Copepods

[NicoC16]

I just bought some copepods from my lfs and I was wondering how should I go about culturing/growing them. I have a refugium with live sand, live rock, and some purple caulerpa Macroalgae. What else do I need to establish a thriving population?

 

[nelix10]

I have been culturing them separate from my tank! Just using a small tube with salt water and a bubbler!

 

[NicoC16]

Can you put them in your refugium though?

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[nelix10]

You can! Be sure to put them in at night so your fish don't eat them all right away

 

[Gregcoyote]

You can raise them fairly easily, you can just let nature take her course, or start a phyto culture and feed them. Brineshrimpdirect.com has a great tutorial.

 

[NicoC16]

Do I have to feed them in a refugium? Or will the macroalgae suffice as their diet?

 

[Gregcoyote]

They will multiply in the refugium. But to culture them on a bigger scale, they need to be fed phytoplankton. You can buy this bottled or produce your own "green water."

 

[NicoC16]

Sounds good. Do I need to feed them though in the refugium or just let them be.

 

[Gregcoyote]

I would let them be. Feeding phyto should be in a setup for breeding copepods. Usually a dark colored 5 gallon bucket.

 

[NicoC16]

Ok thanks.