Copepods & Temperature Drops

mfollen · Dec 28, 2018

Hey everyone!

I've been cycling dry rock in a brute tub for over a month with bacteria in a bottle added during the beginning. I've added copepods a few weeks ago.

The other night I noticed the heater became unplugged and the temperature dropped to 67 degrees.

Will the copepods survive this temperature drop? It's my understanding the de-nitrifying bacteria should be OK.

Thank you so much!

CC13 · Dec 28, 2018

mfollen said:
Hey everyone!

I've been cycling dry rock in a brute tub for over a month with bacteria in a bottle added during the beginning. I've added copepods a few weeks ago.

The other night I noticed the heater became unplugged and the temperature dropped to 67 degrees.

Will the copepods survive this temperature drop? It's my understanding the de-nitrifying bacteria should be OK.

Thank you so much!

I could be wrong with this, but it is my understanding copepods won't survive a cycle depending on what stage your cycle is at, the ammonia levels are at the time they are added and what food is available as food would be limited at this time.

I am sure other can chime in with more details but the 67 degree temp swing might not even matter if they already didn't make it in the water your cycling.

ihavecrabs · Dec 28, 2018

Depending on what type of pods they are, probably. However, I would expect them to not likely make it due to the cycling process itself as there is not much for them to consume.

mfollen · Dec 28, 2018

Thank you for your responses!

Sorry for not clarifying, but I have been adding phyto-plankton & mysis shrimp (to cycle) on an almost daily basis.

mfollen · Dec 29, 2018

Bump!!

ihavecrabs · Dec 29, 2018

Phyto might help keep them alive but I doubt it. With rock so new you'll have to let all the biofilms and algae take hold and mature.

I'd hold off on pods until after your cycle and when you start getting into the uglies.. even then it may take a while for them to take hold.