should i have a filter in a 5 gallon copepod and amphipod breeding tank?

WillLevantovsky · 09/10/2009, 03:06 PM

hi, i am really running late but i really need this answer so i will make it short and sweet.

i have a 5 gallon copepod and amphipod grow out tank which is essentially a refugium that is disconnect from the DT.

can i use a an air driven (but not a sponge) filter for the tank to keep it nice and clear or will it become a death trap for the pods? will they be able to fight against the pull?

also, the pods are very hardy correct? meaning they can survive the ammonia spike in a cycling tank? i just got the live rock ( shipping was delayed) and couldn't keep the pods in the bottles anymore so i had to put them straight in.

what do you guys think?

thanks and sorry for not having to many deets...

seapug · 09/10/2009, 04:23 PM

all you really need is a powerhead for circulation to keep the water from going stagnant.

As far as the pods go, amphipods that arrive as hitch hikers are pretty tough, but it's my understanding that most of the bottled live copepods available in stores are not tropical and will have a limited lifespan at tropical temps. Rather than using bottled copepods, adding some live rock from a healthy established tank will usually introduce a good variety of tropical copepods, amphipods and mysid shrimp.

that's how I set up my refugium and there are at least 4 or 5 different micro-crustacean species that I've seen. Probably more that I haven't seen. i've had it running for 4 months now and its teeming with the little buggers.

Rybren · 09/10/2009, 05:57 PM

I'm trying to do the same thing with a seperate stand-alone 10G tank. I've got about 4lbs of cured LR (not from an established tank) and some chaeto from my tank (I hope that there are some pods on it) I've got an old PH and heater running.

Is there anything else I should be doing? Should I be thinking about adding some kind of food?

Sorry about the hijack

CLINTOS · 09/10/2009, 07:27 PM

I personaly find that if you keep phophates and nitrates a little high and let algae grow on the the side's then every few days scrape 1 side to use as food eventionaly copepods will grow in population over time to keep the tank fairly clean you can also use shredded up nori or some phyto along with crushed pellet food

keep track of what and how much you are feeding because later you can add more food or scale back depending on how clean or dense of a copepod population you want

lot's of rock/rock rubble/macro help's too the more surface area the better all I use to do is move the water around with some power heads and use a airpump to keep the water surface clear and non-stagnant

powerheads with sponges are best and around a 10%-20% weekly water is fine too

keep the tank predator free don't use hermit crabs/starfish I think or fish in the tank

09/10/2009, 03:06 PM	#1
WillLevantovsky Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Posts: 67	should i have a filter in a 5 gallon copepod and amphipod breeding tank? hi, i am really running late but i really need this answer so i will make it short and sweet. i have a 5 gallon copepod and amphipod grow out tank which is essentially a refugium that is disconnect from the DT. can i use a an air driven (but not a sponge) filter for the tank to keep it nice and clear or will it become a death trap for the pods? will they be able to fight against the pull? also, the pods are very hardy correct? meaning they can survive the ammonia spike in a cycling tank? i just got the live rock ( shipping was delayed) and couldn't keep the pods in the bottles anymore so i had to put them straight in. what do you guys think? thanks and sorry for not having to many deets... __________________ The Day That Government Accepts The Responsibility For The People; Is The Day That The People Lose Responsibility For Themselves.

09/10/2009, 04:23 PM	#2
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	all you really need is a powerhead for circulation to keep the water from going stagnant. As far as the pods go, amphipods that arrive as hitch hikers are pretty tough, but it's my understanding that most of the bottled live copepods available in stores are not tropical and will have a limited lifespan at tropical temps. Rather than using bottled copepods, adding some live rock from a healthy established tank will usually introduce a good variety of tropical copepods, amphipods and mysid shrimp. that's how I set up my refugium and there are at least 4 or 5 different micro-crustacean species that I've seen. Probably more that I haven't seen. i've had it running for 4 months now and its teeming with the little buggers. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

09/10/2009, 07:27 PM	#4
CLINTOS Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: windsor,ontario Canada Posts: 859	I personaly find that if you keep phophates and nitrates a little high and let algae grow on the the side's then every few days scrape 1 side to use as food eventionaly copepods will grow in population over time to keep the tank fairly clean you can also use shredded up nori or some phyto along with crushed pellet food keep track of what and how much you are feeding because later you can add more food or scale back depending on how clean or dense of a copepod population you want lot's of rock/rock rubble/macro help's too the more surface area the better all I use to do is move the water around with some power heads and use a airpump to keep the water surface clear and non-stagnant powerheads with sponges are best and around a 10%-20% weekly water is fine too keep the tank predator free don't use hermit crabs/starfish I think or fish in the tank Last edited by CLINTOS; 09/10/2009 at 07:33 PM.

09/10/2009, 05:57 PM	#3
Rybren Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,642	I'm trying to do the same thing with a seperate stand-alone 10G tank. I've got about 4lbs of cured LR (not from an established tank) and some chaeto from my tank (I hope that there are some pods on it) I've got an old PH and heater running. Is there anything else I should be doing? Should I be thinking about adding some kind of food? Sorry about the hijack