Copepods

[Susan Edwards]

Hi. I want to add some copepods to my tank for my scooter blenny. I didn't know he was in the dragonet family when I got it. He's eating frozen foods. I just have to make sure they get down to him. Won't I lose a lot due to the filtration, and water changes? I figured i'd do my next water change first.

Eventually I'll set up a refugium. Tank is a RS Max c250 just over 6 weeks new. Tank thread in my sig. I believe.

 

[EthanDouglas]

I've seen a thread where you take an old Tupperware container, poke some holes in it, put a piece of chaeto inside, and you have a little "safe haven" for your pods. I'm not entirely sure how effective this is, but depending on the size of your tank, I think it would help keep the population from being completely wiped out.

 

[Jimbo662]

To insure other fish don't eat them the lights need to be out. I usually wait until the lights go out, turn off the return pump and powerheads and put the floss square on the bottom near the rocks. This allows a majority of them to get into the rocks. After about 20 min I turn the pump and powerheads back on. Some will get into the sump and should reproduce down there too.

 

[USNDoc]

A Refugium is best for copepods as it gives them a place to to reproduce But they do attach thesemswlves to the live rock as u enter the. In to the tank. I have seen people introduce them down a tube to the sand bed there for not allowing them to free flow and fish eating right away

 

[Susan Edwards]

A turkey baster might work too then to squirt them into rocks. The refugium will come. I can also keep adding to the tank as I do want my scooter to eat some of them. i also have a nice pc of pukani with lots of holes so I can squirt some on there. And lots of algae for them to "clean"....

 

[beaslbob]

the refugium is the way to go.

most chaeto come with pods attached.

 

[USNDoc]

I don't see why a turkey Baster wouldn't just push hem enough not to forcefully. You could also use the end of a turkey baster and attach a hose from Home Depot on the small tubes like four bucks for 10. I have a whole crap load of it in different sizes all over the place but it's easy and cheap. Yes also that is correct that copepods are best in a refugium and the chaeto is most commonly used and usually not always but usually does come with copepods in it

 

[Susan Edwards]

Thanks for all the suggestions. My aim right now is to provide some food and I know I'll have to keep replenishing until I get a refugium set up. I have a 10 gal tank and the baffles. Just need pumps and filter sock and figure out plumbing. And a shelf close to tank for it and a QT tank eventually. Waffling between a 10 gal or 20 gal ref. Not sure the baffles I bought would work for a 20g. Will do my water change and then add them at night.