How to get copepods in tank?

[trelise]

Hi guys. So, new reef tank. I'm wanting to get a microcrustacean population established. Trouble is that I'm in New Zealand, where I can't buy copepods.
I thought I could get some through corals - but they never have any I can see in the bags, and on top of that I doubt any would survive coral dipping. How can I get them in the tank?
Should I not dip the corals and or reach out and ask someone for some live rock or a sample of copepodes/amphipods ect

 

[Jekyl]

Hi guys. So, new reef tank. I'm wanting to get a micro crustean population established. Trouble is that I'm in New Zealand, where I can't buy copepods.
I thought I could get some through corals - but they never have any I can see in the bags, and on top of that I doubt any would survive coral dipping. How can I get them in the tank?
Not dip corals, or reach out and ask someone

It's next to impossible to keep copepods out of a system. Chances are you already have them. After the lights go out wait a while and shine a flashlight on the glass. See if you notice any little white specs.

 

[Mushroomsyo]

They do survive dips

 

[Jay'sReefBugs]

Copepod egg clusters can survive dipping but you should 100% continue dipping corals ! You can always add bio diversity if need be

 

[gbru316]

Adding live rock has historically been the way to do it if purchasing pods isn't an option.

 

[ClownSchool]

Hi guys. So, new reef tank. I'm wanting to get a microcrustacean population established. Trouble is that I'm in New Zealand, where I can't buy copepods.
I thought I could get some through corals - but they never have any I can see in the bags, and on top of that I doubt any would survive coral dipping. How can I get them in the tank?
Should I not dip the corals and or reach out and ask someone for some live rock or a sample of copepodes/amphipods ect

When establishing my tank, I had someone donate some chaeto for my refugium, and it was off to the races.

 

[AydenLincoln]

They hitchhike on corals/live rock. If you have either chances are your already have some and many are typically too small to see so that would be why.
Amphipods are the bigger more visible ones.

 

[exnisstech]

They have shown up in all of my tanks without being added.

 

[ClownSchool]

Hi guys. So, new reef tank. I'm wanting to get a microcrustacean population established. Trouble is that I'm in New Zealand, where I can't buy copepods.
I thought I could get some through corals - but they never have any I can see in the bags, and on top of that I doubt any would survive coral dipping. How can I get them in the tank?
Should I not dip the corals and or reach out and ask someone for some live rock or a sample of copepodes/amphipods ect

Adding a cap full of phytoplankton to you tank every day will help the population grow.