All About the Copepods
- Dec 11, 2023
- Anshika Mishra
- 90 0 0
In this article, we'll talk about everything you need to know about Copepods. What are they, where do they come from, are they beneficial, and much more?
What is a Copepod?
By definition, these tiny zooplankton encrustations are like the cows of the sea. They eat phytoplankton and convert the sun's energy for higher trophic levels.
These are some of the most abundant animals on the planet. They can be found in nearly every freshwater and saltwater habitat. What's even crazier is that they can be found on the surface level to some of the deepest parts of the ocean.
How do you know if Copepods are in your tank?
Copepods are extremely tiny. Pouring a bottle of them in your tank will look like dust particles floating around the theater. At max, they are around 2mm long. They have a tear-shaped drop body with an antenna on the head.
Like many encrustations, they do have an exoskeleton that is almost see-through. They are in your tank, even if you have not seen them. They hide in the deep, live rock crevices. If you are up at night, and the lights have been out for a while, go up to the corner of one of your tanks and shine a flashlight in the light - you'll see the copepods.
How do they get in your tank?
Copepods are like any other hitchhiker; they are in the liverock you get from the store. Whenever you add it to your tank, it can also be on the coral frags. Even some of the water if it goes into your tank.
You can also add them directly to your tank.
Are Copepods good?
99% of the time, they are great for your aquarium. The 1% deals with some rare variations that you shouldn't run into in this hobby. They are at the bottom of every food chain, which is what you want. So, they'll be feeding on fish waste and will turn into food for corals that are filter-feeding. They are live food for your fish and coral.
How can you keep Copepods in your tank?
You can dwindle their population down in the aquarium. Corals in the tank are going to be filter-feeding constantly. The fishes are going to track them down; even inverts will eat them.
The simplest trick is adding bottles of pods into your tank. There are tons of variations in the size of pods you can get. You are getting the live food that is good for your tank, no matter what you choose.
To maintain the Copepod population in your tank, you have to keep feeding them algae. Best if you have a refugium. You can add the microalgae behind the rocks and pout pods onto the algae colonies.
You can also feed your pods phytoplankton, too. You can buy the combo pack and dose them in the tank to accomplish a balanced diet for your reef inhabitants.
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