Copepods ???

[Shawn_epicurious]

I am a firm believer that a healthy tank needs really good biodiversity. As many different little critters as possible. I have been seriously considering getting some live copepods. I have never used them, but have been reading... asking questions. My tank is still maturing (200g) 4 months old now. I have a couple of questions...

I understand the Pro’s... what are the Con’s?

I also don’t really get why I would put them in my sump? I am assuming I would put them in behind the skimmer, but that is just my last stage. The return pump is in there. its seems the pump would kill them...?

 

[Trylobyte]

I've actually watched and read a lot of information on this subject, though I do not have any of my own currently as my tank is still to new. The pump and skimmer can kill them, and from what I have gathered they kill the adults who can actually breed more. Preferably, if you don't have any fish that hunt them specifically (mandarins) I would try to get them into your DT's rock work or pod hotel(s) a couple hours after lights out. If you have a coral feeder that you can remove the tip and bulb on, a hose or acrylic tube you can direct them by pouring them down in.

In any case, I watched a few videos (including an older video from BRS) that talk about how the HOB or gravity refugium's are the most preferred means in keeping them as there is no pumps/skimmers that can kill them off while still giving them an isolated area to reproduce with no threat of predation until they make it back into your tank.

As for cons, the biggest thing I can think of and is even stated on AlgaeBarn is starvation. A lot of us don't think it because they are known to eat detritus and anything left over food wise but so are your CUC, and then your filtration. So you will most likely have to start dosing phyto more (AlgaeBarn suggests 5 ml for every 20-25 gallons I think per day of their "OceanMagik"). Other than that I haven't really read any other things I would consider a con. They help the CUC and provide a live food source.

 

[W1ngz]

There's no cons to copepods. Biodiversity, free food for fish to hunt, they eat detritus.

People put them in refugiums in their sumps, not directly in the sump, so they can breed and establish. Some may get killed in the pump but they're small enough to mostly pass through and eventually populate the tank.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Does my tank need to mature more or will they simply help it to mature?

 

[AlexG]

Copepods can be added to your tank with no cons as they are a vital part of marine ecosystems. I would add them to the refugium, sump, and main display. If you have fish in the main display that will be targeting the pods then I would add them to the main display at night near the rocks and sand. After a few weeks they will take hold.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Copepods can be added to your tank with no cons as they are a vital part of marine ecosystems. I would add them to the refugium, sump, and main display. If you have fish in the main display that will be targeting the pods then I would add them to the main display at night near the rocks and sand. After a few weeks they will take hold.

I just ordered some.. and some phytoplankton.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

...waiting for the lights to out : )

 

[NS Mike D]

don't sweat it if you cant see them. Many will end up out of sight in the sand bed and in the nooks and crannies of the rocks, as the ones that go for a swim or on the glass wil quickly get picked off by the fish and corals. You'll end up seeing them in the sump

 

[monti mike]

I went with some eco pods from algae barn. It’s 4 species to get your pod community going.

EcoPods

Each 16 oz portion of EcoPods contains an ecologically balanced consortium of copepods including Tigriopus, Tisbe, Apocyclops and Oithona. All of our pods are 100% viable to reproduce in marine aquaria, including Oithona.

www.algaebarn.com

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

don't sweat it if you cant see them. Many will end up out of sight in the sand bed and in the nooks and crannies of the rocks, as the ones that go for a swim or on the glass wil quickly get picked off by the fish and corals. You'll end up seeing them in the sump

I’ve done some prep work. I have a 200 gallon tank. i bought four of the Algae Barn jars and 4 bottles of phytoplankton. I also have some live rock in my sump. I am going to put half in the sump and half in the tank... I have a plan I think will work for getting them to the base of the rock... fingers crossed : )

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

I went with some eco pods from algae barn. It’s 4 species to get your pod community going.

EcoPods

Each 16 oz portion of EcoPods contains an ecologically balanced consortium of copepods including Tigriopus, Tisbe, Apocyclops and Oithona. All of our pods are 100% viable to reproduce in marine aquaria, including Oithona.

www.algaebarn.com

I went with the phytoplankton. I’ll let ya know how it goes : )

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

I went with the phytoplankton. I’ll let ya know how it goes : )

I just looked at your link : ) sorry. I did the “5280” pods

 

[NS Mike D]

I’ve done some prep work. I have a 200 gallon tank. i bought four of the Algae Barn jars and 4 bottles of phytoplankton. I also have some live rock in my sump. I am going to put half in the sump and half in the tank... I have a plan I think will work for getting them to the base of the rock... fingers crossed : )

good plan,. You will be fine. The population self regulates

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

So yeah... lights have been out for a while now. Mission accomplished. They are there now. the ones in the sump were easy... I used my sand vacuum.. backwards.... I put the tube... kinna shoved it down in the rock and poured the jar in... then just ... blew into it a little... until I saw soft bubbles,,, then did the same around the base of the rocks in my DP. ...fingers crossed !

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Sooooo.... how often do I need to repeat this process?

 

[tuesdayd]

You shouldn‘t have to repopulate at all. Even with pod predators in the DT eating them, the ones in your sump are safe and making more pods.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

You shouldn‘t have to repopulate at all. Even with pod predators in the DT eating them, the ones in your sump are safe and making more pods.

Perfect! Thank you

 

[ReefGrammie]

Sooooo.... how often do I need to repeat this process?

That's a good question! I just add new pods here and there, probably every 2 months or so. @AlgaeBarn is a great choice! Sometimes I grab a bottle if my LFS has them in stock. Do you have a mandarin? I have a ruby dragonet, but he eats frozen food like a pig so I don't stress about keeping pods in constant supply.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

That's a good question! I just add new pods here and there, probably every 2 months or so. @AlgaeBarn is a great choice! Sometimes I grab a bottle if my LFS has them in stock. Do you have a mandarin? I have a ruby dragonet, but he eats frozen food like a pig so I don't stress about keeping pods in constant supply.

No on the Mandarin... although I just googled him. That’s a really cool fish! Are they reef safe? Your ruby dragonet... is that a goby?

 

[ReefGrammie]

No on the Mandarin... although I just googled him. That’s a really cool fish! Are they reef safe? Your ruby dragonet... is that a goby?

Gorgeous fish and very peaceful/reef safe. The big issue with them, best I remember, is they pretty much only eat pods, so you need to keep them supplied. If you have other pod-eating fish (some wrasses), it can be even more difficult. I've heard of some that would eat other food, but my only attempt at a mandarin years ago didn't work out so well. The mandarin also falls in the dragonet category, but I've been fortunate that my ruby dragonet is also a frozen food freak. Here's a picture of him. I wish I could capture one with his dorsal fin up, because it's just stunning, but no luck so far!