Adding Biodiversity: 5 gallon tank, what copepod pack should I use?

testuser

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 23, 2023
Messages
357
Reaction score
79
Location
NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm fighting dinos again, and besides silicate dosing to increase a diatom bloom this time, I wanted to help with general biodiversity issues I've been having, which should help my other nuisance algae issues.

I have a 5 gallon tank however, so I am unsure what copepods I should get from algaebarn. I plan on getting phytoplankton from there, but it sounds like the 5280 copepod pack is 1 pack per 30 gallons. Is that right? Suggestions for seeding such a small tank?

Also, are there dosing instructions for OceanMagik phytoplankton?
 

slythy

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 3, 2021
Messages
706
Reaction score
622
Location
USA
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
I buy my Copepods from @hollback way cheaper and way more!

you can get any phyto from anywhere it should be ok. You just dose a little bit but with 5 gallons you dont want to add to much and pollute the tank.
 
OP
OP
T

testuser

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 23, 2023
Messages
357
Reaction score
79
Location
NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I buy my Copepods from @hollback way cheaper and way more!

you can get any phyto from anywhere it should be ok. You just dose a little bit but with 5 gallons you dont want to add to much and pollute the tank.
For the phytoplankton, I will adjust their suggested ratio of 5ml per 20 gallons to be 1.25ml instead. As for copepods, my concern isn't quantity provided or price, but rather, what is the recommended quantity for a small tank like mine? It's not like I can introduce a portion of the copepods since it is meant for a 30g tank. Suggestions on what quantity from wherever would be good for a 5 gallon tank?
 

slythy

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 3, 2021
Messages
706
Reaction score
622
Location
USA
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
For the phytoplankton, I will adjust their suggested ratio of 5ml per 20 gallons to be 1.25ml instead. As for copepods, my concern isn't quantity provided or price, but rather, what is the recommended quantity for a small tank like mine? It's not like I can introduce a portion of the copepods since it is meant for a 30g tank. Suggestions on what quantity from wherever would be good for a 5 gallon tank?

I added 5 bottles into my 75. they are pretty self regulating, if you have high food content then they will reproduce but if you have low food and high predation they will dwindle. I would add a single bottle of whatever you get and see if they populate or not.
 
OP
OP
T

testuser

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 23, 2023
Messages
357
Reaction score
79
Location
NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I added 5 bottles into my 75. they are pretty self regulating, if you have high food content then they will reproduce but if you have low food and high predation they will dwindle. I would add a single bottle of whatever you get and see if they populate or not.
Cool, so between the copepods and adding the phytoplankton daily as a source of added biodiversity and nutrients for the pods, I think combined that should be helpful. Thanks!
 

Going off the ledge: Would you be interested in a drop off aquarium?

  • I currently have a drop off style aquarium

    Votes: 2 1.8%
  • I don’t currently have a drop off style aquarium, but I have in the past.

    Votes: 1 0.9%
  • I haven’t had a drop off style aquarium, but I plan to in the future.

    Votes: 18 15.9%
  • I am interested in a drop off style aquarium, but have no plans to add one in the future.

    Votes: 50 44.2%
  • I am not interested in a drop off style aquarium.

    Votes: 39 34.5%
  • Other.

    Votes: 3 2.7%
Back
Top