Copepods- There or Not?

[cedarreef]

I've had a fuge setup for about 1.5 months now. I would think that there are copepods galore in my tank, but how do I know for sure? The chaeto in the fuge was taken from my LFS's DT fuge which was able to support about 3 scooter blennies which are constantly picking at the rocks. I don't know if the pods are making in to my DT because there is a sponge that goes inside the housing of my return pump. Would they be able to fit through that and into my tank? How can I know that pods are in my tank? I would love to be able to get a scooter and/or a mandarin.

 

[novahobbies]

can you post a pic of how your return is plumbed between the fuge and the display tank? I'm guessing the sponge is inhibiting the pods, just like you wondered. Can you take it out?

 

[cedarreef]

My fuge flows into the part where my return is so it's not being stopped by anything, but there is a black sponge that goes inside the pump which is identical to these.
http://the-plant-directory.co.uk/ima...mp-sponges.jpg
What do I look for to identify copepods in my DT?

 

[novahobbies]

I have a similar style submersible pump. If the pump chamber is isolated, and there is a plastic shroud surrounding the foam insert, then you're pretty safe with taking the foam out. I did, and my pump runs fine. Just put the plastic shroud back on and you'll be fine.
Pods come in lots of different shapes and sizes, but for common reef variety copepods you'll want to look for tiny (as in, pinhead-sized) white dots that have a teardrop shape. Two oar-like antennae may be seen at the fat end of the teardrop, and two other whip-like appendages can sometimes be seen at the narrow end. A female is slightly larger than a male, and will have a round egg ball sometimes attached to her bum (the narrow end). It's easier to find them in the evening, when the actinics are on, and they're often on the glass down near the sand or in the corners where the magnet doesn't always get to. Look for 'em with a magnifying glass and I'll bet you'll find a few.

 

[cedarreef]

yep. I have the rio 10HF would it be fine to remove the sponge?
http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c..._2042_11884453
I see some larger "bugs" in my fuge along with the tiny white ones skittering across the acryllic... what could those be?

 

[stdreb27]

get yourself a flashlight, and look at your tank about 20 or so minutes after you turn off all the lights. You should start seeing little buggies crawling around...

 

[cedarreef]

I do see the pods at night, but I just want to make sure that they are leaving my fuge to my tank because I don't want to get a mandarin thinking that I have a lot of pods when they're all trapped in the fuge.

 

[urrthling]

If you have to look for them, your tank isn't ready for a Mandarin. IMO

 

[cedarreef]

I know I'm not ready for a mandarin. I'm going to wait until my tank is setup for at least 6 months or more... I know a lot are breeding in my fuge, but I don't know if they're getting into the DT

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by CedarReef
http:///forum/post/2988104
I know I'm not ready for a mandarin. I'm going to wait until my tank is setup for at least 6 months or more... I know a lot are breeding in my fuge, but I don't know if they're getting into the DT
In all honestly if you have 3 blennies already in there. Your pod population is probably kept well in check. And I would seriously doubt if it could support a mandarin.

 

[cedarreef]

I'm not the one supporting the 3 scooters... I got the chaeto from my LFS's fuge which is hooked up to his DT which is a 220g that's supporting them. I don't have any pod eating fish ATM.

 

[d-dzel]

I got some tisbe pods about a month ago, $10 a bottle. I bought one bottle and within 2 weeks I had a HUGE pod explosion. I can see then everywhere in my fuge and on the glass of my DT. I currently have a female mandarin and I'm thinking of adding a male because my pods seem to start taking over

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by CedarReef
http:///forum/post/2988356
I'm not the one supporting the 3 scooters... I got the chaeto from my LFS's fuge which is hooked up to his DT which is a 220g that's supporting them. I don't have any pod eating fish ATM.
oh I see. hey post pictures of your tank. I wouldn't add a Mandarin for a while.

 

[cedarreef]

I can't really post pictures of my tank because my camera was broken at a party and my cell phone's camera's pictures don't turn out well at all.