Copepod Questions

IluvGod'sreefs · 11/06/2009, 10:16 AM

I have copepods in my reef, but, I would like to boost their population. What are the best places to buy live CP's? Also, is there anything special that I need to do when I do this?

C'mon folks, let me hear ya!

jason2459 · 11/06/2009, 10:21 AM

If you currently have copepods in your reef then you could add some algae that they could feed on so they reproduce more. Ulva is supposed to be good for that. Paul B. recommended that I bury a few pellets of food into the substrate every so often to give the pods more to munch on as well.

Otherwise there are several places online that sell pods. I believe I've seen reefs2go recommended quite a bit and I see reefcleaners has them in as well.

Flavordsm · 11/06/2009, 10:22 AM

Look into phytoplankton and feeding with that. It will also help boost your copepod population

IluvGod'sreefs · 11/06/2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flavordsm

Look into phytoplankton and feeding with that. It will also help boost your copepod population

Does it have to be live Phytoplankton like DT's? I'm currently using Chromaplex by Kent Marine, is that ok?

downhillbiker · 11/06/2009, 10:40 AM

Have you looked at your pod population at night? They really come out a couple hours after the lights go out. Take a flashlight and look tonight.

Flavordsm · 11/06/2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IluvGod'sreefs

Does it have to be live Phytoplankton like DT's? I'm currently using Chromaplex by Kent Marine, is that ok?

To be honest I'm not sure on the Chromaplex so I couldn't tell you. However, I know DT's will work. I'm a big fan of growing your own as well

Guygettnby · 11/06/2009, 12:33 PM

you could always make a pod cave. basicly take some rubble rock and make a little home for them so to speak to were you can put food in the middle of the rocks were nothing but the pods can get to it. i was recomened to do this years ago when i got my first mandarin. it defilently worked for me and helped me ave my mandarin from starvation. my mandarin never wanted to wonder too far from the pod cave.

BeanMachine · 11/06/2009, 01:33 PM

reefnutrition has good stuff, pods, etc.

bobparker · 11/06/2009, 01:48 PM

I just went and visited the reef2go site and was kind a thrown off base a little. I always thought the critters living in my macro were pods. After looking at the pictures they have posted, this was incorrect. I recently took out the macro and upgraded my skimmer and sump < yet to put together another refugium > could what was in my sump have been a different type of pod? I've never seen a rotifer either so I'm guessing they may have been the resident's as well.

jason2459 · 11/06/2009, 01:51 PM

bobparker: There are a TON of different types of pods. Pod is a very generic name. Major categories that I know of are copepode, isopod, amphipod. Each one of those have many different branching relatives. Here's a decent site to show some of the more common types of "pods."

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchpods.html

Guygettnby: I love that cave idea.

bobparker · 11/06/2009, 01:59 PM

Thanks

Nerdy Nudi · 11/06/2009, 03:01 PM

heres some online ordering info I was able to gather from my own copepod thread:

Reed-store.com (reef nutrition)
- for Tigriopus Californicus.
- available at some LFS

Reefs2go.com
- for Amphipods and Copepods (unspecific) mixtures.

Precisionaquatech.com
- for Amphipods
- for mixtures of Tigriopus Californicus with Harpacticoid Copepoda.

Livecopepods.com (larger selection than essentiallivefeeds.com for Ocean Pods products).
- for Ocean Pods (mixture of three - some smaller than Tiggers)
- for Reef Pods (Harpacticoid Copepoda, Tisbe)
- for Copepods (Tigriopus Californicus)
- good deals on purchase of multiples with free shippping.
- available at some LFS

Aquaculturestore.com
- for tons of live feeds, from brine shrimp to caught copepods
- lots more stuff in here and available in massive bulk
- most saltwater feed pricing has priority shipping included

IluvGod'sreefs · 11/07/2009, 08:55 AM

Hey thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the good info! :-)

maynardjames · 11/07/2009, 11:01 AM

since we are on pod subject. i had lots of pods in past & now never see any. what could have made them all disappear. i have 2 sand sifting stars i got when first starting out & didn`t know any better. could they be the reason for it? no fish in tank that would wipe out the whole population. anyone have any ideas?

Daniel Reef · 11/07/2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guygettnby

you could always make a pod cave. basicly take some rubble rock and make a little home for them so to speak to were you can put food in the middle of the rocks were nothing but the pods can get to it. i was recomened to do this years ago when i got my first mandarin. it defilently worked for me and helped me ave my mandarin from starvation. my mandarin never wanted to wonder too far from the pod cave.

Can you post a picture of the pod cave? Thanks

Daniel Reef · 11/15/2009, 11:14 AM

Guygettnby, still would like to see a picture of the pod cave. Thanks.

Guygettnby · 11/15/2009, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Reef

Guygettnby, still would like to see a picture of the pod cave. Thanks.

sorry, i totaly forgot about this thread. i will take a picture of it for ya. it is very simple too make and to be honest it looks just like a pile of live rock. maybe i can make another with some pictures of exactly how i made it.

CLINTOS · 11/15/2009, 12:32 PM

Another option that I'm experimenting with now inwhich has increased pod population so far is to use a phosban reactor without the sponges loaded with small biomax ceramic cylinder's I think fluval makes them and just use it as a extra pod pile with slow flow work's like a charm so far also look into a quality type of phytoplankton aswell it has alway's helped me out

11/06/2009, 10:16 AM	#1
IluvGod'sreefs Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Texas Panhandle Posts: 148	Copepod Questions I have copepods in my reef, but, I would like to boost their population. What are the best places to buy live CP's? Also, is there anything special that I need to do when I do this? C'mon folks, let me hear ya! __________________ "Instead of telling God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big your God is." _________________________________________ Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef

11/06/2009, 10:21 AM	#2
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	If you currently have copepods in your reef then you could add some algae that they could feed on so they reproduce more. Ulva is supposed to be good for that. Paul B. recommended that I bury a few pellets of food into the substrate every so often to give the pods more to munch on as well. Otherwise there are several places online that sell pods. I believe I've seen reefs2go recommended quite a bit and I see reefcleaners has them in as well. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

11/06/2009, 10:40 AM	#5
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	Have you looked at your pod population at night? They really come out a couple hours after the lights go out. Take a flashlight and look tonight. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

11/06/2009, 01:51 PM	#10
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	bobparker: There are a TON of different types of pods. Pod is a very generic name. Major categories that I know of are copepode, isopod, amphipod. Each one of those have many different branching relatives. Here's a decent site to show some of the more common types of "pods." http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchpods.html Guygettnby: I love that cave idea. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

11/07/2009, 08:55 AM	#13
IluvGod'sreefs Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Texas Panhandle Posts: 148	Hey thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the good info! :-) __________________ "Instead of telling God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big your God is." _________________________________________ Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef

11/06/2009, 10:22 AM	#3
Flavordsm Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 230	Look into phytoplankton and feeding with that. It will also help boost your copepod population

11/06/2009, 12:33 PM	#7
Guygettnby Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: FL Posts: 3,050	you could always make a pod cave. basicly take some rubble rock and make a little home for them so to speak to were you can put food in the middle of the rocks were nothing but the pods can get to it. i was recomened to do this years ago when i got my first mandarin. it defilently worked for me and helped me ave my mandarin from starvation. my mandarin never wanted to wonder too far from the pod cave.

11/06/2009, 01:33 PM	#8
BeanMachine Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 11,200	reefnutrition has good stuff, pods, etc.

11/06/2009, 01:48 PM	#9
bobparker Independent thinker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: fletcher, n.c. Posts: 273	I just went and visited the reef2go site and was kind a thrown off base a little. I always thought the critters living in my macro were pods. After looking at the pictures they have posted, this was incorrect. I recently took out the macro and upgraded my skimmer and sump < yet to put together another refugium > could what was in my sump have been a different type of pod? I've never seen a rotifer either so I'm guessing they may have been the resident's as well.

11/06/2009, 01:59 PM	#11
bobparker Independent thinker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: fletcher, n.c. Posts: 273	Thanks

11/06/2009, 03:01 PM	#12
Nerdy Nudi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 473	heres some online ordering info I was able to gather from my own copepod thread: Reed-store.com (reef nutrition) - for Tigriopus Californicus. - available at some LFS Reefs2go.com - for Amphipods and Copepods (unspecific) mixtures. Precisionaquatech.com - for Amphipods - for mixtures of Tigriopus Californicus with Harpacticoid Copepoda. Livecopepods.com (larger selection than essentiallivefeeds.com for Ocean Pods products). - for Ocean Pods (mixture of three - some smaller than Tiggers) - for Reef Pods (Harpacticoid Copepoda, Tisbe) - for Copepods (Tigriopus Californicus) - good deals on purchase of multiples with free shippping. - available at some LFS Aquaculturestore.com - for tons of live feeds, from brine shrimp to caught copepods - lots more stuff in here and available in massive bulk - most saltwater feed pricing has priority shipping included

11/07/2009, 11:01 AM	#14
maynardjames Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: west tennessee Posts: 1,600	since we are on pod subject. i had lots of pods in past & now never see any. what could have made them all disappear. i have 2 sand sifting stars i got when first starting out & didn`t know any better. could they be the reason for it? no fish in tank that would wipe out the whole population. anyone have any ideas?

11/15/2009, 11:14 AM	#16
Daniel Reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 1,430	Guygettnby, still would like to see a picture of the pod cave. Thanks. __________________ Daniel Restarting my tank 90g 20g Life Reef sump 5ft Life Reef Skimmer See my album for pre-build tank pictures.

11/15/2009, 12:32 PM	#18
CLINTOS Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: windsor,ontario Canada Posts: 859	Another option that I'm experimenting with now inwhich has increased pod population so far is to use a phosban reactor without the sponges loaded with small biomax ceramic cylinder's I think fluval makes them and just use it as a extra pod pile with slow flow work's like a charm so far also look into a quality type of phytoplankton aswell it has alway's helped me out