How do you get 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.
How often should you feed copepods?
Feed your tank Phytoplankton Blend every two days, with the skimmer off for one hour after feeding. Add 0.1 oz of medium concentration phytoplankton per 30 gallons of water in your tank or 0.1 oz of high concentration phytoplankton per 300 gallons of water in your tank.
What should I feed my 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 I add copepods to my tank?
every 2′
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.
Do you need to feed copepods in refugium?
Let’s start with the initial question: What do you feed copepods in a refugium? Well, you certainly don’t need to feed them pellets or anything like that. Most of the time, you don’t have to feed your copepods at all! Copepods will find food in your aquarium on their own.
How do I know if I have enough copepods?
A quick way to tell if you have live copepods in your aquarium is to temporarily shut off your pump and lights at night. Take a flashlight and shine it into the aquarium and if you have live copepods, you should begin to see them swimming towards the light in no time.
How fast do copepods multiply?
How long does it take for copepods to reproduce? Copepods will breed quickly but it will take anywhere between 4 and 6 weeks before you begin to see the offspring swimming in your tank.
What do you feed copepods in a refugium?
Just as you want them to, they will consume detritus and algae. However, you can boost your copepod population by dosing phytoplankton to your aquarium. Phytoplankton is needed for juvenile copepods. Dosing phytoplankton will not discourage your copepods from eating algae and detritus.
Do copepods need air?
Adjust the airflow.
Gentle aeration will help keep your copepods happy and healthy. Buy an air pump and attach it to a gang valve using rigid air tubing. Place the end of the tube in the water, and use the gang valve to adjust the airflow into the tank or container.
How quickly do copepods reproduce?