[ilovemash]

Just a quick question, my tank has been up and running for about a month and I have yet to see any kind of pods living on my glass or anywhere for that matter. I was wondering aside from little white specs what should I be looking for on or in my tank? I plan on putting a dragonet in my tank in another six months or so, will they show up by then? On Saltwaterfish.com - Saltwater Fish, Saltwater Fish Aquariums, Tropical Fish, and Saltwater Fish Tanks you can buy live copepods, is that a good idea to go ahead and put in my tank and let multiply?

[ilovemash]

My bad its been running two months

[reefnoob1991]

If your putting a dragonet then it seems like a great idea, but it'll probably be exhausted (copepod population) still despite having so many lol

[blind1993]

i might add copedpods to my 55g any advice and srry if i am hijacking ur thread.

[e_baer]

is there a trick to growing pods? i have a 55 with 80lbs of rock, andi never see any pods. i have, but dont any more.

[rlcline76]

It is good to see that you are planning to wait until your tank gets where it needs to be before putting in the dragonet. I have bought live copepods from Aquarium Fish: Tropical Freshwater Fish and Saltwater Fish for Home Aquariums and have also gotten then through Welcome to Reef Nutrition.
Refugiums are also good for pod reproduction.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

The best way to grow pods in a fuge.Just make sure the water from the fuge gets to the return pump before it gets to the skimmer.You might end up with a cup full of pods on the skimmer.

[ilovemash]

I was thinking if I were to add the copepods now, that in six months or so they will have multiplied significantly, what do you all think?

[swinginbeef]

if you have a refugium setup, depending on how big it is adding them now would give them alot of time to populate the fuge and tank by the time you get your dragonet. The size of the fuge will determine how long they stay in there repopulating and not being eaten.

[rlcline76]

Without a refugium, you will probably be adding them...and then adding them. Your livestock will love them, they are like snickers bars of the reef!

[ilovemash]

Ya Im not running a refugium, just a simple sump and I would not put them in that because theyd make it into my skimmer. So if I were to add them now they would all be eaten before they had time to multiply?

[rlcline76]

If you add them directly to your main tank, some might make it to the rocks and start multiplying, but expect many to be eaten or sucked into the skimmer...or maybe the UV sterilizer. Might want to turn some of that stuff off for a little while and wait until night time to add to the tank while some of your fish are at rest.

[ilovemash]

My skimmer is running my sump which is below my tank, I have a built in overflow box on my tank. I suppose I could turn my powerheads off when I add them to the tank so they dont get blown into the overflow, and they will head straight for the rocks.

[swinginbeef]

we're just saying that once your dragonet is in the tank and eating, the reproduction in that tank won't be able to keep up with the eating from the fish. Unless they have a safe place where they can reproduce (such as a refugium) they will get eaten faster than they can reproduce.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I put this somewhere lse today, thought it was here but oh well.try a pod pile.Break a live rock into small pieces and make a pile somewhere in the tank.Cover the pile with something like a small basket so the fish cant get to them and when it is over populated they will swim out just in time for dinner.It may be ugly but it works.

[ilovemash]

thats not a bad idea. Maybe I can briefly turn my QT tank into a copepod breeding ground.

[swinginbeef]

then what will you do when you need your QT??

[ilovemash]

Ill just flush the sick fish, just kidding. I guess I can create a new tank just for live food growth.

[e_baer]

what do pods eat, is there anything that will accelerate their growth?

[ilovemash]

I have absolutely no idea

[blind1993]

they eat detirus.

[ilovemash]

oh i got plenty of that

[NATIVEVAMAN]

All you always wanted to know about pods but were afraid to ask. Amphipod general biology

[jpmwjm]

You may want to consider adding a refugium to your system. You could use a ten gallon tank or a plastic tote. With this and a little extra plumbing and a simple light you can have a pod paradise if you have room to add one.

[e_baer]

yup, i already build my makeshift fuge


its is two 10g tanks glued together and with some plastic container my slat came in as the algae portion and i have my fluval 405 as the return pump, and i made my own overflow box, in total, everyting cost MAYBE 50, not even.