Copepods? Coming right up!

So, to ensure my Mandarin has sufficient pods to nom nom nom on, I have decided to build a copepod breeding tank.

Here's the plan.

10 gallon tank
salt water
couple of air stones
power head for circulation
crushed coral substrate
big ball of chaeto
bottle of tigger pods
phytoplankton to feed the pods

I'm going to set it up this week. I should have the pods breeding immediately, being able to harvest every day after 10 - 12 days.

Any ideas on this? Anyone ever set up a pod breeding tank?

I'll be watching you on this one

Mine is my sump. The pods then travel on their own into the return section of the sump and get sucked up into the tank. They also breed in the tank. Its basically the same thing. A refugium section in the sump with cheato.

lilfishie wrote:Mine is my sump. The pods then travel on their own into the return section of the sump and get sucked up into the tank. They also breed in the tank. Its basically the same thing. A refugium section in the sump with cheato.

I will have them in the refugium on the 75, but I wan to make sure I have his feeding requirements covered until the 75 is set up.

Spyral wrote:

lilfishie wrote:Mine is my sump. The pods then travel on their own into the return section of the sump and get sucked up into the tank. They also breed in the tank. Its basically the same thing. A refugium section in the sump with cheato.

I will have them in the refugium on the 75, but I wan to make sure I have his feeding requirements covered until the 75 is set up.

Good plan. I think you have him covered very well.

Hows the 75 coming along? My 90 should be set up this weekend and getting filled with water. Then I will start aquascaping my rock. I got a really pretty piece. I'll get pics later and post them.

Take it one step at a time and have fun setting up the 75.

The 75 is getting set on its stand this coming weekend. We were going to do it this past weekend, but got hung up on a few other things and didn't have time.

copepod tank is set up, water is looking good..got the airstones and ran a power head for a good 5 hours.

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tomorrow i add the chaeto and pot scrubbers. Wednesday i add the pods!

Checked the tank before leaving for the office this morning. Water is crystal clear and ready for chaeto!

In other news, I got up at about 2am and checked on my SW tank. pods everywhere. I could see them swimming all over. That made me happy.

Ok, so the tank is running well, added a heater and a small sponge filter, all parameters are good. Added the chaeto and pods. Now it's off to the races for these little buggers to breed! I nixed the substrate idea, might make it too hard to harvest the tank.

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