Culturing Copepods

[Trod]

I use my turkey baster, and squirt them at the back of the rock, Fizz usually gets to them I occasionally add some to the back weir, where the cheato is too.

I only add an egg cup full of phytoplankton every couple of weeks and that keeps it a nice green colour

 

[TigerIssey]

I only add an egg cup full of phytoplankton every couple of weeks and that keeps it a nice green colour

So what size bottle of phyto do you buy and how long does it keep, I think I read somewhere it has to be refridgerated??

 

[ben1987]

i got DT's live phyto. I got the medium sized one. The date on it was about 3 months iirc. That would have lasted all year just feeding the pods thought, so i used to dose it to the tank aswel. Corals went nutty for it

 

[TigerIssey]

That sounds good ben, who is DT's and should it be refridgerated??

I have no problem using it as a coral food aswell.

 

[ben1987]

http/www.midlandreefs.co.uk/xcart/produc...at=0&page=1

yeh i used to keep mine in the fridge, i dont have my culture going anymore though. i will start another once i get round to being ready for another mandarin.

 

[TigerIssey]

Thanks for that BenI don't mind paying the extra for that if it lasts 3 months. Some of the ones on Ebay and at Reefworks need to be used within a week, so that will work out cheaper.

I have been debating about which fish goes in last, as I want a dwarf angel, I really want the angel to be the last fish to go in, this is why I want to get the copepods going, it also means that once I am ready, I can keep my eye out for the best Mandy I can get. Some that come in to the shop are fatter and healthier looking than others, so I want to be prepared to snap up the good one.

 

[ben1987]

go inot a shop that sells it and get the bottle with the longest sell by date on it

 

[TigerIssey]

Don't know of one that sells it though!!

 

[Trod]

I'm with Ben on DT's Phytoplankton I buy the 15oz bottle from Midland reef, http/www.midlandreefs.co.uk/xcart/produc...at=0&page=1
I have tried the cheaper ones but they are not not as good IMO.
I keep it in the fridge and shake it once a day as it settles on the bottom of the bottle so to keep all the good stuff suspended you must shake!!!

I also dose my tank once a week, bottle lasts 3 months then I get new one, I usually use most of it

 

[TigerIssey]

Thanks Trod, sounds like that is what I will be doing then.

What efforts we go to just to keep our fish happy