Copepod questions

[eric b 125]

i have a 125 gallon tank with what looks to be 1lb LR/gallon (i had 60 lbs in a 55 and was given what looked to be the equivalent from an aquarist who was getting out of the hobby). both of these tanks were established for quite some time, so i have a bunch of pods that i see at night. i added a mandarin a while ago and he remains a fat lil sucker. since i dont have a sump i like to add to the population of pods because they dont have a safe place to reproduce. i've heard tiggerpods are no good, that they have very little nutritional significance, so i've been using arcti-pods by Reef Nutrition. i use a baster and add a bottle over the course of a week, switching b/w night and day feedings, and i do this once a month, keeping the bottle in the fridge until its gone.
do you guys think this is a good brand of copepods?
does my method sound good, or should i just add them in 2 feedings: 1 day, 1 night?
what kind of pods do you use to maintain healthy populations?
thank you for your time and help.

 

[cranberry]

The problem with Tigriopus is not that they are lacking nutritionally, it's that they are more of a coldwater copepod and will not reproduce well at reef temperatures. They are TSD (Temperature-dependent s.ex Determined/ation) and reef temperatures induce masculinization. Eventually more and more males are produced until there are no longer enough females to sustain the population. I'm not saying the next generation will be all male or even that all of the species is affected equally.... but a better choice of copepods are those that love reef temperatures and that would be Tisbe sp.and Pseudocyclops sp.
Arctic pods is a totally different product and is just another dead food item. I'm sure it is quite nutritious for whoever will eat it.

 

[soulsigma]

Try doing nightly feedings when the lights are out, this will give the pod a chance to find a hiding space and multiply

the best by fare IMO

 

[cranberry]

And in the absence of a separate fuge, you can pile some LR rubble inconspicuously somewhere and they are breed safely in there.

 

[cranberry]

Originally Posted by soulsigma
http:///forum/post/3048571
Try doing nightly feedings when the lights are out, this will give the pod a chance to find a hiding space and multiply

the best by fare IMO
You know those aren't live, right?... the pic doesn't come with the quote, I guess, but I was referring to the Arctic pods.

 

[soulsigma]

Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3048800
You know those aren't live, right?... the pic doesn't come with the quote, I guess, but I was referring to the Arctic pods.
Yes I am aware that the atic pods are not live,but can be used as a deterrent to keep the fish's from consume all the reef pods which are live, thus giving them an opportunity to multiply. It is the live reef pods he should be adding when all the lights are out. Thanks for pointing that out Cranberry