Copepod Problem

[reeftankdude]

I now have copepods all over the tank, which is cool. However, how do I clean the front glass without killing them? I tried brushing with my fish net, but that did not work. Thanks all

 

[afrokobe]

Just clean the glass, it doesnt matter. If you kill some, you kill some. They will be back in like an hour lol

 

[DaJMasta]

Most of them will still manage to get away, and for every one you see on the glass there are several on the sand and rocks. Keeping your glass clean will also dissuade them slightly from being there, but reducing potential food sources.

 

[atoll]

Use a Tunze care magnet it will just push them off the glass.

 

[reeftankdude]

Most of them will still manage to get away, and for every one you see on the glass there are several on the sand and rocks. Keeping your glass clean will also dissuade them slightly from being there, but reducing potential food sources.

do snails eat copepods?

 

[DaJMasta]

Not that I know of. It probably happens for some species, but the algae eating snails don't really have the right mouth to eat them and the copepods generally have a pretty fast short distance escape sort of behavior, so they can probably get out of the way in most cases.

They're small, though, and the rule of thumb is that if they fit in the mouth, they are sometimes eaten, so basically everything does - fish, corals, shrimp, etc.. Fewer things seek them out as food, but still a good number, however an adult can often have hundreds of babies and their full life cycle can be around 3 weeks, so they are more than capable of repopulating unless being predated pretty heavily.

 

[damsels are not mean]

Most of the copepods are not on the glass, don't worry about killing them or crashing your population. They might not die anyways as they are so small the water movements will probably knock them off before they get hit.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I now have copepods all over the tank, which is cool. However, how do I clean the front glass without killing them? I tried brushing with my fish net, but that did not work. Thanks all

slowly move algae magnet. They should run from it. If not , it will knock them down

 

[ying yang]

Close your eyes and use that algae magnet ,I promise they will all swim away and survive ^_^

But on serious note good question but don't think there a way to not kill a few but some are literally microscopic so may still even survive.but I know when I use my magnet scraper near bottom glass/ sand it moves some of my sand and hermits slightly as causes a little ripple/ shockwave so wouldn't be surprised with the vibrations on the glass that they scarper and run away.
I just use scraper when I want and don't think about it tbh

 

[Reefbuds]

I have to scape my glass every other day or so and its always covered in pods. A few hours later the pods are back so I would say dont worry about it, clean like normal.

 

[moz71]

Curious what fish do you have? I never see copepods in display as I believe my wrasses eats them all day. I have tom’s of bugs in sump though.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I feel your pain... When I was starting out I didn't even want to clean my filter socks for fear I'd lose a bunch of pods. Like others have said, they will move out of the way. Sometimes I take my Magfloat off the glass and there are a bunch hanging out underneath it...they're small enough to get in and out no problem.

 

[atoll]

Pygmy Angel's and 6 line wrasse would feast on them.

 

[Jay'sReefBugs]

What's on the glass is only a very small portion of the acutal population. You won't kill many normally the glass cleaner will just push them off into the water colum

 

[reeftankdude]

Curious what fish do you have? I never see copepods in display as I believe my wrasses eats them all day. I have tom’s of bugs in sump though.

I have no fish at this time.

 

[moz71]

I have no fish at this time.

Ah! Once you get fish they will disappear quickly. You have a great feast ready for your new fish which is a great start! Even if just one fish.

 

[reeftankdude]

Ah! Once you get fish they will disappear quickly. You have a great feast ready for your new fish which is a great start! Even if just one fish.

I have a chromis and a purple Firefish that wiped the copepods out.

 

[moz71]

I have a chromis and a purple Firefish that wiped the copepods out.

You made them the happiest fish! Lol smorgasbord!!!!

 

[moz71]

I have a chromis and a purple Firefish that wiped the copepods out.

Hey just realized you were the one asking if one chromis will work in your tank! Chromis and fire fish is great first choice btw.

 

[reeftankdude]

Hey just realized you were the one asking if one chromis will work in your tank! Chromis and fire fish is great first choice btw.

The firefish is great. It is always out in the open. The Chromis is constantly moving from one end of the tank to the other. Thinking about a Banggai Cardinal and a yellow clown or watchman Goby next.