refugium critters

If I mainly want some small docile fish, mushroom corals, feather dusters and xenia, and I want to grow some pods in my hob refugium with some cheatomorph, and I do not want the pods to get totally out of control, Then would it be good if i used Arctic Copepods (3000 microns) or "large red copepods" also known as tigger pods but scientifically known as Tigriopus californicus (250-1700 microns)?

I just got this brochure from my lfs and it is not too clear about these products it is selling- I love lots of information and even there website is lacking greatly...

If these pods get out of controll do you think it would be possible to stop them with a screen or something? Will the inhabitants of my tank benefit from these pods or am I just waisting my time?

any thoughts?

 

It depends on the fish, I love the six line wrasse they will eat the pods. Having a bunch in your tank isn't a bad thing. Just my opinion.

 

:thumbs_up

If you don't have a predator of them in your tank like a six line, mandarin, etc., their populations will ebb and flow with the amount of microalgaes. In other words, absent predation, you will never have an overpopulation for long. The weak and excess will die out quickly.

 

The brochure i have says that almost any fish or invertebrate will eat them. Will that fire fish on your picture eat them? What type of docile fairly hardy fish that looks cool will eat them? What type of microalgaes do they eat- do they eat planktin or are they a type of planktin (man i am so new to these things look at the type of stupid questions i am asking)? will mushroom corals, xenia, and feather dusters eat them?

Sorry I am asking so many questions, im just trying to get a good idea of what these things are about and how important they are to have in a tank like the one i am planning on building...

I know this is probobly a stupid question but it seems i heard that these things will reduce nitrates, is that true?

I guess i will try and google it to try and find out some more, any more info would be appreciated as well- Thanks

I guess what i am asking, what the heck do you guys use them for and do you think that they would benefit my tank? Do you just use them to feed a few type of fish?

 

My picture is a peacock mantis shrimp and they won't eat them. However, a firefish would likely eat them in small quantities.

First and foremost, it is stupid to NOT ask questions so don't worry about them seeming stupid. Secondly, dragonets like mandarins, scooter blennies, 6 line wrasses derive the MAJORITY of their food needs from copepods. For most fish however, they are nothing more than a portion of their diet and in the case of many herbivores, they make up none of their diet.

Copepods and amphipods are a type of plankton called zooplankton. All zooplankton are animals. They eat some phytoplankton and they eat other microalgaes that grow on the surfaces of your tank wall and LR. For instance, if you see one of your rocks start to turn a little green or start to see a green film grow on your glass, expect a quick increase in population of copepods. (Both phytoplankton and other microalgaes are plants as opposed to animals).

Most mushrooms feed primarily on photosynthesis, ingestion of bacterioplankton, and on DOM (Dissolved Organic Materials). Xenia feed primarily on photosynthesis and DOM. Many feather dusters feed on all of the above but will directly ingest phytoplankton too as long as the size of the phyto is correct.

Again, don't apologize. Ask away. Pods (copepods, amphipods, isopods, etc.) don't reduce overall nitrates.

They are a good food source for numerous types of fish and they eat microalgaes.