copepods

[LOVEYOURPOOLGUY]

hello out there,
I was wondering how one would go about getting copepods into my tank, I have currently housed a mandarin for over five months and it seems fine. I am not sure if there are any of these "[acronym:489c614668="copepods, amphipods, etc"]pods[/acronym:489c614668]" in my tank now for I have never seen one. Also i am about to set up a sump and was wondering if i could use that as a refugium for the "[acronym:489c614668="copepods, amphipods, etc"]pods[/acronym:489c614668]". Also had a question about the sump, I read that the bio balls will do wonders for removal of nitrite, and ammonia, but the nitrate levels will soar. If that is the case, how do you combat the climbing nitrate leves?

thanks

[reefrunner69]

I am not sure if there are any of these "[acronym:7ed48e96cf="copepods, amphipods, etc"]pods[/acronym:7ed48e96cf]" in my tank now for I have never seen one.

Look at your rock and substrate at night after the lights are out.

Also i am about to set up a sump and was wondering if i could use that as a refugium for the "[acronym:7ed48e96cf="copepods, amphipods, etc"]pods[/acronym:7ed48e96cf]".

Absolutely

If that is the case, how do you combat the climbing nitrate leves?

Don't use the bioballs, use the [acronym:7ed48e96cf="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:7ed48e96cf] and [acronym:7ed48e96cf="Live sand"]LS[/acronym:7ed48e96cf] as your nitrification and denitrification media

[LOVEYOURPOOLGUY]

do you mean live rock and live sand in the tank or should I put [acronym:a65c754e03="Live rock"]lr[/acronym:a65c754e03] &[acronym:a65c754e03="Live sand"]ls[/acronym:a65c754e03] in the sump area of the filter? and do you mean dont use bio balls at all?

[reefrunner69]

I mean don't use any bioballs at all.

[LOVEYOURPOOLGUY]

okay but what about the [acronym:4afbf3ef46="Live sand"]ls[/acronym:4afbf3ef46] and [acronym:4afbf3ef46="Live rock"]lr[/acronym:4afbf3ef46] should i get more for the sump or just rely on whats in the tank? as of right now I have only a 2" [acronym:4afbf3ef46="Deep Sand Bed"]dsb[/acronym:4afbf3ef46], w/about 45lbsof [acronym:4afbf3ef46="Live rock"]lr[/acronym:4afbf3ef46].

[reefrunner69]

To rely on [acronym:18befb4d58="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:18befb4d58] for nitrification you need about 1-1.5 lbs/gallon. More in the sump can't hurt, I won't set up another tank without a refugium.

[pipermurphy]

About the [acronym:19f6e8f614="copepods, amphipods, etc"]pods[/acronym:19f6e8f614] in question. I was wondering if I had any also, but was told that a few hours after lights out, to get a flashlight and put it on the tank and watch for a little while and boy oh boy was my sand LIVE there were little tiny critters scurrying all over, needless to say I was happy

[BigNEMO]

Reefrunner,

I have an EcoSystem and their directions call for bioballs in the first compartment and the third compartment. Are you telling me these are bad?

Why do they sell them then?

[reefrunner69]

I am unsure what the eco system calls for, I have not used it, in a natural system they are not a good idea, if your system calls for it...I would use them.

[LOVEYOURPOOLGUY]

so reefrunner,
would it be feasible just to take, say a 20 [acronym:b344ad6bea="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:b344ad6bea] long tank, plumb a inlet and outlet, put some [acronym:b344ad6bea="Live sand"]ls[/acronym:b344ad6bea] and [acronym:b344ad6bea="Live rock"]lr[/acronym:b344ad6bea] in the bottom and have myself a sump/fuge?