Cycling a tank with copepods

[Scott714]

Has anyone got any first hand experience with cycling a tank with copepods?

My thoughts were to add copepods and then dose phytoplankton to feed them, they then produce small amounts of ammonia (based on how much phytoplankton is added) and nitrogen cycle begins.

They also then reproduce and generate more ammonia etc. added benefit you get an established pod population and perhaps avoid an ugly stage.

Thoughts/comments/feedback?

 

[Reef.]

Has anyone got any first hand experience with cycling a tank with copepods?

My thoughts were to add copepods and then dose phytoplankton to feed them, they then produce small amounts of ammonia (based on how much phytoplankton is added) and nitrogen cycle begins.

They also then reproduce and generate more ammonia etc. added benefit you get an established pod population and perhaps avoid an ugly stage.

Thoughts/comments/feedback?

The tank would cycle with the phytoplankton even if you didn’t add pods long before you would see a substantial pod population.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Why?? Sounds like you're trying to do something very simple through a method that probably won't work well and if it works, why would you do it that way?

 

[Scott714]

Why?? Sounds like you're trying to do something very simple through a method that probably won't work well and if it works, why would you do it that way?

I'm quite curious about the role the microfauna play in a reef aquarium and since I'll be starting with a blank slate - that's probably the best time to experiment with something prior to adding fish/corals.