Copepods - Aquarium Advice

bigfish75 · 10-25-2006, 04:48 PM

I have a 125 gal reef tank that is stable (established 6 months ago) I am just now adding a couple of fish and want to include a dragonet. I have very few copepods evident in the system. is there a way to increase the population or perhaps introduce more?

**roka64** · 10-25-2006, 04:50 PM

WELCOME TO AA!!!

Do you have a fuge? I have read it is best to have your tank up for about 1 year, in order for the pod population to be large enough. I believe you can buy pods, but not sure where. Hopefully someone will come along and help.

bigfish75 · 10-25-2006, 05:01 PM

I have a 30 gal sump with some live rock frags in it, but not a true fuge.

The sump is dark, but I have not looked in it for copepods, but I will tonight. Maybe some in there. If so, I might be able to collect some with baster and transplant.

**roka64** · 10-25-2006, 05:09 PM

It might be hard to catch them in there. I imagine they probably get exported up into your main.

**lando** · 10-25-2006, 07:27 PM

Welcome to AquariumAdvice.com!!!

I commend you for researching an animal's requirements prior to adding it. How much LR do you currently have? This will make a difference in pod production. There are various online vendors ( www.reefermaddness.us ) that sell live pods by the bottle. It may be a good idea to add some pods to your tank for a few months and let the population build up. Also, be careful that the dragonet does not have to compete for the limited natural food source with another animal. What are your livestock plans for the tank?

**melosu58** · 10-25-2006, 09:42 PM

How much LR do you have in your main tank?

bigfish75 · 10-27-2006, 05:01 PM

I have about 75 lbs of LR. Last night I did a very close examination of sump and tank, lo and behold, I have way more copepods than I realized. The sump is well stocked with copepods and I did not know that they circulate from sump to tank via that system, but it makes sense. I think I am good to go on the pods.

The tank now has 4 green chromis, 1 Sally Lightfoot, a cleaner shrimp, about a dozen snails and about 18 hermits. In addition to the mandarin I plan to add 1 Maroon Clown, a lawnmower bleeney (I have a fair amount of green hair algae) and maybe an arrow crab. I would like to try some live coral also.

Eventually I would like to add 1 angel or a tang, but I'm not sure which one. No plans for anything after that.

Thanks to all who responded. It is great to be able to draw on other's experiences.

**roka64** · 10-27-2006, 05:12 PM

Watch that arrow crab, they can kill and eat small fish and inverts.

Sadielynn · 10-27-2006, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfish75

In addition to the mandarin I plan to add 1 Maroon Clown, a lawnmower bleeney (I have a fair amount of green hair algae) and maybe an arrow crab. I would like to try some live coral also.

Eventually I would like to add 1 angel or a tang, but I'm not sure which one. No plans for anything after that.

As stated arrow crabs can/will snag sleeping and small fish. As for the angel watch if you want corals as they can be coral nippers ...

EJS4 · 10-28-2006, 08:00 PM

I would go with the blenny, you know you got plenty of food for it. Then the mandarin, hate to see a good fish starve. Have you considered a 6 line wrasse? lots of personallity and always on the go. Then the clown.

10-25-2006, 04:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
bigfish75 Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4	Copepods I have a 125 gal reef tank that is stable (established 6 months ago) I am just now adding a couple of fish and want to include a dragonet. I have very few copepods evident in the system. is there a way to increase the population or perhaps introduce more?

10-25-2006, 04:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,380 Images: 12	WELCOME TO AA!!! Do you have a fuge? I have read it is best to have your tank up for about 1 year, in order for the pod population to be large enough. I believe you can buy pods, but not sure where. Hopefully someone will come along and help. __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

10-25-2006, 05:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,380 Images: 12	It might be hard to catch them in there. I imagine they probably get exported up into your main. __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

10-25-2006, 07:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
lando Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Savage, MN Posts: 7,613 Images: 46	Welcome to AquariumAdvice.com!!! I commend you for researching an animal's requirements prior to adding it. How much LR do you currently have? This will make a difference in pod production. There are various online vendors ( www.reefermaddness.us ) that sell live pods by the bottle. It may be a good idea to add some pods to your tank for a few months and let the population build up. Also, be careful that the dragonet does not have to compete for the limited natural food source with another animal. What are your livestock plans for the tank? __________________ Some people are like slinkies...they serve no real purpose yet can still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs! Have a great day! Brian

10-25-2006, 09:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 11,260 Images: 73	How much LR do you have in your main tank? __________________ View My Tanks Click here to Visit FantasyReef

10-25-2006, 05:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
bigfish75 Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4	I have a 30 gal sump with some live rock frags in it, but not a true fuge. The sump is dark, but I have not looked in it for copepods, but I will tonight. Maybe some in there. If so, I might be able to collect some with baster and transplant.

10-27-2006, 05:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
bigfish75 Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4	I have about 75 lbs of LR. Last night I did a very close examination of sump and tank, lo and behold, I have way more copepods than I realized. The sump is well stocked with copepods and I did not know that they circulate from sump to tank via that system, but it makes sense. I think I am good to go on the pods. The tank now has 4 green chromis, 1 Sally Lightfoot, a cleaner shrimp, about a dozen snails and about 18 hermits. In addition to the mandarin I plan to add 1 Maroon Clown, a lawnmower bleeney (I have a fair amount of green hair algae) and maybe an arrow crab. I would like to try some live coral also. Eventually I would like to add 1 angel or a tang, but I'm not sure which one. No plans for anything after that. Thanks to all who responded. It is great to be able to draw on other's experiences.

10-27-2006, 05:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,380 Images: 12	Watch that arrow crab, they can kill and eat small fish and inverts. __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

10-28-2006, 08:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
EJS4 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: East Windsor, NJ Posts: 254 Images: 8	I would go with the blenny, you know you got plenty of food for it. Then the mandarin, hate to see a good fish starve. Have you considered a 6 line wrasse? lots of personallity and always on the go. Then the clown.

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