Copepods...best way to package and store them?

[mrscott25]

While back I started phyto cultures. Now I'm cranking about 4 gallons each every 10 days of tetraselmis and nanocholrsomis phyto. Even giving it away to everyone who would take it I was drowning in green water so decided to try culturing copepods.

After 2 months I have four 5 gallon aquariums absolutely boiling with copepods (Tigriopus californicus). Fat, happy, and breeding like mad.

My LFS is interested in taking what ever I can supply. I just need to figure out best practice for packaging and keeping them alive.

With my phyto I have been placing into 16 oz clear plastic pouches (like kids apple sauce comes in). I like the pouches. Durable, cheap, and look halfway professional. I like it because it is easy to store and makes dosing my tanks super easy.

Any pointers on what will help pods stay viable for a few weeks in a LFS fridge?

1) I notice that most pods come in crystal clear water (void of phyto). Any reason I need to do the same? I'm thinking pods would remain viable longer if packaged with fresh phyto mixed in? Maybe not as pretty in green water, but pretty isn't the goal.

2) Some manufacturers use a sieve and separate adults from juveniles before packaging. Other than maximizing the "look" Any idea why keeping them together would hurt?

3) I'm sure somebody (or probably lots of some bodies) have been doing this to help keep friends and/or local fish clubs stocked up. So please, give me any suggestions on how you package/separate/store your pods.

Finally, let's keep this real...This is a spare time hobby thing. I'll crank out what I can and maybe help out the local fish community but this isn't going to be a full commercial operation. Simple suggestions appreciated.

BTW - if any are wondering why not just buy the stuff online, I live in Alaska and a $20 bottle of pods is nearly $50 by the time UPS/FedEx gets their "you want it when?" tax.

 

[Rocks reef]

I have a friend that cultures pods and sells them at local frag swaps and to the LFS in the area. He just bottles his in the same plastic bottles he uses for his phyto. He does put some phyto in with the pods so they have something to eat. Not sure if that helps you any in what you are after.