GFO Reactor & Amphipods.... HELP!!

[Liquid360]

Last month I bought a really nice Geosreef fluidized reactor. Over the course of the last month, I've noticed quite a few large amphipods tumbling around amongst the gfo. Today was time for my first changing of the gfo. I was shocked at the number of amphipods living in the reactor, FAR too many to just throw down the drain. I'm somewhat surprised they're so many living/reproducing while being tossed about 24/7. I dumped them all into a holding bucket for now. Anybody deal with this before? Any ideas how to separate them/save them without just tossing a bunch of terrific microfauna down the drain?

 

[Liquid360]

I tried to catch them on video, but once I stir it up they dive right back down, but you get the idea.

 

[mtraylor]

I have never inspected my GFO reactor.....but if you wanted to save them you could pour the effluent through a fine net and then place them back in your sump.

 

[Liquid360]

I ended up pouring the media into a shallow surface and pulled them out with a gold coffee filter, one by one for a total of 54 adult amphipods! That's insane!! Feeding, mating, reproducing, living in tumbling GFO 24/7 when they could easily get out. Really curious as to why when they have the entire sump to themselves.

 

[mtraylor]

I think its just a matter of being sucked up and captured in the reactor. Not sure why they flourish in there though. Pretty interesting.

 

[mcarroll]

At their scale it's probably not as weird as it seems to us.

It's a nice detritus trap – that's why they live there.

 

[Liquid360]

At their scale it's probably not as weird as it seems to us.

It's a nice detritus trap – that's why they live there.

To them it's probably similar to us getting inside those infallible things with all those plastic balls

 

[mcarroll]

LOL
;Hilarious

 

[mcarroll]

To them it's probably similar to us getting inside those infallible things with all those plastic balls

Also an excellent detritus trap.

 

[JoshH]

but SOOO much fun!

 

[telsonman]

Are you pulling water from your fuge? I have the pump for my reactor coming from the skimmer compartment.

 

[Liquid360]

Are you pulling water from your fuge? I have the pump for my reactor coming from the skimmer compartment.

It's coming from right next to skimmer. A couple months ago I LOADED my sump with 200 amphipods so I suspect they simply infested everything. This is a good thing.

 

[bubbaque]

I get pods in my gfo reactor also. The first time I seen it I was amazed.

 

[Cary Hover]

Ill have to check mine next cleaning a little closer.

 

[cubbyman60]

I've noticed this too lately. Tons of very large pods in the GFO BRS reactor.

 

[Liquid360]

I've noticed this too lately. Tons of very large pods in the GFO BRS reactor.

Nm