Copepods and amphipods- too many?

jlazo · 02-07-2002, 11:36 PM

I sump is quite inundated with both amphipods and copepods. Naturally this is good sign of a healthy tank, but is there a point when there are too many down there? I know that some of them make their way to the main tank, just curious if I should put something down there to keep them in check. Thanks!

organicreefer · 02-08-2002, 12:40 AM

the enviroment regulates their numbers,no need to intervene,they are ,as you well know ,"a good thing"
they are there because you have an excess of detritus in youre sump,add a predator= even more detritus.
either syphon youre sump weeky,or possilby even add more detritus eaters.hth

jlazo · 02-08-2002, 12:58 AM

What else besides wrasses eat these guys?

eses · 02-08-2002, 10:57 AM

Any small fish with a "beak" will. Scooter Blennies (dragonets), other dragonets, Neon Dottybacks, my Percula Clown is fond of them as well. I had a Scooter Blennie that did rather well on them, they are a bit easier to keep in my opinion since you can feed them brine shrimp in most cases when they run out of pods. Mine enjoyed eating them until I ran into the anemone.

Unfortunatly in most situations the fish eat the majority of the pods living in your system, so you will be soon asking "how do I make them come back." With a larger tank and a good refugium you should still have a decent population, but not nearly as many as you have now.

Or you can just siphon them out when you change water.

DJ88 · 02-08-2002, 01:00 PM

Until I added an anthias to my system I did not feed my tank at all. The clowns and royal gramma were, and still are, fat. So it can be assumed that they found plenty to eat in amongst the rocks. pods etc.

TooFar2Sea · 02-08-2002, 08:54 PM

Your situation is desperate and you must take immediate action...bag them up and send them to me! The online vendors charge a lot of $$$ for those lil things. As stated by organicreefer , the environment of the sump will limit their numbers. Anything you add will probably decimate the population, as they are thriving due to the lack of preditation.

Venaman · 02-08-2002, 11:12 PM

wut r copepods and that?
can you see them?
wut do they look like?

thanks

Venaman · 02-08-2002, 11:12 PM

and amphipods wut r they

jlazo · 02-08-2002, 11:16 PM

They look like clear little bugs. THe amphipods are about 2-4mm, with tails that curl underthem like a scorpion. I can clearly see them. As soon as I get my camera back from Nikon Service I will take a few pictures.

Venaman · 02-08-2002, 11:17 PM

ohh i c
can u see them with just your eyes or do u need like a microscope?
wut r copepods?

thanks

Venaman · 02-08-2002, 11:18 PM

and wut do these pods do?

02-07-2002, 11:36 PM	#1
jlazo Citizen Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Posts: 203	Copepods and amphipods- too many? I sump is quite inundated with both amphipods and copepods. Naturally this is good sign of a healthy tank, but is there a point when there are too many down there? I know that some of them make their way to the main tank, just curious if I should put something down there to keep them in check. Thanks!

02-08-2002, 01:00 PM	#5
DJ88 Tenant Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 62	Until I added an anthias to my system I did not feed my tank at all. The clowns and royal gramma were, and still are, fat. So it can be assumed that they found plenty to eat in amongst the rocks. pods etc. __________________ Darren Fair winds and following seas all HMC Ships.. Return well. Our hearts are with you.. ----------------------------------- Canadian Reef Canadian Reef II

02-08-2002, 08:54 PM	#6
TooFar2Sea Just Moved In Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: st louis,mo,usa Posts: 47	Your situation is desperate and you must take immediate action...bag them up and send them to me! The online vendors charge a lot of $$$ for those lil things. As stated by organicreefer , the environment of the sump will limit their numbers. Anything you add will probably decimate the population, as they are thriving due to the lack of preditation. __________________ Gary

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02-08-2002, 12:40 AM	#2
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	the enviroment regulates their numbers,no need to intervene,they are ,as you well know ,"a good thing" they are there because you have an excess of detritus in youre sump,add a predator= even more detritus. either syphon youre sump weeky,or possilby even add more detritus eaters.hth

02-08-2002, 12:58 AM	#3
jlazo Citizen Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Posts: 203	What else besides wrasses eat these guys?

02-08-2002, 10:57 AM	#4
eses Council Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Seattle Posts: 270	Any small fish with a "beak" will. Scooter Blennies (dragonets), other dragonets, Neon Dottybacks, my Percula Clown is fond of them as well. I had a Scooter Blennie that did rather well on them, they are a bit easier to keep in my opinion since you can feed them brine shrimp in most cases when they run out of pods. Mine enjoyed eating them until I ran into the anemone. Unfortunatly in most situations the fish eat the majority of the pods living in your system, so you will be soon asking "how do I make them come back." With a larger tank and a good refugium you should still have a decent population, but not nearly as many as you have now. Or you can just siphon them out when you change water.

02-08-2002, 11:12 PM	#7
Venaman Citizen Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: ssauga ontario canada Posts: 210	wut r copepods and that? can you see them? wut do they look like? thanks

02-08-2002, 11:16 PM	#9
jlazo Citizen Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Posts: 203	They look like clear little bugs. THe amphipods are about 2-4mm, with tails that curl underthem like a scorpion. I can clearly see them. As soon as I get my camera back from Nikon Service I will take a few pictures.

02-08-2002, 11:17 PM	#10
Venaman Citizen Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: ssauga ontario canada Posts: 210	ohh i c can u see them with just your eyes or do u need like a microscope? wut r copepods? thanks

02-08-2002, 11:18 PM	#11
Venaman Citizen Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: ssauga ontario canada Posts: 210	and wut do these pods do?

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