biocube & keep healthy Copepod population

[nightmarepl]

hey guys, so i currently have a 32 gallon biocube im working on which in the back champer Left side = return pump / middle = skimmer / media wrack // Right = intake which is empty currently- my general idea was to setup some rumble rock i have few small pieces for the copecods to live in without being devoured by fish.
dosing phytoplankton small amounts every couple of days to keep them fed anyone have any other cool ideas i cant really do full on refugium back there cause the tanks in my bedroom and dont have the lid on it so a chaeto light would drive me insane.
heard of these things people use called copecod hotels? pretty much small plastic squares with holes inside i dunno how i feel about that. taking ideas

 

[DangerDave]

I don't do anything for copepods. I seeded them well over a year ago, and they're everywhere. I think they'd survive just fine with someplace to hide (your rock), and leftover food and detritus.

 

[Trio91]

Once you have a good starter, the pods will repopulate on their own. When you seed the tank, do it when the lights are off to limit the chances of them getting consumed by fish n what not.

You can make your own pod hotel as from the pix, it just looks like corrugated plastic sheets just glued together

 

[Mark_C]

If you can see a few during the day wait until night and hit a rock with a flashlight. Then just stare for a bit.
When you focus in you'll probably find you have tons all over the place, assuming theres not a mandarin or wrasse in the tank.
I use Marinepure blocks broken up in my sumps. They act as super-live rock with the added benefit that pods live all over em.

 

[nightmarepl]

If you can see a few during the day wait until night and hit a rock with a flashlight. Then just stare for a bit.
When you focus in you'll probably find you have tons all over the place, assuming theres not a mandarin or wrasse in the tank.
I use Marinepure blocks broken up in my sumps. They act as super-live rock with the added benefit that pods live all over em.

Marine pure blocks huh maybe I’ll into them do you ever rinse them

 

[Mark_C]

Nope, just drop them into your sump. I've got some been in sump for years and they look fine. They have a massive surface area for bacteria and a single block can act as a considerable amount of live rock. I break mine up a bit before dropping them in and they're always covered with pods.

 

[DangerDave]

+1 on the marine pure.

 

[nightmarepl]

+1 on the marine pure.

Sweet i shall order them tonight along with some pods any recommendations on pods

 

[Mark_C]

I've ordered a few times from Aquarium depot. Regardless of experiences with corals and such from there (not good) their pods always amaze me for the amount and variation in size. I've ordered 3 times in past few years and have literally had them jumping onto the kitchen counter when I've opened the package. But the shipping can be expensive.
Also have tried Algagen Tisbe and Coral Reefing Tisbe, both were good.

 

[nightmarepl]

I've ordered a few times from Aquarium depot. Regardless of experiences with corals and such from there (not good) their pods always amaze me for the amount and variation in size. I've ordered 3 times in past few years and have literally had them jumping onto the kitchen counter when I've opened the package. But the shipping can be expensive.
Also have tried Algagen Tisbe and Coral Reefing Tisbe, both were good.

well i know petco sells them for like $10 a container think those are worth it?

 

[diana a]

@Mark_C you like aquarium depot over Algae Barn?

 

[nightmarepl]

sheesh this stuff is pretty expensive how much do you think i would need? and would it be good to put into the intake chamber of the biocube ?

 

[Mark_C]

@Mark_C you like aquarium depot over Algae Barn?

I have to say I do. I won't order unless they're doing a free shipping deal, but when I do order I'm always more than happy with the product. The pods are varied from tiny to very large and theres much more than expected. As said previously, I end up picking up jumpers from the countertops and floor. Many big enough that I can just pick them up between thumb and pointerfinger.

sheesh this stuff is pretty expensive how much do you think i would need? and would it be good to put into the intake chamber of the biocube ?

Fortunately its a one time expense unless you have a mandarin, then its a monthly one. If you buy from Petco or a LFS, just look in the bottle/bag and make sure you see little white (or brown, or red) things moving around. Even if you don't buy any to seed, pods tend to somehow come with time. I just broke down a 10g tonight that I've never seeded and there were hundreds of pods darting about as I moved rockwork.
And just put them either in the tank, they'll go down to the rock, or in the sump with the marinepure. Better yet, split it 50/50. They're small enough that most will survive a trip through the return pump to keep the main tank populated.

 

[nightmarepl]

I have to say I do. I won't order unless they're doing a free shipping deal, but when I do order I'm always more than happy with the product. The pods are varied from tiny to very large and theres much more than expected. As said previously, I end up picking up jumpers from the countertops and floor. Many big enough that I can just pick them up between thumb and pointerfinger.


Fortunately its a one time expense unless you have a mandarin, then its a monthly one. If you buy from Petco or a LFS, just look in the bottle/bag and make sure you see little white (or brown, or red) things moving around. Even if you don't buy any to seed, pods tend to somehow come with time. I just broke down a 10g tonight that I've never seeded and there were hundreds of pods darting about as I moved rockwork.
And just put them either in the tank, they'll go down to the rock, or in the sump with the marinepure. Better yet, split it 50/50. They're small enough that most will survive a trip through the return pump to keep the main tank populated.

Cool man thank for the awesome info I’ll definitely get the marine pure this week

 

[nightmarepl]

If you can see a few during the day wait until night and hit a rock with a flashlight. Then just stare for a bit.
When you focus in you'll probably find you have tons all over the place, assuming theres not a mandarin or wrasse in the tank.
I use Marinepure blocks broken up in my sumps. They act as super-live rock with the added benefit that pods live all over em.

so you highly recommend using marine pure blocks? ima order 1 sheet and add it into my back chambers of the biocube would you recommend putting them into the media rack or the empty chamber where i keep my heater / intake champer " very slow water movement "

 

[Wilson]

Put it where you think the most water will flow through it. IMO, less effective if the water is only moving around it.. mine sits directly under the floss cups. Water gets cleared of detritus, drips onto a sheet of marine pure, under a baffle and into another sheet before hitting skimmer and return.

 

[nightmarepl]

Put it where you think the most water will flow through it. IMO, less effective if the water is only moving around it.. mine sits directly under the floss cups. Water gets cleared of detritus, drips onto a sheet of marine pure, under a baffle and into another sheet before hitting skimmer and return.

so probably into the media rack cause water flows into the intake chamber than over a wall into a media rack slowly gets pulled in i guess from the bottom of the rack into the skimmer than into the return pump chamber

 

[Wilson]

This where I put mine to maximize the flow through the blocks..

 

[nightmarepl]

This where I put mine to maximize the flow through the blocks..

View attachment 22782

i take it he yellow is the blocks?

 

[Wilson]

Yes sir.