Copepods

[MesmatePipe]

If I establish a populations of these prior to getting fish etc. Will I need to buy more?

 

[snorvich]

Depends. If you have copepod eaters, then the copepod breeding rate would need to exceed the copepod eaters eating rate. If you are thinking mandarins, the general "rule of thumb" is a mature (9 months) 75 gallon tank for one mandarin assuming no copepod competitors.

 

[Calappidae]

Depends. If you have copepod eaters, then the copepod breeding rate would need to exceed the copepod eaters eating rate. If you are thinking mandarins, the general "rule of thumb" is a mature (9 months) 75 gallon tank for one mandarin assuming no copepod competitors.

^

Once you establish the population it should keep up with itself.

Adding copepods will NOT speed up the process but it definitly wouldn't hurt.

 

[Mr. Limpid]

You also need to provide a safe place for them to live a reproduce. Like a fuge or pod cages in your DT.