Amphipod/Copepod Decline - One Year Old System

[CastAway]

My 150 has been running just over a year. I was amazed at how fast the copepod and amphipods came on in my 25g fuge when I started. The copepods also populated my display tank. My Ranfordi was literally fat. However, now, I see no copepods in my display, and very few amphipods. My Ranfordi is starting to get that LFS hollowed out look, obviously eating less. I seem to still have a lot in my fuge, but not like it used to be.

So, what's happened? Why so many initially, but not now? How might one build the population back up without having to add replacement stock?

 

[CastAway]

Bump

 

[Shep]

Could the Ranfordi eaten them all? #reefsquad

 

[kschweer]

It could be possible that the rainfordi is/was eating them faster than they could repopulate. Are you running cheato in your sump? IF so try shaking it out a little bit to release some pods back into the tank.

 

[TJ's Reef]

Jeff, are you running a filter sock ? If you are it's removing the food necessary for the pods to eat.

Cheers, Todd

 

[philfree]

had the same problem, sixline cleaned them all out. Chubby jerk.

 

[saltyphish]

My midas blenny/6-line decimated my pod population. I could see the Ranfordi doing it myself. I bet there is still some deep in the rockwork though.

Could the Ranfordi eaten them all? #reefsquad

 

[CastAway]

If the population in the sump had not declined as well, I'd think the Ranfordi was guilty. But, there's nothing to eat them in the Sump. Through the winter I did not run run my socks (could not take them outside to clean). I've only just put them back in line. Can they be fed directly?