best source for copepods?

[aerius007]

I have a ton in my sump and overflow chamber but I dont see too many in the DT. I know stores sell them for $20 a bottle but to me that sounds steep. Is a better source for them or any way to raise and harvest? I just want to make sure my Mandarin stays nice and plump and with a wrasse or two he has more than enough competion. I've read about putting a strawberry basket around some rocks but in my DT thats really not an option besides I would like to know how many I am adding to the system to be sure mandarin has enough, at least until I see more thriving on their own.

 

[silverking]

you can just siphon them out from the sump and put them in the display. also if you add dt phyto your population will increase like crazy.

 

[laskopyre]

Pods spend a lot of time in the rocks. There might be more then you think in your DT. I see a lot at night, but not so many during the day. That's why my Clown Wrasse picks the rocks all day. I can't see them, but he can. He also munches the much bigger amphipods in my tank.

 

[aerius007]

I have thought about swapping a few rocks from the sump to the display every now and then. I would think that a rock in the sump would have a high population compared to one the DT that has been picked over. Any other ideas or sources for purchase?

 

[laskopyre]

There is a guy on ebay called fijisandman that sells them buy 3 bottles get 2 free. His store is West Mariculture, and it says that he's in Haskin Ohio. I think 14.95 a bottle.

 

[aznnutty]

you might be surprised how many there really are on your dt rocks. most come out at night like laskopyre said. my tank is over flowing with them at night and i have two mandarins in my tank with a 6line. if you want to grow some yourself. you can take some macro or rock from you sump into a small tank and make a setup for pod production. this way you don't have to keep on buying. ask anyone to grab you some cheato out of their tank and you'll get a ton of pods.

 

[DiscoReefRover]

I just grab a hunk of cheato when I am havesting it and shake the monkey snot out of it over my display and they pour out by the hundreds ...

 

[otisforme]

i have heard of trick where u take a small gatorade bottle and put some rubble in it and place in your sump for a few days and then in your display in order to feed your mandarin