Phytoplankton & Copepod Questions

[BeaverLakeAndy]

A couple weeks ago I introduced four jars of AlgaeBarn 5280 Pods to my 125 gallon, and have been dosing 25ml of OceanMagik phytoplankton daily since. I honeslty don't even know if there are any copepods in the tank at this point. I keep looking and looking, and I just can't find a single one. I kept the filter sock out for 48 hours after introducing them as well. Any thoughts on this? Is there benefit to continue dosing OceanMagik? Any suggestion on buying copepods somewhere else? Are there copepods in there and I just can't see them?

 

[AcroNem]

There are likely copepods in there. One thing I would do is feed phytoplankton when lights are out, and check at night for pods. Use a flashlight at an angle to your glass to look for them, especially near the sand bed I'll bet they're there.

 

[William Mumford]

I culture them and also add them regularly to my tank they get eaten by everything fish corals pumps. Replenishing the population helps to keep the numbers up and add new reproduction mates. The phytoplankton will work if there is enough for them to eat it but I think the phytoplankton has more benefits besides the copepods food. Some copepods are very small when they are delivered and are to small to notice when the water is moving. Adding a larger species can help with seeing if your population is growing.

 

[BeaverLakeAndy]

I culture them and also add them regularly to my tank they get eaten by everything fish corals pumps. Replenishing the population helps to keep the numbers up and add new reproduction mates. The phytoplankton will work if there is enough for them to eat it but I think the phytoplankton has more benefits besides the copepods food.

That's what I was wondering about phytoplanktin. I've been doing some reading, and it sounds like it'll take away nutrients that other nuisance algae feed on.

 

[BeaverLakeAndy]

There are likely copepods in there. One thing I would do is feed phytoplankton when lights are out, and check at night for pods. Use a flashlight at an angle to your glass to look for them, especially near the sand bed I'll bet they're there.

I've been dosing phytoplankton early in the morning right when the lights are starting to come on.

 

[William Mumford]

That's what I was wondering about phytoplanktin. I've been doing some reading, and it sounds like it'll take away nutrients that other nuisance algae feed on.

That's why I use it. I notice just better overall balance in my tank when I add it . I add it when I add copepods because they are in phytoplankton.

 

[William Mumford]

I've been dosing phytoplankton early in the morning right when the lights are starting to come on.

Copepods are mainly nocturnal. And like low flow they will stay inside rocks and eat all day instead of trying its luck out in the big scary world.

 

[AcroNem]

The nauplii are also in the water column at night, so best to feed during this time

 

[AcroNem]

Also your corals will thank you for having access to phytoplankton