Copepod Boom!

Ok...so about a week and a half ago I bought about 30 lbs of LR from a buddy of mine who runs the saltwater section at the LFS. It had copepods added to the tank the rock was in and was well established. Brought the rock home threw it in the tank and about 3 days later I noticed little copepods crawling on my glass and sand, where hard to see but they where definetly there. The same day I saw them I went and got some BIO-Spira Live Bacteria turned off my skimmer and threw the whole bottle in(Its for up to 30 gallons[3.3 OZ]). Over the next couple of days I noticed more and more pods.

Today when I woke up, lights where still of but LEDs where on and I could see from the other room a white tint to my black sand. Got closer and they where even more pods! There are literally thousands of them everywhere you look! Keep in mind I have no fish that eat them and that I have never added any Copepods to my tank other than what was in the LR and no fuge!

The bacteria also helps your system establish itself quicker for the biological filtration.

Figured it might be a nice bit of info for those of you trying to get copepods into your system!

Cheers!

 

sounds like everything is on track!!!

But don't be tempted and start adding copepod-grazing fish!!! They will deplete that non-sustainable population very fast!!!

You would need a 6+month est. DSB or and established refugium before you can do so . . .

 

Copepods LOVE diatoms, and when you set up a new tank, even if it was established, you'll have a abundance of food for the little guys. This food will deplete itself eventually and you'll be left with a more "normal" population.

 

Not sure what their life expectancy is but those introduced with the LR in my tank didn't survive the ammonia,nitrite spikes while the tank aged. Could've been the fact that they didn't have much to eat either.

 

I should add. My tank is over 2 months old with a maroon clown, damsels, firefish gobys, yellow watchman, 60+ lbs LR, 40 lbs sand, couple corals, hermits, snails and a camel shrimp.
I wasnt even trying to get the copepods to grow in it. Was using the bacteria to establish the tank better and it turns out the copepods went crazy with it.

Was just sharing for those who are trying to seed their tank.

Thanks for the replys!

 

I think I'll try this method with my refugium as I cure the live rock in it.

Since this will be a new tank (for a month while the rock cures, before it's hooked to the DT) should I seed the pods right away or wait until ammonia is down? Also, food for the pods? I'll throw in some cheato after a week or two of curing when I put the lights on.

 

Maybe wait on adding them yet, they are hardy but I wouldn't run the risk of them being killed through the cycle. After your algae starts in they should be alright on food but they will eat just about anything. Put them in then add the bacteria I would say. Anyone else got an opinion?

 

I cycled my tank with liverock and shrimp and my pods survived the cycle just fine and even multiplied,that is up until i got my 6 line,now i'm lucky to even see one.But i still wouldn't add any in the midst of a cycle but rather at the end of it.