Phyto/Pod Questions

[Codeblack88]

Hi, so for my senior project for school I am culturing and dosing my 32 gal biocube with both Tigriopus Californicus and Nannochloropsis. I have done a lot of research but still have some lingering questions.

Which culture should I start first? My tank is pretty well established (4 yrs old) and I only have zoanthids at the moment. Should I start my pod culture first so that there is something in the tank to eat the phytoplankton when I dose it into the tank?

How much should I dose into the tank? I was thinking 20 oz over a 4-5 day period but idk if this is too much or too little.

How much lighting do both cultures need? I understand that a 16/8 split is the best but does it need something stronger than a 13 watt light to grow? If so any suggestions?

Finally, will filter floss/running a skimmer inhibit my pod population from growing? Are there any alternatives that are suggested so that my paras stay steady?

Thanks for any help!!

 

[Frozen Tundra Reef Dreams]

without much predation either one should explode skimmer, floss wouldnt matter. I would definitely introduce during dark period so they can get to substrate, and rocks in peace. turn skimmer and filter off for 15 minutes. some of this dont matter but just peace of mind. I would feed with phyto. pods do not care if its live or dead phyto. as far as which one first? not sure. check out dude from reef nutrition. there is a youtube video chat with him and reefdude? where he calls him copegod. its amazing vid.

 

[Codeblack88]

without much predation either one should explode skimmer, floss wouldnt matter. I would definitely introduce during dark period so they can get to substrate, and rocks in peace. turn skimmer and filter off for 15 minutes. some of this dont matter but just peace of mind. I would feed with phyto. pods do not care if its live or dead phyto. as far as which one first? not sure. check out dude from reef nutrition. there is a youtube video chat with him and reefdude? where he calls him copegod. its amazing vid.

Haha thank you so much. Ill def check out that vid

 

[Codeblack88]

Bump

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

pods eat phyto so if you add pods to your tank, since there is nothing in your tank at the moment, you will need to feed phyto or the pods will starve. To culture phyto, you need fertiliser, but you shouldn't put fertiliser in your tank, you have to culture phyto in a seperate container, most people use 2 litre bottles. If the pods are fed with no predators, they will multiply, so its really the phyto that you need to keep culturing on continuous basis. Phyto does need some light to grow, but I'm not sure of the strength, I use my plant grow lights

 

[Pogue]

Tigriopus Californicus are benthic, meaning they live on surfaces (substrate, rocks, glass...etc), so you shouldn't be too concerned about the skimmer and filter floss.
My refugium is covered in them, I periodically, collect them and move a bunch up to the DT, so the fish have a feast.

 

[Codeblack88]

pods eat phyto so if you add pods to your tank, since there is nothing in your tank at the moment, you will need to feed phyto or the pods will starve. To culture phyto, you need fertiliser, but you shouldn't put fertiliser in your tank, you have to culture phyto in a seperate container, most people use 2 litre bottles. If the pods are fed with no predators, they will multiply, so its really the phyto that you need to keep culturing on continuous basis. Phyto does need some light to grow, but I'm not sure of the strength, I use my plant grow lights

awesome thank you.

 

[Codeblack88]

Tigriopus Californicus are benthic, meaning they live on surfaces (substrate, rocks, glass...etc), so you shouldn't be too concerned about the skimmer and filter floss.
My refugium is covered in them, I periodically, collect them and move a bunch up to the DT, so the fish have a feast.

Do you think that they are better than tisbe pods?

 

[Pogue]

Do you think that they are better than tisbe pods?

I think they are all great.
Benthic pods are great for fish to hunt (like dragonettes). They are also excellent micro algae harvesters.

If I'm understanding your OP you have a Zoa dominant tank, if your goal in culturing copepods is to feed your corals, I suspect a Pelagic species would be a better choice, than a Benthic species.
Pelagic (swimming - copepods such as the Tangerine, Acartia, and Pseudodiaptomus)
Benthic (crawling - copepods such as Tisbe and Tigriopus)

I suspect a problem with Pelagic species, is that since they are swimming, they are more likely to be skimmed out of your system. But more likely to be consumed by your corals. However, if you are target feeding them copepods (ie. with a turkey baster) any pods will do. The pods will also reproduce in your system, I really don't know if the Benthic pods would crawl on the coral to their doom.

I'm culturing Nannochloropsis phytoplankton, to feed to my Tisbe and Tigiopus culture...then feed them to my system.

Quote from Algae Barn
(I'm new to R2R, so I haven't look at the rules regarding linking to commercial sites):
"The best general-use, live copepod products for marine aquaria contain a mix of species that includes one or more benthic type. Proven to be hardy and nutritious, Tisbe and Tigriopus are long-time favorites. Both Tisbe and Tigriopus are excellent herbivores. Both will additionally feed on coarse organic matter such as leftover fish food. They will even feed on detritus, usually after devouring most of the benthic algae.

The two are actually quite complementary together. This is due mostly to their difference in size. Their larval and especially adult sizes differ considerably. We’re talking something less than a millimeter in length for the former; the latter attains 1.5 (sometimes even a couple) millimeters."

 

[Codeblack88]

I think they are all great.
Benthic pods are great for fish to hunt (like dragonettes). They are also excellent micro algae harvesters.

If I'm understanding your OP you have a Zoa dominant tank, if your goal in culturing copepods is to feed your corals, I suspect a Pelagic species would be a better choice, than a Benthic species.
Pelagic (swimming - copepods such as the Tangerine, Acartia, and Pseudodiaptomus)
Benthic (crawling - copepods such as Tisbe and Tigriopus)

I suspect a problem with Pelagic species, is that since they are swimming, they are more likely to be skimmed out of your system. But more likely to be consumed by your corals. However, if you are target feeding them copepods (ie. with a turkey baster) any pods will do. The pods will also reproduce in your system, I really don't know if the Benthic pods would crawl on the coral to their doom.

I'm culturing Nannochloropsis phytoplankton, to feed to my Tisbe and Tigiopus culture...then feed them to my system.

Quote from Algae Barn
(I'm new to R2R, so I haven't look at the rules regarding linking to commercial sites):
"The best general-use, live copepod products for marine aquaria contain a mix of species that includes one or more benthic type. Proven to be hardy and nutritious, Tisbe and Tigriopus are long-time favorites. Both Tisbe and Tigriopus are excellent herbivores. Both will additionally feed on coarse organic matter such as leftover fish food. They will even feed on detritus, usually after devouring most of the benthic algae.

The two are actually quite complementary together. This is due mostly to their difference in size. Their larval and especially adult sizes differ considerably. We’re talking something less than a millimeter in length for the former; the latter attains 1.5 (sometimes even a couple) millimeters."

I am doing this as a sorta experiment to see how well I can culture my own pods and wanted to start off with something easy to culture. From everything I read, tigriopus and tisbe are the most resilient and most likely won't crash on me. I was also thinking one of these two species to reduce the amount of detritus within my tank. With my niger trigger in the process of being rehomed I was thinking of transitioning to a zoa tank (bc they are a relatively easy coral to care for) and would be a way to measure how well the pods have seeded in the tank.

 

[JosephM]

I am doing this as a sorta experiment to see how well I can culture my own pods and wanted to start off with something easy to culture. From everything I read, tigriopus and tisbe are the most resilient and most likely won't crash on me. I was also thinking one of these two species to reduce the amount of detritus within my tank. With my niger trigger in the process of being rehomed I was thinking of transitioning to a zoa tank (bc they are a relatively easy coral to care for) and would be a way to measure how well the pods have seeded in the tank.

I would recommend having at least 2 cultures for each species in case of a crash... crashes are bound to happen at some point or another. And keep us updated if you turn it into a zoa tank, I love zoas!

 

[Codeblack88]

To keep expenses low (and bc my LFS sells cultures) I am only going to do 1 culture of tisbe for now and if it crashes I will just buy another. I'm more worried about my phyto then my pods

 

[Pogue]

To keep expenses low (and bc my LFS sells cultures) I am only going to do 1 culture of tisbe for now and if it crashes I will just buy another. I'm more worried about my phyto then my pods

I believe what JosephM means when saying "I would recommend having at least 2 cultures for each species in case of a crash" is to have 2 cultures (separate containers) you are culturing of the 1 tisbe species.

That way if 1 of the containers crashes, you have the second one to split, and start over again.
I currently have 3 containers I'm culturing my Tisbe/Tigiopus combo in.

 

[Codeblack88]

I believe what JosephM means when saying "I would recommend having at least 2 cultures for each species in case of a crash" is to have 2 cultures (separate containers) you are culturing of the 1 tisbe species.

That way if 1 of the containers crashes, you have the second one to split, and start over again.
I currently have 3 containers I'm culturing my Tisbe/Tigiopus combo in.

Ah I see. That makes sense. How is culturing them together working out for you?