Copepod instruction guidelines.
Maintain copepods cultures with our Phytopreme Live concentrated saltwater phytoplankton.
PLEASE BE AWARE that these copepods are MICROSCOPIC IN SIZE. You may see the adults with the naked eye, but you will need a magnifying glass & a flashlight to see the juveniles & babies. Use a magnifying lens & shine a flashlight into the water to obtain a better view If you see little specks of “sand” or “dust” suspended, you are seeing copepods. Some may lay dormant on the bottom, while others move around.
WHEN LOOKING AT OUR Copepod CULTURES, YOU WILL NOTICE A BROWN TINGE TO THE WATER. THIS IS NORMAL. WE PACK OUR PODS WITH 5 TYPES OF LIVE ALGAE FOR THE BEST NUTRITIONAL PROFILE.
SLOWLY ACCLIMATE BY PLACING COPEPOD JAR/BOTTLE/BAG INTO YOUR TANK. Start adding 1 cup of water from your aquarium system every 15 minutes. Continue this procedure for 2 hours. Then release Pods into aquarium/sump or refugium.
IN SEVERE COLD or in SEVERE HOT WEATHER, YOU MAY HAVE TO ACCLIMATE FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. COPEPODS WILL BE LETHARGIC DUE TO COLD TEMPS. COPEPODS ARE COLD BLOODED ANIMALS. THIS WILL CAUSE THEIR METABOLISM TO SLOW DOWN AND THEY WILL LAY MOTIONLESS AS IF DEAD. IT IS IMPORTANT TO SLOWLY ACCLIMATE THEM TO INDOOR ROOM TEMP BY FLOATING JAR IN AQUARIUM FOR AN HOUR OR MORE BEFORE INTRODUCING.
SEEDING YOUR TANK METHOD:
Turn lights off, so copepods have a chance to hide before fish eat them. It will usually take two to three months for pods to establish a breeding colony in your system. Sometimes, it may require 2 or 3 separate doses of copepods to establish a strong, healthy, breeding colony.
SHORT TERM CULTURE METHOD:
It’s relatively simple to culture these copepods separate from your aquarium for a month or so. Then you can periodically feed some to your corals and tank inhabitants etc.
When you receive your pods, place them in a larger container,( 5 or 10 gal tank will do). Increase water volume by 25% or ¼ every 24 hours, starting on first day.
Place air stone on low setting, just enough to disturb the water. Copepods do not like turbulence.
Feed with some live micro algae, (tetraselmis, Nannochloropsis, Isochrysis). One type is OK in the short term, but the more types you feed, the better off your copepods will be. Like a person eating a balanced diet as opposed to eating the same food on a daily basis. Inoculate enough algae to lightly tint the water, then wait until pods consume most of the algae. When your water clears, add some more algae. Some of our copepods species, like the benthic (Tisbe) can also eat inanimate foods like our Roti-Food or Copepod Blend. They are detrivores, which means they can eat non living detritus.
This culture method is straight forward. Easy to accomplish in the short term, say 1 to 2 months. Then you will eventually start to have water quality issues.
Salinity: 1.014 – 1.022
Temp: 74 – 85 degree F