Copepods in refuge

[Lavey29]

I was told something similar to that when I was just getting started in this hobby. I’m trying to make sure I do it all the right way so that I’m not losing money. I was wondering if adding to the refuge would be beneficial and from what I understand it is

Sure it is beneficial just as much as adding them to your DT too. The more biodiversity the better.

 

[dirty_south87]

If you are worried about “doing it right” and not losing money then 1) get over it … and 2) you should try a different hobby such as crafting.
Just sayin’….

So you’re telling me that you haven’t had a fish store to try to sell you something that should not be in your tank at any time of your hobby? I have had one to try to sell me fish that would kill the ones I have. Also had another to try to sell me some chemicals because they thought they knew what was wrong with my water since a coral wasn’t opening (it was due to poor placement on my end).

 

[dirty_south87]

Sure it is beneficial just as much as adding them to your DT too. The more biodiversity the better.

I appreciate that. I have learned more on this site than my lfs, there’s always something I don’t know about yet

 

[Jason Scalise]

I built a pod hotel from about 8 cents of some corrugated plastic from Home Depot. Will post some pics if interested. Works like a charm.

I actually got it from Lowes...not Home Depot...but I assume HD has it too.

it is called Plaskolite corregated plastic.
the link is here...Plaskolite

its is a good sized sheet and I found some smaller ones that day. You can see on end that it has the corrugated channels.


you can easily cut it with heavy scissors or a box cutter.

I cut out about 4 or 5 two-inch squares and superglued them into a stack. I then put a piece of stone tile (that I had lying around) with some superglue to weight it down so it did not float. any stone or river rock or reef rock would do.



the little corrugated tunnels seem to be perfectly pod-sized. it ends up being a breeding area.

Every so often, I retrieve them and shake it into the DT and they spill out.

I put about 3 or 4 in my refugium and it seemed to work great.

 

[dirty_south87]

I actually got it from Lowes...not Home Depot...but I assume HD has it too.

it is called Plaskolite corregated plastic.
the link is here...Plaskolite

its is a good sized sheet and I found some smaller ones that day. You can see on end that it has the corrugated channels.


you can easily cut it with heavy scissors or a box cutter.

I cut out about 4 or 5 two-inch squares and superglued them into a stack. I then put a piece of stone tile (that I had lying around) with some superglue to weight it down so it did not float. any stone or river rock or reef rock would do.



the little corrugated tunnels seem to be perfectly pod-sized. it ends up being a breeding area.

Every so often, I retrieve them and shake it into the DT and they spill out.

I put about 3 or 4 in my refugium and it seemed to work great.

Superglue won’t be an issue in saltwater?

 

[Tcook]

You can remove the sponge and replace with black mesh filter. Will keep your feather dust out and let the pods flow freely. Sponges tend to clog up with detritus. Good if you clean it frequently. I don't so I don't use them.

 

[Tcook]

Superglue won’t be an issue in saltwater?

No. That's what you use to glue frags.

 

[dirty_south87]

You can remove the sponge and replace with black mesh filter. Will keep your feather dust out and let the pods flow freely. Sponges tend to clog up with detritus. Good if you clean it frequently. I don't so I don't use them.

I will look into doing that soon. It would help me out some

 

[dirty_south87]

No. That's what you use to glue frags.

I haven’t done frags myself, kinda unaware of what is actually used to do those.

 

[Jason Scalise]

So you’re telling me that you haven’t had a fish store to try to sell you something that should not be in your tank at any time of your hobby? I have had one to try to sell me fish that would kill the ones I have. Also had another to try to sell me some chemicals because they thought they knew what was wrong with my water since a coral wasn’t opening (it was due to poor placement on my end).

Not saying that. I am saying, however, that I have had lots of bad star alignment and bad luck, and self-made mistakes, and 'learning opportunities' and a good deal of expense....willingly.

for example, I saw early this morning that my long nosed hawkfish had evidently jumped during the night and instead of bouncing off of the tightly fitting mesh tank cover, he wedged himself IN THE MESH and got stuck to a mortal extent thus killing himself in a desiccated and crispy corpse. dang it!!

its the entire reason I have that cover!....but he managed to find a way to 'defeat it' and himself at the same time. Hate that. what a waste and all despite efforts to prevent.

Poor guy.

 

[dirty_south87]

Not saying that. I am saying, however, that I have had lots of bad star alignment and bad luck, and self-made mistakes, and 'learning opportunities' and a good deal of expense....willingly.

for example, I saw early this morning that my long nosed hawkfish had evidently jumped during the night and instead of bouncing off of the tightly fitting mesh tank cover, he wedged himself IN THE MESH and got stuck to a mortal extent thus killing himself in a desiccated and crispy corpse. dang it!!

its the entire reason I have that cover!....but he managed to find a way to 'defeat it' and himself at the same time. Hate that. what a waste and all despite efforts to prevent.

Sucks to hear that! Stuff like that is what I am expecting for money loss on my end. when I said I wanted to make sure I do it right was for me not just buying something because a store is trying to push a product or a fish that could kill what I currently have

 

[Jay'sReefBugs]

Rock rubble is your best bet for Natural reproduction of copepods. Those pod hotels are more geared towards amphipods not copepods

 

[dirty_south87]

Rock rubble is your best bet for Natural reproduction of copepods. Those pod hotels are more geared towards amphipods not copepods

i have rocks in display and my refuge tank to help on that end. Im starting to believe those hotels are a waste of money in my tank since I never see any pods in there or near it

 

[Tcook]

i have rocks in display and my refuge tank to help on that end. Im starting to believe those hotels are a waste of money in my tank since I never see any pods in there or near it

I've had one for the past year. When I shake it, detritus comes out not pods.

 

[dirty_south87]

I've had one for the past year. When I shake it, detritus comes out not pods.

I’m surprised I haven’t seen anything in mine yet, I check every time I go to do anything in my tank