Copepods

Kial · Jan 20, 2019

My tank has been running since October 2017 and I added a bottle of live pods about 6 months ago now.

Is it safe to say I have a decent colony within the live rock etc by now?

Not had any fish that actively feeds on pods either.
I just never see any around.

I dont have a fuge either.

TheEngineer · Jan 20, 2019

Maybe. They can survive on detritus (for the most part) so if your tank has things for them to eat and nothing has been eating them you’ve probably got a decent population.

Muttley000 · Jan 20, 2019

Use a flashlight at night, you should see them on the glass. Feeding the tank phyto really helps them too.

GoPitt88 · Jan 20, 2019

I use a Red LED flashlight at night. If you use a regular light, they will scurry away and hide. They don’t seem to be bothered by a red light. I’ve found that I will see the most shortly after the lights are off in the room. Maybe wait an hour or so after the room is dark.....you should see a lot.

Kial · Jan 21, 2019

I'll give the red light a go when I can get hold of one.

I've just purchased another batch of live copepods to add to the display which should get here Thursday.

As I dont have a fuge, is it best to add these after lights go out and turn off power heads so they can get to the rocks/substrate?

TheEngineer · Jan 21, 2019

Kial said:
I'll give the red light a go when I can get hold of one.

I've just purchased another batch of live copepods to add to the display which should get here Thursday.

As I dont have a fuge, is it best to add these after lights go out and turn off power heads so they can get to the rocks/substrate?

Yep! Put them in close to the rocks and give them about 30 minutes without flow so they can. Get into the rocks.

Kial · Jan 21, 2019

TheEngineer said:
Yep! Put them in close to the rocks and give them about 30 minutes without flow so they can. Get into the rocks.

Awesome I'll make sure I do that. Thanks

Charlie_11278 · Jan 21, 2019

Kial said:
Awesome I'll make sure I do that. Thanks

Look very closely at your sandbed you should see some. What type of pods did you add?

Kial · Jan 21, 2019

Charlie_11278 said:
Look very closely at your sandbed you should see some. What type of pods did you add?

Tisbe Harpacticoid copepods was what they were advertised as

Charlie_11278 · Jan 21, 2019

Kial said:
Tisbe Harpacticoid copepods was what they were advertised as

You should be able to see them. I've had thousands in my tank without adding any liquid.

My red mandarin seemed to like them.

Kial · Jan 21, 2019

Charlie_11278 said:
You should be able to see them. I've had thousands in my tank without adding any liquid.

My red mandarin seemed to like them.

Just went around with a light after main lights went off but couldn't see any

Charlie_11278 · Jan 21, 2019

Kial said:
Just went around with a light after main lights went off but couldn't see any

Try looking very carefully all around the tank. They're very hard to see at first but once you see em you'll be able to spot them faster.

Look right above your sandbed

Kial · Jan 22, 2019

Charlie_11278 said:
Try looking very carefully all around the tank. They're very hard to see at first but once you see em you'll be able to spot them faster.

Look right above your sandbed

Yeah definitely nothing there. Strange