, do you mean filter floss? Same thing? Without it, doesn’t your bio media and carbon bag get gunked?

 

[WVNed]

By filter sock, do you mean filter floss? Same thing? Without it, doesn’t your bio media and carbon bag get gunked?

I do not have bio media and carbon bags. I occasionally put in 7 inch filter socks with a hanger I made.

 

[Fourstars]

I agree, don’t clear the table before everyone’s finished eating. The few times I’ve cleaned my sump I’ve had issues with the main tank shortly afterwards.