Keeping Copepods Alive In Fresh Cycled Tank

[BiggDirty]

Hey guys,

So Ive finished cycling my tank ( 80 gallon DT, 30 gal sump), and now am looking to get a copepod population going before I start adding fish.

My plan was to have some rock in my sump they could use to hide until I get some chaeto going in there. I don’t plan on adding any fish for probably another month, the meantime I wanted to get a head start on getting a healthy population of copepods going.

My question is, with no other live stock on my tank - what is needed to keep my copepods fed? I understand that phytoplankton helps with increasing their numbers, so I was planning to add some of that. Is there anything else that would be required to keep them alive? Or can I just dump them into my sump, and doss some phyto here and there.

Would adding any fish food (flakes) help?

One more question - to sustain a population of copepods - will I need to dose phytoplankton forever? Or once I have fish and coral in, they will be able to be self sustaining?

Cheers

 

[boacvh]

you can put them in the DT too and yes dose phyto for them. I did this with my upgrade so population would be established once I moved everything over. No need for flakes IMO

 

[BiggDirty]

you can put them in the DT too and yes dose phyto for them. I did this with my upgrade so population would be established once I moved everything over. No need for flakes IMO

Thanks, and do you still dose phyto? Or did you just do it initially to give them a good start prior to moving everything over??

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

If i were you, id continue adding a little phyto nightly. Even though its not absolutely necessary it will help sustain a larger population of copepods. Phyto isnt very expensive and honestly a lot of other livestock can benefit from small daily doses as well...id definitely recommend live phyto.

 

[boacvh]

I add phyto weekly. Not just for the pods but b cause I believe it has more benefits.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I add phyto weekly. Not just for the pods but b cause I believe it has more benefits.

Personally, I think its probably the most important additive that isnt for controlling parameters (by controlling parameters I mean dosing calcium to maintain the right concentration). Its the base of the entire food chain so I agree with you.

 

[BiggDirty]

Personally, I think its probably the most important additive that isnt for controlling parameters (by controlling parameters I mean dosing calcium to maintain the right concentration). Its the base of the entire food chain so I agree with you.

Thanks everyone, sounds like I’ll be dosing phyto for the foreseeable future. I appreciate everyone’s advice!