Is there any alternative food for Copepods aside from phytoplankton?

[Phoerut]

I don’t know if I want to go through the trouble of cultivating or buying phytoplankton, but I want to cultivate copepods. I wondered if there’s any dried food they will eat or an easier/cheap alternative?

 

[tharbin]

I can't answer your question unfortunately but welcome to R2R! There are lots of people here that can answer your question. I'm sure they will chime in soon.

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

My pods live solely on whatever detritus and leftover food ends up in the refugium. I have never fed them anything directly.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

phyto works best for cultivating them, and by 'best' I mean reproduces the fastest with the least die-off.

But I've used a bunch of other bottled stuff, basically any kind of filter food will work. It dirties the water faster and not as much reproduction, but it works.

EDIT : phyto really is the cheapest because you can reproduce it yourself, its easy. You buy it once and you can keep it reproducing for about a year

 

[mdb_talon]

I am assuming you are referring to culturing them outside of the aquarium? If you just want to increase the population in an aquarium they should feed on detritus, algae, etc within the tank. Reef nutrition has a product called RGComplete that is very concentrated. I have used it for culturing copepods in the past. I know you said you did not want the hassle of buying phyto which this is similar to doing the same thing, but it is very concentrated and would not be needed to be bought frequently. Shipping is expensive but if you have an LFS that stocks Reef Nutrition i am sure they could get you some on their next order.

Having said that in my experience culturing phyto is extremely easy and requires a lot less time and hassle than culturing copepods I would still recommend just start a phyto culture.

 

[EricR]

In case you want to do some reading and you haven't seen this -- there's a huge thread started by user atoll showing low maint, outdoor, pod culturing.

Might find some other ideas in there:

More Pods

 

[Phoerut]

I can't answer your question unfortunately but welcome to R2R! There are lots of people here that can answer your question. I'm sure they will chime in soon.

Thankyou!!

 

[Phoerut]

Thanks for the suggestions guys! Gained some good info here. I had one other thought. My boyfriend has a koi pond, could I steal some green algae from his pond, dry it out, grind it up and feed it to the pods?

 

[DE FISH]

Reef roids & welcome to the site Essex us or uk ?

 

[Pistondog]

Spirulina powder
Pure Hawaiian Spirulina - Powder 16 Ounce - Farm Grown in Hawaii since 1984 - Natural, Nutrient Rich Superfood - Immune Support, Detox & Energy – Vegan Complete Protein, Non-GMO

This bottle will last forever.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I don’t know if I want to go through the trouble of cultivating or buying phytoplankton, but I want to cultivate copepods. I wondered if there’s any dried food they will eat or an easier/cheap alternative?

Copepods mostly survive on algae, dead matter, and some bacterias. They love feding on detritus and phytoplankton which provides nutritious food forfish and coral. Some copepods can eat bacteria present on algae, shrimp,rotifers, and single-celled dinos.

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[Chrisv.]

What about something like phytofeast? There are preserved concentrated phyto options.

 

[Phoerut]

Reef roids & welcome to the site Essex us or uk ?

UK

 

[DE FISH]

UK

I’m in uk Essex too any frags ect message me

 

[eggplantparrot]

My pod culture in a small dollarstore container is going strong off of clearance marine fish pellets.

I noticed more tiny baby ones with live phyto but I get lots of chonky ones with the pellets.

 

[reeftankdude]

Kinda new to the hobby. Whenever I add snails/CUC to my tank I also add bacteria for the new bio load. I could be wrong, but copepods will feed on bacteria in the water. It is now snowing in my tank. Time to add some fish.

 

[kilnakorr]

If you are setting op a small tank for the pods, you might as well, just split the airline for a phytoculture. As the phytoculture isn't going directly to the tank you don't need to be overly concerned about leftover fertilizer, and phyto is very easy to make.
I started a few months ago breeding phyto and pods, and it dosn't take much effort once you get the hang of it.

 

[Phoerut]

I’m in uk Essex too any frags ect message me

Ahh cool! And sure! I’m very new to this by the way, only had my set up a month. I’ve got one fish and one frag in my tank so far haha

 

[Paul B]

Any cheap sinking pellets will feed copepods.

By the way, this is a copepod.