Amphipods and Copepods

[Red Sea reefer]

Hello folks ,

Do I have to introduce Amphipods and Copepods or they will be formed in the tank naturally and if so , what's the best way to make them formed quickly??

Thanks in advance

 

[mcgyvr]

They will not naturally grow in a tank if you just start with dry rock..

No tank needs amphipods/copepods though...

tell us why you need them? Mandarin or similar fish?

When/if you get corals they will come in on frag plug,live rock,etc... as long as you don't dip it and kill them all..

Or you can purchase some pods in a bag from algaebarn, ebay, locally, etc....

They will usually reproduce well if they aren't consumed once introduced into a tank..

A "refugium" (refuge) is typically created to give them a safe area to breed/increase their population..

 

[sde1500]

Spontaneous generation, definitely not a thing. Never hurts to add some though. Feel like most of my posts these day could just get by with quoting mcgyvr and going "yup" lol.

 

[mcgyvr]

Feel like most of my posts these day could just get by with quoting mcgyvr and going "yup" lol.

Thats billdogs job.. He always does the....

^^^What he said :lmao:

 

[homer1475]

They will not naturally grow in a tank if you just start with dry rock..

No tank needs amphipods/copepods though...

tell us why you need them? Mandarin or similar fish?

When/if you get corals they will come in on frag plug,live rock,etc... as long as you don't dip it and kill them all..

Or you can purchase some pods in a bag from algaebarn, ebay, locally, etc....

They will usually reproduce well if they aren't consumed once introduced into a tank..

A "refugium" (refuge) is typically created to give them a safe area to breed/increase their population..

Spontaneous generation, definitely not a thing. Never hurts to add some though. Feel like most of my posts these day could just get by with quoting mcgyvr and going "yup" lol.

Thats billdogs job.. He always does the....

^^^What he said :lmao:

"yup"......

 

[jayball]

A good way to seed your tank with pods (and brittle stars and other good creatures) is to find a local with a chaeto refugium that needs a trim.

 

[joesig]

A good way to seed your tank with pods (and brittle stars and other good creatures) is to find a local with a chaeto refugium that needs a trim.

+1

Also copepods are better than amphipods seems like my apmh much on my zoas.
And i know they only much on dying corals but thats not so i have seen them go to town on them especially the big amphs.


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[Liquid360]

The are a sign of a healthy tank, but you can't make a tank healthy by adding them. However, you must add them if you want them. IME they make a good canary in the coal mine.


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[d0ughb0y]

+1

Also copepods are better than amphipods seems like my apmh much on my zoas.
And i know they only much on dying corals but thats not so i have seen them go to town on them especially the big amphs.


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yes on amhipods. I have seen that.
That's why I don't want any kind of pods in my next tank.
when I lost my wrasse, the population exploded. I have since added a wrasse and I don't see any kind of pod or worm anymore.

 

[davocean]

Add chaeto and pods will come.

I've never had any issues w/ amphipods and in fact it was neat when my mandarins would get one as it's a bit of a wrestle for them, but they get them.

Usually pod populations will self control as food source depletes or predation occurs.

Many others benefit besides the obvious mandarin, my anthia pick at pods, helps w/ the multiple feedings they need.

 

[d0ughb0y]

That's exactly what I thought and is what everyone says, until one day they start munching on the corals. Its like a scene from a horror movie, they completely cover the coral and when I shine a flashlight, they all crawl back to their hole. I then googled amphipods eating corals and was surprised to see others experience the same. So yes, there is a caveat that you must have predator fish before thinking about getting pods. For me, I don't particularly care for them now. As someone mentioned, they are absolutely not needed in a tank.