Copepods Question

[Fringe09]

Hi Guys,

Brand new tank. A little over week into the cycle.

What are your thoughts with adding Copepods to the tank after the cycle is completed for a month or so before introducing fish?

 

[Diesel]

When ammonia and Nitrite is 0.0.
Then leave I the tank alone so they can colonize.
Pods are not only food for your fish but a big factor of your CUC.

 

[Fringe09]

When ammonia and Nitrite is 0.0.
Then leave I the tank alone so they can colonize.
Pods are not only food for your fish but a big factor of your CUC.

Yup, that is the plan. Newbie question, what is "CUC"?

 

[Daddy-o]

Pods are great. I love the Apocyclops. Pods may need a little food.

 

[jrwoltman]

Yup, that is the plan. Newbie question, what is "CUC"?

Clean Up Crew=snails, crabs, starfish, etc.

 

[Diesel]

Yup, that is the plan. Newbie question, what is "CUC"?

"clean Up Crew" snails, crabs, pods etc......

 

[Diesel]

Clean up crew=snails, crabs, starfish, etc.

Dude, you're fast

 

[Fringe09]

I was hoping to add some fish after the cycle completed. It looks like it's better to add pods and wait around a month or so before introducing fish.

 

[Diesel]

I was hoping to add some fish after the cycle completed. It looks like it's better to add pods and wait around a month or so before introducing fish.

Month is good but you need to quarantine your fish first anyways.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-quarantine.189815/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-dos-and-don’ts-of-quarantine.203898/

 

[Fringe09]

I'm very new at this and this stage of my tank, (no fish or corals), I want to make good decisions.

Month is good but you need to quarantine your fish first anyways.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-quarantine.189815/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-dos-and-don’ts-of-quarantine.203898/

Yes, my 20 gallon QT is up and running. I need to read through the threads to know what to do after adding fish.

 

[TheLadyCrash]

Adding the copepods and letting them colonize is a great idea. I personally use AlgaeBarn for my pods because you can also get bottles of phytoplankton shipped with the pods so you have a source of food for them.

 

[Fringe09]

Adding the copepods and letting them colonize is a great idea. I personally use AlgaeBarn for my pods because you can also get bottles of phytoplankton shipped with the pods so you have a source of food for them.

That's exactly what I'm going to do. Patiently waiting for the ammonia and nitrite to hit 0.

 

[Big G]

Chaeto . . .

 

[Fringe09]

Chaeto . . .

Setting up that also. AlgaeBarn recommended I wait until my nitrates are around 5ppm first.

 

[Big G]

Setting up that also. AlgaeBarn recommended I wait until my nitrates are around 5ppm first.

I've put my chaeto in when the nitrates were 5-10 ppm.

 

[WesleyC]

Some pods love to hide in the chaeto. Get chaeto setup first, before you order the pods.