Copepods

Ckountz · 05/24/2012, 09:32 PM

Hello all!
So are Copepods good for a reef or not? Getting conflicting reports... Also, feeling on Cucumbers?

Thanks...

cloak · 05/24/2012, 09:56 PM

I don't have any experience with cucumbers, but pods are kind of overated IMO. They don't really do much as far as keeping a tank cleaned is concerned, there just there. Mandarins are really the only thing that brings them into the spotlight.

shiladitya1991 · 05/24/2012, 10:15 PM

+1 to cloak

Uncle Salty 05 · 05/25/2012, 08:08 AM

Copepods are a great source of natural nutritious food for all fish, not just mandarins.
I run dual refugiums full of copepods and amphipods and only feed my tank about 2 to 3 times a week and my fish are all fat and happy, including my mandarin.
Cucumbers are great substrate cleaners. They take in dirty sand and poop clean sand. Just don't get a colorful one. The one I have was collected here off the coast of Florida and is a beige color with white spots. I have read that these types will not nuke your tank should it die, like the more colorful types can do.
They are really cool to watch as well. Their mouths have tentacles and look like a Medusa sort of.

skidoctor · 05/25/2012, 09:26 AM

I recently blew off my rocks to deal with some cyano- low and behold my tank looked like it was snowing with so many pods. I didn't realize there were so many in the DT, let alone in the sump/ fuge. The snow has mainly settled, but there are some still present in the water column. I have a fairy wrasse, 2 percs, 4 cardinals, and 2 yellowtail damsels- none of them seem interested in the pods even for a snack. Will a mandarin deplete the population and eventually die? Is there another fish that might not pick at the pods so there's no longer little white things floating around? Or should I just leave it be- I have no problem with the "snow", knowing that they are live organisms and precipitation or detrius.

Uncle Salty 05 · 05/25/2012, 09:39 AM

As far as a mandarin depleting the pods it depends on supply and demand.
My mandarin is in my 180 DT and there are far more than it can ever eat, and lots of hiding places for the pods to reproduce.
In a small tank, yes the mandarin would consume them quickly and die if it could not be persuaded to take frozen foods. Some will, and some won't.

afamousjohnson · 05/25/2012, 09:47 AM

I have a tiger cucumber and he does his job. sometimes to well. He will move ALL the sand from one area to a pooped pile else where. which if you build your scape on top of the sand will cause rocks to shift sometimes for good sometimes bad. they can cause collapses. mine got moved to my sump with the DSB. But he splits as well..then i have two..then three. THEN ONE and a new coral from my LFS off trade in.

dookie67 · 05/25/2012, 12:01 PM

+1 for friends of the cucumbers. I have one in my tank and is very thorough with the cleaning, but very slow. I am getting over a Cyano problem, but the cucumber kept it's area real nice. Not to mention, it's a real neat addition aesthetically.

05/24/2012, 09:32 PM	#1
Ckountz Registered Member. Join Date: May 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 50	Copepods Hello all! So are Copepods good for a reef or not? Getting conflicting reports... Also, feeling on Cucumbers? Thanks...

05/25/2012, 08:08 AM	#4
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	Copepods are a great source of natural nutritious food for all fish, not just mandarins. I run dual refugiums full of copepods and amphipods and only feed my tank about 2 to 3 times a week and my fish are all fat and happy, including my mandarin. Cucumbers are great substrate cleaners. They take in dirty sand and poop clean sand. Just don't get a colorful one. The one I have was collected here off the coast of Florida and is a beige color with white spots. I have read that these types will not nuke your tank should it die, like the more colorful types can do. They are really cool to watch as well. Their mouths have tentacles and look like a Medusa sort of. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

05/25/2012, 09:39 AM	#6
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	As far as a mandarin depleting the pods it depends on supply and demand. My mandarin is in my 180 DT and there are far more than it can ever eat, and lots of hiding places for the pods to reproduce. In a small tank, yes the mandarin would consume them quickly and die if it could not be persuaded to take frozen foods. Some will, and some won't. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

05/25/2012, 09:47 AM	#7
afamousjohnson Just Keep Swimming Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: chico, ca Posts: 765	I have a tiger cucumber and he does his job. sometimes to well. He will move ALL the sand from one area to a pooped pile else where. which if you build your scape on top of the sand will cause rocks to shift sometimes for good sometimes bad. they can cause collapses. mine got moved to my sump with the DSB. But he splits as well..then i have two..then three. THEN ONE and a new coral from my LFS off trade in. __________________ The cure for everything is Saltwater Sweat, Tears, and the Sea Experience is something you get right after you need it.....than there was RC Current Tank Info: 90gallon bonsai 2B inspired SPS /- mixed reef DT, 40gallon sump, and all the cool gadgets i can get on it

05/24/2012, 09:56 PM	#2
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I don't have any experience with cucumbers, but pods are kind of overated IMO. They don't really do much as far as keeping a tank cleaned is concerned, there just there. Mandarins are really the only thing that brings them into the spotlight.

05/24/2012, 10:15 PM	#3
shiladitya1991 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: India Posts: 376	+1 to cloak

05/25/2012, 09:26 AM	#5
skidoctor Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Geneva, NY Posts: 542	I recently blew off my rocks to deal with some cyano- low and behold my tank looked like it was snowing with so many pods. I didn't realize there were so many in the DT, let alone in the sump/ fuge. The snow has mainly settled, but there are some still present in the water column. I have a fairy wrasse, 2 percs, 4 cardinals, and 2 yellowtail damsels- none of them seem interested in the pods even for a snack. Will a mandarin deplete the population and eventually die? Is there another fish that might not pick at the pods so there's no longer little white things floating around? Or should I just leave it be- I have no problem with the "snow", knowing that they are live organisms and precipitation or detrius.

05/25/2012, 12:01 PM	#8
dookie67 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Waldoboro, Maine Posts: 25	+1 for friends of the cucumbers. I have one in my tank and is very thorough with the cleaning, but very slow. I am getting over a Cyano problem, but the cucumber kept it's area real nice. Not to mention, it's a real neat addition aesthetically.