Too many copepods?

[Genicanthus-R-Us]

Is it possible to have too many of these guys? I noticed how many i had today when i fed and there are thousands of them, the ones on the glass even get to the point where it becomes distracting. The tank is only a few months old so this amount of pods is crazy to me. Even with my iPhone's camera you can see how many there are in this pic. Thought it could be particles from feeding but sure enough all of them move. Any thoughts?

 

[Alexreefer]

wish I had that many pods lol! You could get a predator for pods like a mandarin but he will eventually eat them all in such a small tank.

 

[Genicanthus-R-Us]

wish I had that many pods lol! You could get a predator for pods like a mandarin but he will eventually eat them all in such a small tank.

Yea I was thinking the same too, I had a six line in there that went carpet surfing during a water change and even then there was a huge population. Maybe something that could be trained to eat frozen like a leopard wrasse or a captive-bred mandarin or scooter? It’s a IM 50 lagoon for reference.

 

[Crabby48]

Never to many pods. But I have a lot of old eaters/snackers. Guess if you don’t it could be destructing to look at. They may thin out in a new tank I saw my population flourish and get scarce

 

[Mpek]

Perfect tank conditions for a mandarin or several small reef safe wrasses.

 

[Genicanthus-R-Us]

Never to many pods. But I have a lot of old eaters/snackers. Guess if you don’t it could be destructing to look at. They may thin out in a new tank I saw my population flourish and get scarce

I’m starting to think it’s because I’ve been using phytoplankton as I’ve always been curious to try it. I’ve had a lot of reefs over the years and I’ve never seen these many in my tanks ever!

 

[Crabby48]

I’m starting to think it’s because I’ve been using phytoplankton as I’ve always been curious to try it. I’ve had a lot of reefs over the years and I’ve never seen these many in my tanks ever!

That may help. I used phyto since the beginning so can’t comment on how much it helps.

 

[Peace River]

What a great problem to have!!! I was going to ask about food source when I read the initial post, but it seems like you already answered it later in the thread with the comment about phyto. Are the pods creating an issue? If not, then back off a little on the phyto and the population should stabilize at a lower level. Also a filter sock may also reduce the population. Any snacking fish in that tank should be very happy!

I am curious what filtration (filter sock, sump, skimmer, etc.) that you have on the system? Also, what type and how have you been adding the phyto (amount and way of adding)?

 

[Seanislav]

+1 on small wrasse or two. Mandarins can work, but if the food gets scarce, some won't transition to other foods and starve. Wrasses, in my experience, have been more adaptable.

 

[Genicanthus-R-Us]

What a great problem to have!!! I was going to ask about food source when I read the initial post, but it seems like you already answered it later in the thread with the comment about phyto. Are the pods creating an issue? If not, then back off a little on the phyto and the population should stabilize at a lower level. Also a filter sock may also reduce the population. Any snacking fish in that tank should be very happy!

I am curious what filtration (filter sock, sump, skimmer, etc.) that you have on the system? Also, what type and how have you been adding the phyto (amount and way of adding)?

It pretty much has the standard setup for the 50 pro model with a filter sock and a custom caddy. I did add some matrix for more biological filtration and I have some chaeto growing as well. No skimmer as of yet but I’d like to add one of innovative’s eventually. Seachem phytoplankton and aquavitro fuel are all that I add to the tank (2 capfuls every other day) with weekly 20% changes.

 

[jurgenph]

don't worry about it. over time they will find their balance, as your tank turns into it's own little ecosystem.


J.

 

[Osidedude]

Good problem to have...the phyto is their food source. Depending on what kind you started with will help determine the population. Your nems and corals are eating them so I would do nothing as they are a big benefit. Rotifers will double in population if well feed. Apex and Tiggers are much slower in populating. As others have said get a mandarin and keep feeding the phyto. They will use the chaeto to hide and populate and will be a pretty good source to replenish the main tank for a Mandarin.

 

[ReefRy]

I completely agreee with Peace River. The idea of a healthy, natural and sustainable food source is something Im actively striving for.

 

[SuncrestReef]

Simple solution:

 

[Genicanthus-R-Us]

Good problem to have...the phyto is their food source. Depending on what kind you started with will help determine the population. Your nems and corals are eating them so I would do nothing as they are a big benefit. Rotifers will double in population if well feed. Apex and Tiggers are much slower in populating. As others have said get a mandarin and keep feeding the phyto. They will use the chaeto to hide and populate and will be a pretty good source to replenish the main tank for a Mandarin.

Thank you for the advice! I do think they are rotifers as they don’t really look like tigger pods I typically see and they are always in the water column.

 

[Genicanthus-R-Us]

Simple solution:

Haha looks like what I’m going to do, might swing by the LFS this week and see if they have any good copepod predators. I’m tired of it looking like I always have air bubbles in my tank!

 

[Osidedude]

I just added a million or so rotifers to my 550 gal system to get it seeded. Try the Phyto feast from Reef Nutrition.

 

[HawaiianReef]

They can eat corals. Some members here have discovered this. One guy had them eating on zoas. I had them take out an oyster. Cleaned the 3" guy out in 24 hours.
Dont get panicked. From what I understand only a certain species of the amphipods become omnivores.
Like mentioned a wrasse will tackle them, but looking at your tank, and just a few months old, it looks like you've been reefing for while.
Nice scape!

 

[Nanoreefer4ever]

Pods are the foundation of marine life. Without pods the world come to an end

 

[Genicanthus-R-Us]

They can eat corals. Some members here have discovered this. One guy had them eating on zoas. I had them take out an oyster. Cleaned the 3" guy out in 24 hours.
Dont get panicked. From what I understand only a certain species of the amphipods become omnivores.
Like mentioned a wrasse will tackle them, but looking at your tank, and just a few months old, it looks like you've been reefing for while.
Nice scape!

I don’t think they are damaging my corals as I’m getting pretty good growth from everyone. This tank is an upgrade from a 20 gallon dropoff I started in mid July. Pretty much transferred all of my old rock into the tank with a few more pieces of seeded rock from my LFS. I believe I set this tank up on 2nd of this month so the actual tank is less than 3 weeks old but I’ve had most of the livestock since late summer.