Miami Reef
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How does a refugium attract copepods? Do they eat the macro algae? Help me understand.
Refugium and copepods question
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bluprntguy
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Refugiums are usually lower flow areas with fewer predators, so the copepods establish themselves and reproduce.
They can feed on algae and detritus in the refugium, but adding phytoplankton to the system on a regular basis is the one way I've found to insure theyreach higher numbers.
They can feed on algae and detritus in the refugium, but adding phytoplankton to the system on a regular basis is the one way I've found to insure theyreach higher numbers.
redfishbluefish
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There are no hungry fish there to eat them! 
And, if you don't have chaeto for them to live and multiply in, you can add a "hotel" for them. I've used shower scrunchies for this....work well and inexpensive.
And, if you don't have chaeto for them to live and multiply in, you can add a "hotel" for them. I've used shower scrunchies for this....work well and inexpensive.
Reefermadness89
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No op but curious, I’ve seen tons of hob refugiums, and was considering one of those or making a refugium out of some unused canister filter parts, at what point is a refugium for cheato/pods too small? I have a fusion 20 penninsula, basically a 20 long.
The other option if it’s not too small is change the middle overflow section into one, but that’s even smaller. Want chaeto and pods if possible but not if I need 10 or more gallons.
The other option if it’s not too small is change the middle overflow section into one, but that’s even smaller. Want chaeto and pods if possible but not if I need 10 or more gallons.
OP
OP
Miami Reef
10K Club Member
Thank you!
How do I know if I have copepods in my tank? I can’t see them swimming in the main display, but when I clean out the filter sock, I see some big ones.
How do I know if I have copepods in my tank? I can’t see them swimming in the main display, but when I clean out the filter sock, I see some big ones.
bluprntguy
Well-Known Member
You can usually see copepods by shining a flashlight into the corners of the tank at night. You’ll find most of them at the bottom corners.
What you are finding in your filter sock may be amphipods. It’s possible that you might be able to see some types of copepods, most of them wouldn’t be large enough to see in your filter sock.
OP
OP
Miami Reef
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I’m going to add the shower scrunchy tonight.
but I have a concern. I just checked my sump, and I had a sponge foam block there. It was there for a while. At least 2-3 months. I just took the block and dipped it in my display and I don’t know what it was, but it looked like white particles. And there were a lot in many different sizes ranging from pieces, to tiny dots. It kinda clouded up the water a bit. I looked closely and it didn’t resemble any animal, at least the big pieces didn’t. It looked like pieces from the sponge. But I will admit that some of the fish were going nuts and trying to eat it, but maybe I’m being delusional.
I don’t know. I have a gut feeling that I don’t have copepods in my tank. What should I do? Will dosing phytoplankton help? Because I have a bottle but I haven’t been using it.
but I have a concern. I just checked my sump, and I had a sponge foam block there. It was there for a while. At least 2-3 months. I just took the block and dipped it in my display and I don’t know what it was, but it looked like white particles. And there were a lot in many different sizes ranging from pieces, to tiny dots. It kinda clouded up the water a bit. I looked closely and it didn’t resemble any animal, at least the big pieces didn’t. It looked like pieces from the sponge. But I will admit that some of the fish were going nuts and trying to eat it, but maybe I’m being delusional.
I don’t know. I have a gut feeling that I don’t have copepods in my tank. What should I do? Will dosing phytoplankton help? Because I have a bottle but I haven’t been using it.
