How to start a copepod Culture? Worth It?

[Pazzoman]

Hey Everyone, doing some research and trying to figure out the best way to develop a copepod culture.

Sounds easy on youtube but would rather here from pros who actually have done it or are still doing it.

Think so far from what Ive watched/read

-10 Gallon Tank
-Heater
-Sand
-Cycled
-Filter (how would you block the intake to now allow copepods to enter?)
-Water Changes
-Plants like chateo

What kind of food, will brine shrimp food work or only food is from light source?

Tips and suggestions will be helpful

 

[LBC]

Don't forget to ADD:

LIGHT

SOME LIVE ROCK/RUBBLE

MYSIS and/or AMPIPHOD cultures to diversify the population a bit

PHYTOPLEX or at least some tidbits of shrimp meal from time to time or the like to support a slightly larger population than 'normal' in such a small system, unless its plumbed into a DT/sump

 

[Pazzoman]

-Light what kind of light do you recommend?
-Live rock/rubble
-Amphipod as reefstgo includes copepods/amphipods
-Would artemi work think thats what it is called, used for baby brine shrimp

Also how much copepods/amphipods should be started with?

 

[Pazzoman]

I could get a gallon of kent phytoplex if that would work. Just not sure how much to dose

 

[oh207]

Are you trying to grow a copepod culture separate from your DT? And then plan to harvest them? Or are you looking to connect the culture tank to the DT? I don't think its possible to do the later as a culture tank because of the environment needed for a culture tank. Especially with maintaining the phyto saturation that is required to grow the culture. You will need to keep the culture tank water green with phyto and allow 2-3 weeks tops to get a good culture of copepods before you can harvest. If you are looking to hook this up to your DT, then I suppose you are looking for a refugium type of setup and not a culture tank?

I grew pods last summer in the backyard in a 5g bucket. They eventually die out when it got cold. It all depends on how much you want to put into it.
If this is just a culturing tank so that you can transfer copepods to your DT, then I wouldn't put any sand or live-rocks. That will make it impossible to harvest most of the pods.
You can grow copepods outside or inside. No light source is required if you put it outside and only allow for the morning sun to hit it. No air flow or heater is required. No water change. I won't put amphipods in the culture. I read that they will eat the copepods (don't know if this is true)? Or if they don't eat them, at the very least they will out-compete them for whatever food is available and will eventually dominate. Try to avoid any amphipods or brine shrimp cross-culture contamination at all cost. I think the only thing you can cross-culture with copepods are rotifers.

I would split the 10g tank into two sections and have 2 cultures going. Just in case one crashes.

 

[Nandez13]

Tagging along. I'm looking into cultivating them in my refugium.

What fish are you setting them up for?

 

[Pazzoman]

Have to see where can i dind just copepods, and will split the 10 in half.Will be setting it up for an eventual mandarin so want to be prepared.


As for food where can the traditional "green" liquid be bougth was going to use kent phyto