Question relating to copepods and phytoplankton

Louis1959 · 03/22/2015, 01:28 PM

Guys and gals, here are my questions.

1. Can I dump 500-1000 copepods into my 54 gallon bow tank without any negative effect?

2. Phytoplankton- I am being made to understand I can add this to the display tank, with no negative results. Actually claiming it should help lower Nitrates and phosphates, and help keep ph balanced. in addition better clarity in the water?

I have a Mandarin Dragonet that is eating some frozen mysis shrimp, but he is definitely not as beefy as he should be.

can I get some feedback on this?

Thank you everyone.

Clownfish Chris · 03/22/2015, 01:54 PM

1. Yes with no negative effect. I would put half in your sump or refugium if you have one though. They will populate there without predation and feed your dragnet through the return flow.

2. Phyto will help feed the pods but can raise the nutrient levels of the tank. Watch the Nitrates and reduce usage if you see a spike. If you are running a skimmer you will skim them out though.

Sk8r · 03/22/2015, 01:59 PM

To keep a mandy in a 55, you need a mature rock/cheato fuge where he can't take out that population of 1000 in one hour, 15 minutes. That's how many, how fast he needs pods. As a supplement for him, yes, it may save him. Phyto can go in. It is green, does have phosphate, but it will help the pods. My suggestion would be asap plumb in a fuge---at least 20 gallons, and get a LOT of cheato moss, and some live rock. Cheato often comes in with pods. You could do it as a second 20 gallon tank depending on the same sump, or as the central chamber of your sump. You MIGHT also try Formula One small size Sinking Pellet: I have known a mandy to take an interest in those. ( I hope you do not have any wrasses, as they also eat pods.) You can also do small rubble piles each under a plastic strawberry basket, (just overturn it) that can give the pods some place to breed. And take any filter sock off the system: if pods get out, you want them able to get back in---yes, they can survive a pump.

Louis1959 · 03/22/2015, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clownfish Chris

1. Yes with no negative effect. I would put half in your sump or refugium if you have one though. They will populate there without predation and feed your dragnet through the return flow.

2. Phyto will help feed the pods but can raise the nutrient levels of the tank. Watch the Nitrates and reduce usage if you see a spike. If you are running a skimmer you will skim them out though.

Chris, and I guess this could go for you to Sk8r. In my sump I have the following ;
1) 1st stage a protein skimmer,
2) 2nd Stage I have live Indo rock, Some small greenery, three red Mangrove plants.
3) 3rd stage - Filter pads, along with two bags of activated carbon, and one bag of ROXA phos.
4) stage 4 - return pump.

Here is my question. Can I eliminate the pads? I just don't understand if i do that, where is the mechanical filtration get done?

banthonyb71 · 03/22/2015, 07:19 PM

doesnt Ora have a Mandarin that eats prepaired food?

MJV0103 · 03/23/2015, 12:53 PM

If you have enough LF you don't necessary need mechanical filtration.

Louis1959 · 03/23/2015, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJV0103

If you have enough LF you don't necessary need mechanical filtration.

What is LF? Live frag rock?

03/22/2015, 01:28 PM	#1
Louis1959 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 82	Question relating to copepods and phytoplankton Guys and gals, here are my questions. 1. Can I dump 500-1000 copepods into my 54 gallon bow tank without any negative effect? 2. Phytoplankton- I am being made to understand I can add this to the display tank, with no negative results. Actually claiming it should help lower Nitrates and phosphates, and help keep ph balanced. in addition better clarity in the water? I have a Mandarin Dragonet that is eating some frozen mysis shrimp, but he is definitely not as beefy as he should be. can I get some feedback on this? Thank you everyone.

03/22/2015, 01:59 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	To keep a mandy in a 55, you need a mature rock/cheato fuge where he can't take out that population of 1000 in one hour, 15 minutes. That's how many, how fast he needs pods. As a supplement for him, yes, it may save him. Phyto can go in. It is green, does have phosphate, but it will help the pods. My suggestion would be asap plumb in a fuge---at least 20 gallons, and get a LOT of cheato moss, and some live rock. Cheato often comes in with pods. You could do it as a second 20 gallon tank depending on the same sump, or as the central chamber of your sump. You MIGHT also try Formula One small size Sinking Pellet: I have known a mandy to take an interest in those. ( I hope you do not have any wrasses, as they also eat pods.) You can also do small rubble piles each under a plastic strawberry basket, (just overturn it) that can give the pods some place to breed. And take any filter sock off the system: if pods get out, you want them able to get back in---yes, they can survive a pump. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/22/2015, 01:54 PM	#2
Clownfish Chris Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 179	1. Yes with no negative effect. I would put half in your sump or refugium if you have one though. They will populate there without predation and feed your dragnet through the return flow. 2. Phyto will help feed the pods but can raise the nutrient levels of the tank. Watch the Nitrates and reduce usage if you see a spike. If you are running a skimmer you will skim them out though.

03/22/2015, 07:19 PM	#5
banthonyb71 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 635	doesnt Ora have a Mandarin that eats prepaired food?

03/23/2015, 12:53 PM	#6
MJV0103 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 228	If you have enough LF you don't necessary need mechanical filtration.