Help growing copepods in refugium

[Hypen2000]

If you are not worried about producing a ton of pods, growing them in a fuge is possible. This is what I have going on;
I got the algae barn 5280 pods. I have a lot of different macro alage in my fuge. Reds & greens and one of them is ulva. They will not feed on this. What they do feed on is the green and brown slime stuff that grows on the glass, rocks and leaves of the plants. Same stuff that grows on an alage scrubber. It needs light and nutrients to grow. I think your fuge is new? Yes? You should dose the phyto in your fuge until you run out. Once a day. You can use phyto feast avail at your LFS. Once you get a slime coat growing then you should see the pods moving about eating the stuff off the glass. They will grow in waves. The more slime the more pods. They eat it and your glass gets pretty clean then they die off some because of no food then the slime comes back and the cycle starts all over again.
Disclaimer: This works for me and your results may differ. ;-}
Another good live food that is really easy is "White Worms" Yu can search Paul B here for his thread on the white wigglies.

Good advice! My fug is about 8 months old and I'm constantly removing algae (some hair and some of that slime stuff I think). Guess I'll stop removing it and see if the pods eat it. Also, when you say you have pods, is it a good amount? Know it's hard to quantify, but is it enough for 3 wrasses and a mandarin?

Also, could I take a pic and upload it later (when I get home) and ask you to confirm if the algae I have is the correct one for them to eat?

 

[pdisner]

Well if you’re going to get from me it will be awhile. At the moment I only have Apex and a little tisbe pods. I sold off most of my tiggers and tisbe, and used a ton to raise Blenny larvae. It depleted me. But honestly, even though Apex pods are small, it’s a species well suited for stocking refugium or side culture.
You’ll do just fine culturing. I can assist you no problem. It’s the copepods that do all the work, you’re just providing them an ideal environment, suitable for reproduction. They live dirty water, so unless it’s foul smelling, it’s an easy task. It’s not rocket science. Look me up on messenger. It’s a faster way to chat. I can back u up. You’ll do fine. Just feed them and in a months time or so you’ll have a bunch.
This is where all my copepods ended up, hahaha. Copepods are THE BEST food you can use to raise fish. They are filled with a ton of vital nutrient and a natural food source for most marine larvae and adult fish. These little guys’ appetite is ferocious! They’ll hunt for copepods and other small crustaceans.they are striped Blennies or fang blennies.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I have a pdf that goes into detail about the Apocylcopse pod and how to Culture. It’s yours if u want, just need an email.

Can you guys share these PDFs for all to learn?

 

[pdisner]

Good advice! My fug is about 8 months old and I'm constantly removing algae (some hair and some of that slime stuff I think). Guess I'll stop removing it and see if the pods eat it. Also, when you say you have pods, is it a good amount? Know it's hard to quantify, but is it enough for 3 wrasses and a mandarin?

Also, could I take a pic and upload it later (when I get home) and ask you to confirm if the algae I have is the correct one for them to eat?

So if you want to see how many copepods you have, like a good estimate, you’ll need a microscope. Take a small sample of water and add a few drops of vinegar to immobilize the pods, place 1ml on a slide. Count how many you see then you’ll need to work out the math from there. That’s basically how I do it, although the real way, you use a certain slide, called a “sedgwick -rafter” microscope slide.
If you need a microscope, there’s a ton of them on the internet. Pick one you can afford, but a binocular is a must, and you may want a camera. I just use my iPhone. Incredible pics.

 

[pdisner]

Can you guys share these PDFs for all to learn?

Yes, I’m working on a Dropbox link so that I can post these. If you read above posts, I am having issues using Tapatalk to post files. Just give me some time and I’ll post here, ok?

 

[pdisner]

Good advice! My fug is about 8 months old and I'm constantly removing algae (some hair and some of that slime stuff I think). Guess I'll stop removing it and see if the pods eat it. Also, when you say you have pods, is it a good amount? Know it's hard to quantify, but is it enough for 3 wrasses and a mandarin?

Also, could I take a pic and upload it later (when I get home) and ask you to confirm if the algae I have is the correct one for them to eat?

Oh and as far as the algae is concerned, they don’t eat macro algae, only phytoplankton. They are filter feeders. They will use it as a safe haven and a place to reproduce. It’s a common misconception that they eat Chaeto. I giggle when I see YouTube videos of guys tryin to culture, but don’t research. They stuff a bunch of Chaeto and dump spiralina powder in the tank. Lol. That’s a quick way to foul the water. It will stink within a week. They will eat spirulina but not ideal at all. Do th research first or you’ll waste time and money.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Yes, I’m working on a Dropbox link so that I can post these. If you read above posts, I am having issues using Tapatalk to post files. Just give me some time and I’ll post here, ok?

Great! Thank in advance. If you want I can post them on my server and post links so there is none of that drop box signing up nonsense.

Should I PM you my email?

 

[lapin]

Good advice! My fug is about 8 months old and I'm constantly removing algae (some hair and some of that slime stuff I think). Guess I'll stop removing it and see if the pods eat it. Also, when you say you have pods, is it a good amount? Know it's hard to quantify, but is it enough for 3 wrasses and a mandarin?

Also, could I take a pic and upload it later (when I get home) and ask you to confirm if the algae I have is the correct one for them to eat?

The ones I can see with my eye number about 20 per sq inch that are on the glass. I have a 20 gallon remote fuge. Rock rubble and reborn calcium media for the substrate.

Im not sure you can get a picture of green or brown film algae. Its more like a coating. Maybe your skills are better than mine.

I like live food so I raise white worms, pods and fresh hatched brine. I might do black worms. Ya have to rinse them every day and keep them in the fridge, which is a pain.
When it cools off I will start my roti cultures again. With luck the clowns will produce some eggs I can get to, before they get eaten.

 

[pdisner]

Yup I got it. They look really helpful. Look like you sell pods as well? If I had only knew earlier, I would have gotten them from you directly. I like working with ppl who are as helpful as you and willing to teach instead of just selling products. Just wish you were in Nor Cal. Thanks!

I can ship but it’s too hot right now. I will resume shipping in November.

 

[pdisner]

If I may butt in here ,Can you keep a good population in the refugium without phytoplankton,relying on the algae growing in the fuge? perhaps a particular type they would favor?

It definately will help by squirting a phyto product in your top off water for your display when you think about it. Copepods will eat other things in your tank such as bacteria. But yes, definately will help grow your tank population. I believe everyone should regularly dose phyto in their system. Copepods aren’t the only filter feeders in your tank, so it benefits all.

 

[pdisner]

Can you guys share these PDFs for all to learn?

If you’d like it now I can email the PDFs.

 

[pdisner]

The ones I can see with my eye number about 20 per sq inch that are on the glass. I have a 20 gallon remote fuge. Rock rubble and reborn calcium media for the substrate.

Im not sure you can get a picture of green or brown film algae. Its more like a coating. Maybe your skills are better than mine.

I like live food so I raise white worms, pods and fresh hatched brine. I might do black worms. Ya have to rinse them every day and keep them in the fridge, which is a pain.
When it cools off I will start my roti cultures again. With luck the clowns will produce some eggs I can get to, before they get eaten.

Do you have problems with culturing rotifers in the summertime? I didn’t know that the season or temp mattered because we usually keep our houses climate controlled, 78-80. I’m curious to know more about what you’ve experienced , as I have had two rotifer cultures crash this summer. I didn’t think it had to do with temp. Can you explain?

 

[pdisner]

The ones I can see with my eye number about 20 per sq inch that are on the glass. I have a 20 gallon remote fuge. Rock rubble and reborn calcium media for the substrate.

Im not sure you can get a picture of green or brown film algae. Its more like a coating. Maybe your skills are better than mine.

I like live food so I raise white worms, pods and fresh hatched brine. I might do black worms. Ya have to rinse them every day and keep them in the fridge, which is a pain.
When it cools off I will start my roti cultures again. With luck the clowns will produce some eggs I can get to, before they get eaten.

And when he was talking about getting a pic, he wasn’t talking about the algae that grows on your glas, lol. He was talking about the phytoplankton he bought from algae barn...

 

[Katrina71]

It definately will help by squirting a phyto product in your top off water for your display when you think about it. Copepods will eat other things in your tank such as bacteria. But yes, definately will help grow your tank population. I believe everyone should regularly dose phyto in their system. Copepods aren’t the only filter feeders in your tank, so it benefits all.

How much do you suggest dosing per gallon and how often is regularly?

 

[Katrina71]

There’s a book that goes into great detail about culturing all types of phytoplankton and zooplankton. “The Plankton Culture Manual” by Frank Hoff. He has a few great books. There’s more books I could recommend as well, geared toward the hobbyist, but centered more on breeding.

Ordered this.

 

[Katrina71]

Good advice! My fug is about 8 months old and I'm constantly removing algae (some hair and some of that slime stuff I think). Guess I'll stop removing it and see if the pods eat it. Also, when you say you have pods, is it a good amount? Know it's hard to quantify, but is it enough for 3 wrasses and a mandarin?

Also, could I take a pic and upload it later (when I get home) and ask you to confirm if the algae I have is the correct one for them to eat?

When I had GHA, they ate mine and appeared to nest in it as well.

 

[Katrina71]

@cromag27 made us a custom DT chaeto basket. Pods were the most plentiful with it.

 

[pdisner]

When I had GHA, they ate mine and appeared to nest in it as well.

There’s no way that they could eat filamentous algae. They’re filter feeders, eating things no bigger than 10-20 microns.

 

[pdisner]

How much do you suggest dosing per gallon and how often is regularly?

I use a concentrated product made specifically for this, and other filter feeders like rotifers. Professional grade. Has 6 different species of phytoplankton.
You’ll need to practice a little bit. You don’t want to overfeed. Tint the water until it is green tea color when you pull out a sample glass. You should barely be able to see the bottom of your culture vessel, in my case 5 gal bucket are cheap and portable.

 

[pdisner]

Ordered this.

Just now? Congrats. You won’t be sorry. Its one of my frequently used reference books. By he way, the cheapest I’ve found the book is at Brineshrimpdirect.com. Huge difference in price. I think it was 14-15$.