How do you grow copepods in a refugium?
How do you grow copepods in a refugium?
You need to grow some specific strains of phytoplankton to keep them healthy and reproducing. Copepods reproduce sexually when conditions are right. With some species of copepods you can use a concentrated phytoplankton, something like RG Complete or RotiGrow from Reed Mariculture. It’s the best on the market.
Do you need to feed copepods in refugium?
But one can keep a pretty reliable availability of pods present at all times when using a refugium. The most wonderful thing about copepods is that (at least as adults) they survive by eating unwanted stuff like film algae and detritus. As such, they may be the most important members of your clean-up crew!
How do you populate copepods?
Algagen recommends that you add one 8oz bottle of copepods for every 2′ of tank. So a 4ft long tank should get two 8oz bottles to establish a healthy population. Having an isolated refugium really helps to maintain a stable population of pods because it offers a safe haven for these little guys to populate and grow.
How do I promote my copepods growth?
To grow copepods, place them alone in a 10-gallon saltwater aquarium. Keep the water salinity between 25-35 ppt. Before you add the copepods, add a few drops of phytoplankton to the water, which you can order online or purchase from a local fish store. You want the water to be light green.
How do you culture your own copepods?
Feed meaty foods that break down fairly quickly in the water column. A good mixture of marine pellet and marine flake fish foods ground up in a mortar and pestle will yield terrific results. You can also culture phytoplankton in a 2-liter plastic bottle to feed your copepods.
How often should you add copepods?
every 3 months
Enjoy your tank’s natural ecosystem! Adding more copepods to your tank every 3 months may help to bolster your zooplankton population as your tank matures.
Will copepods breed in my tank?
All pods mentioned above will easily breed in your tank given the condition is right with enough food. If you just want the regular types I mentioned earlier, there is no special requirement. They will populate and breed on their own.