Copepods

About two weeks ago I changed my wet/dry filter to a refugium. I really like it so far and the chaeto algae in the fuge seems to be reducing the phosphates nicely....it was the main reason why I made the change. Anyway, yesterday I added a container of copepods straight to the refugium. They were very very small and difficult to see in the container, but from what I understand there are thousands in there. How long should I expect it to take to build a nice pod population? I'd like to add a dragonet once it is established. Also, should I need to add another container of them or is one enough?

 

If I am not mistaken they take about two weeks to breed and hatch and grow to a size large enough to see, I may be off on that but I do not think so. You will have to heavily dose Phyto during this time to get them to breed and grow.

Keep watching you tank front at night when the light go off, you will see them. Then one night it will turn almost white, thats when you will know you have succeeded.

 

I just added chaeto to my DIY fuge yesterday. I looked at the glass of my tank with a 5x magnifier and saw tons of tiny white pods all over the place, I'm guessing copepods. I'd recommend doing the same, and you may be able to get an idea how the population is doing.

 

Also what else besides copepodes should I be adding or is this enough?

 

Bump- I'm in the same boat. I'd like to know timing. I put mine in about 2 weeks ago. Anything else to add?

 

Maybe you can try Rotifers. I have both in my tank.

 

dont put rotifers in it they will get eaten

 

i would wait about 4-6 months till the pod population stabilizes it will grow really large and will wax and wane for a while till it settles out. how old is your tank

 

They will. I got bad info fromm an lfs then.

Its not Droid, it's me fishies.

 

I had a chaeto in my drop in refugium for a month now, all my glass is covered with small white pods, recently we added mandarin and diamond, so population of pods dropped drastically. Yersterday I bought a 10g from petco for $10 to breed em there, also I'm setting up phytoplankton farm in my closet. So much work to keep mandarin happy