Amphipod Question

[FSOL]

I keep seeing huge amphipods on the sides of my overflows, kinda pressed against the glass wall and the sponge inside. Some are as big as 1/4".

The thing is, I ony see them there. Never seen one in my tank. Are my fish devouring it before I can see them or what?

I have lots of copepods, but would like to increase amphipod population. Any way I can do this?

 

[bertoni]

The fish might be chasing them into hiding. To increase the population, you'd need to add food. I use DT's phytoplankton. You'll need to watch for signs of overfeeding, though.

 

[sebwin]

As in raised nitrates? Or are there specific signs you can look out for if overfeeding with phyto?

 

[waterfaller1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6822967#post6822967 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sebwin
are there specific signs you can look out for if overfeeding with phyto?

Green glass.

 

[davocean]

Have you looked at night, maybe a couple hours after lights are off?
You'll probably see them then.

 

[FSOL]

I look late at night but all I see is very tiny copepods. I never find any amphipods in the tank.

I use phyto mixed w/ frozen cyclopeze to feed some of my corals, so as far as feeding goes, yeah I do put stuff in the tank and there should be food available.

 

[bertoni]

Green glass is a sign of overfeeding or not enough snails.

Higher nitrate or phosphate levels or more cyanobacteria are also issues that might arise.

 

[FSOL]

Doesn't everyone get patches of algae on their glass. I think it would be a lie if people said they don't clean their glass once every few days.

 

[davocean]

Every few days is a bit much.
Should be less, like once a week or even two weeks
Check nitrate and phos

 

[msman825]

i had a nitrate problem a while back, I had to clean my glass everyday. My test kit was no good. my rock and corals started turning brown also, 150 gallons, and a week later got back on track

 

[FSOL]

definitely no nitrates, but I have 0.1ppm Phosphates.

I clean quarter size patches of algae on the glass every day or every other day, maybe 5-6 patches the size of a quarter. It's not the whole glass, definitely not .

 

[bertoni]

0.1 ppm is pretty high if you're trying to keep stony corals. I would work on reducing that, if I was keeping or wanted to keep stony corals in that tank.