Phyto-> copepod -> main tank

MTF7 · 04/19/2014, 01:02 PM

I am wanting to cultivate my own phytoplankton to feed to my copepods that will eventually make in my tank to provide an extra snack and feed my mandarin. As of right now I have 4 containers that I put food into excess frozen food ( thawed out that doesn't get fed to my main display. Ultimately I plan to have my own culture of phyto that will be fed to the copepods. The only reason I wish to change is because of the nutrient ( nitrate ammonia and other). There is very little to none biological filtration in the containers I am cultivating right now. I also have a bit of HA in my tank which is on a good path to being completely gone soon, but I would like to try to cut back on the nutrients put back into my tank when I take copepods out and put them into my tank, I have tried to filter the copepods out but I have no luck with it as all I filter are the copepods and other detritus with them. And I want to switch to phyto because It would be easier to feed to the copepods because I think they are going cannibalistic because of thousands of copepods and the amount of food available for them.

Will I cut back tremendously on the nutrients if I use phyto as a food source instead of frozen and dry foods? I have a biocube 29 so that is why I do not want excess nutrients from my culture to get into my tank due to the smaller water quantity.

Thanks!

P.s. I have had my mandarin for 3 months now and he is fat happy and lazy, also I plan to raise my clownfish fry so phytoplankton will eventually come into my cultivating to cultivate rotifers as well.

04/19/2014, 01:02 PM	#1
MTF7 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Illinois Posts: 285	Phyto-> copepod -> main tank I am wanting to cultivate my own phytoplankton to feed to my copepods that will eventually make in my tank to provide an extra snack and feed my mandarin. As of right now I have 4 containers that I put food into excess frozen food ( thawed out that doesn't get fed to my main display. Ultimately I plan to have my own culture of phyto that will be fed to the copepods. The only reason I wish to change is because of the nutrient ( nitrate ammonia and other). There is very little to none biological filtration in the containers I am cultivating right now. I also have a bit of HA in my tank which is on a good path to being completely gone soon, but I would like to try to cut back on the nutrients put back into my tank when I take copepods out and put them into my tank, I have tried to filter the copepods out but I have no luck with it as all I filter are the copepods and other detritus with them. And I want to switch to phyto because It would be easier to feed to the copepods because I think they are going cannibalistic because of thousands of copepods and the amount of food available for them. Will I cut back tremendously on the nutrients if I use phyto as a food source instead of frozen and dry foods? I have a biocube 29 so that is why I do not want excess nutrients from my culture to get into my tank due to the smaller water quantity. Thanks! P.s. I have had my mandarin for 3 months now and he is fat happy and lazy, also I plan to raise my clownfish fry so phytoplankton will eventually come into my cultivating to cultivate rotifers as well.