Copepods....

[silly34]

Ok, I've read where people can see these things and I am starting to worry as I don't. How do you get these things to thrive? I have a mandarin and I am worried now that he isn't finding any.

Suggestions!??

B.

 

[WannaBeReefer]

Your Mandarin probably ate them... With that feller you should cultivate some pods in a fuge so you always have a fresh supply for him and the others.

 

[silly34]

Yes but how do I cultivate them?

B.

 

[ChrisRD]

If you search the archives in Advanced Aquarist Online Magazine (specifically the Breeder's Net column) you'll find lots of information on live food culture.

Here's an article on copepods from AAOM:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/breeder2.htm

 

[silly34]

Cool, thanks! Tonight I am going to go ahead and setup a refugium. I have a 10 gallon tank and a pump. What kind of lighting and what all do I put in the refugium?? Thanks.

B.

 

[Baianotang]

lott'sa watts

 

[jsbradbury]

Really, I thought a fuge needed low wattage?

 

[Juck]

Most macro algaes don't need a lot of light,, compared to corals anyway,, something like a 36 or 55w PC is more than enough for a 10g fuge.

I don't know what your setup is, but if you can get the fuge at the same or higher level than the tank, (therefore feeding the tank by gravity), you will save lots of pods from getting munched by a return pump.

I highly recommend chaetomorpha algae for any fuge,, it grows like a weed and doesn't go sexual, doesn;t spread to the display tank,,, it's also pretty dense and seems to do a good job filtering particles.