breeding copepods sg level

[Takara]

You could just make some 'copepod condos' and leave them in your sump. Swap them out in the main tank when needed.

x2 with this, fuge it up! a breeding setup is going to require some work and if you have one problem it's going to drive you crazy trying to not loose the whole setup

it's also a good idea to loose any other fish that my eat them

 

[billsreef]

also curious about the bio balls. I dont understand if they are bottom feeders, what purpose do the balls serve?

The Harpacticoid copepods that are the most commonly reared don't need bottom to be in the position we think of, they just surface. Doesn't matter to them if that surface is the bottom of the tank, the side, the underside of a rock, or anything else. So the bioballs just supply them lots of surface.

 

["Umm fish?"]

Daily water changes? have you noticed better growth this way or is it because of the food your giving them. Just wondering as i will be trying to start breeding this weekend. Maybe i will change the water every other week. also curious about the bio balls. I dont understand if they are bottom feeders, what purpose do the balls serve? again, fairly new to all of this and just trying to get as much input as i can.

Honestly, it's just what I do. Their container is small, so a daily WC is no big deal and it's sitting next to my rot cultures so I'm already doing a daily WC there anyway. So, it only takes me a few extra seconds.

The bioballs are just a way to increase the amount of substrate in their container. They live on surfaces for the most part, so you're trying to give them as much surface as possible.

 

["Umm fish?"]

Sorry. Bill had already answered the second part. Thanks!

 

[ecomdesign]

Well, I've finally got a got batch of phyto going! I have been having a difficult time. I bought some phyto from my LFS and I didn't have any success. Turns out a had some old/bad phyto. The bad phyto smelled like fart!!! I got some from a fellow reefer and it smells much better. Now I'm of to the races... duh! I never knew what phyto was supposed to smell like. You dont get that type of info on the internet!

So I plan to start a copepod culture next week, but I'm still confused. Do I just add the phyto to an empty tank, add the pods and start culturing, or do I use some clean saltwater, add phyto until the water turns a little green, and then add pods and start culturing? Basically is the culture water 100% phyto???

 

[CLINTOS]

Well, I've finally got a got batch of phyto going! I have been having a difficult time. I bought some phyto from my LFS and I didn't have any success. Turns out a had some old/bad phyto. The bad phyto smelled like fart!!! I got some from a fellow reefer and it smells much better. Now I'm of to the races... duh! I never knew what phyto was supposed to smell like. You dont get that type of info on the internet!

So I plan to start a copepod culture next week, but I'm still confused. Do I just add the phyto to an empty tank, add the pods and start culturing, or do I use some clean saltwater, add phyto until the water turns a little green, and then add pods and start culturing? Basically is the culture water 100% phyto???

before when I cultured phyto I would use a orange crush pop 2L and after I cleaned it good then filled it with fresh cultured live phyto then left it in the fridge for a month it would still smell like orange crush pop that's quality phyto for you

I'm starting a batch of fresh phyto shortly then I'll move to a batch of harpacticoid but to give you a uneducated guess

but double check because I need to double check myself

I would say to leave it a really light green like a mountain dew pop held up to a bright light at all times if possible or as much as possible

 

[billsreef]

do I use some clean saltwater, add phyto until the water turns a little green, and then add pods and start culturing?

This would be the trick