neuroslicer
Old School Reefer
My previous tank had an abundance of microfauna, and these included micro-stars, bristle worms, spaghetti (aka mama mia) worms, and amphipods. The stars and worms helped with nutrient recycling in the substrate, and the amphipods were great detritivores and herbivores, helping to keep both substrate and live rock clean. The amphipods were also great food for the fish, when the fish could catch them.
You get a lot of these critters introduced on live rock, but I pretty much sterlized my rock in order to get rid of major nuisance anemone problems and algal overgrowth last year. Since re-starting my tank that's one thing I have lacking, a diverse infauna of benthic critters. I do have quite a large number of small tube worms, plus the hermits and snails I use for clean up, but I'd like to get my refugium stocked with amphipods again. They are protected in the chaetomorpha, and from there they eat and breed, and get released into the tank. Some people report them eating zoas, but I've never have such a problem. Perhaps they graze on dying zoas, I don't know.
Florida Aqua Farms has amphipods for sale, you don't really need many to start seeding your tank. We were planning on stopping there during a dive trip to Florida, but the way the oil slick is moving, I'm not so sure this trip is going to happen. The price for amphipods is 20 for $5 plus shipping. I am going to order 40 of them. (alternatively, if anyone has an abundance of these rapidly breeding critters in your refugium, I'd be happy to buy some!)
The also sell live freshwater copepods... those will live more than a month in the bottle... they won't live in your tank long because they are freshwater, but your fish and coral will love them. You get 300 to 500 for $5. Also available are live rotifers and Daphnia (two other great live foods).
Anyone interested in doing a group order to save on shipping?
Jay
You get a lot of these critters introduced on live rock, but I pretty much sterlized my rock in order to get rid of major nuisance anemone problems and algal overgrowth last year. Since re-starting my tank that's one thing I have lacking, a diverse infauna of benthic critters. I do have quite a large number of small tube worms, plus the hermits and snails I use for clean up, but I'd like to get my refugium stocked with amphipods again. They are protected in the chaetomorpha, and from there they eat and breed, and get released into the tank. Some people report them eating zoas, but I've never have such a problem. Perhaps they graze on dying zoas, I don't know.
Florida Aqua Farms has amphipods for sale, you don't really need many to start seeding your tank. We were planning on stopping there during a dive trip to Florida, but the way the oil slick is moving, I'm not so sure this trip is going to happen. The price for amphipods is 20 for $5 plus shipping. I am going to order 40 of them. (alternatively, if anyone has an abundance of these rapidly breeding critters in your refugium, I'd be happy to buy some!)
The also sell live freshwater copepods... those will live more than a month in the bottle... they won't live in your tank long because they are freshwater, but your fish and coral will love them. You get 300 to 500 for $5. Also available are live rotifers and Daphnia (two other great live foods).
Anyone interested in doing a group order to save on shipping?
Jay
