Copepods in Sump

[ilott]

Hello, I dosed pods a few days ago, I put them in the sump and let them settle for about half an hour before switching the pumps back on, for that day I could see them just drifting around the water in my sump. I now can’t see any and it gives me a few questions.

1. If the pods are in my return pump chamber (where my ATO fills up) will fresh RO water kill the pods due to a swing in salinity? If not is this the best place to put media? As I want to get a skimmer but don’t want to be sucking the pods out of the wate

2. Can the pods live in 24:7 lighting as my refugium light is on constantly

Many thanks

 

[tricky_tran]

if they are in your return pump chamber, they will most likely get sucked into the display. The ATO shouldnt swing the salinity enough to cause any difference.

 

[Garf]

You’ve got you cheato lit 24/7? I would go more natural.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

You should be fine with salinity swings, mine is a similar setup. Those buggers just hide so no worry, they are there!

 

[tricky_tran]

if they are in your return pump chamber, they will most likely get sucked into the display. The ATO shouldnt swing the salinity enough to cause any difference.

 

[MakerofThings]

They're fine.

But chaeto doesn't NEED to be lit 24/7 either.

But regardless, they'll be fine. With pods, if you see one there are a thousand more hidden, they'll be everywhere in your tank already.

 

[ZoWhat]

Pods are world-class hiders.... they'd win every hide-and-go-seek game.

They also spread quicker than scandalous news....

Betcha you got pods under your bed while you're sleeping....


.

 

[garbled]

The pods won't care about the lighting, they mostly just need some algae and POM to chew on, and they will be ok. Generally speaking most of them can survive an encounter with the pump, only the larger ones are likely to get shredded. Skimmers are brutal on them however, so if the skimmer is in the path, they won't make it past that to the display.

Even the ATO water won't be a big deal, unless you are dumping literal gallons in all at once. A little swing is fine.

They do just need somewhere to live, if you have an empty sump, then they have nowhere to hang out, and will just swim into the pump.

Wait a week or two, and harvest some algae from the sump, and rinse it out, you should see a ton of them come off.

 

[ilott]

You’ve got you cheato lit 24/7? I would go more natural.

How would you recommend? 12 on 12 off? And alternate with my tank lights?

 

[ilott]

The pods won't care about the lighting, they mostly just need some algae and POM to chew on, and they will be ok. Generally speaking most of them can survive an encounter with the pump, only the larger ones are likely to get shredded. Skimmers are brutal on them however, so if the skimmer is in the path, they won't make it past that to the display.

Even the ATO water won't be a big deal, unless you are dumping literal gallons in all at once. A little swing is fine.

They do just need somewhere to live, if you have an empty sump, then they have nowhere to hang out, and will just swim into the pump.

Wait a week or two, and harvest some algae from the sump, and rinse it out, you should see a ton of them come off.

Brill! I’ve moved some of my ceramic media into the return chamber for them, as I plan to get a skimmer, i’d like to have a healthy colony of pods so I can get a mandarin goby and not need to worry about him starving to death, the ato probably tops up a litre if that.

 

[Garf]

How would you recommend? 12 on 12 off? And alternate with my tank lights?

Yes 12, 12 would be a starting point. You could go for 18hrs on and still consider it natural. Stuff needs to sleep. Opposite to your display tank lights is good, mainly just to minimise pH fluctuations.

Edit. I noticed your other thread about crappy looking algae stuff in your sump. This can certainly be caused by exudates released by stressed chaeto.

 

[ilott]

Yes 12, 12 would be a starting point. You could go for 18hrs on and still consider it natural. Stuff needs to sleep. Opposite to your display tank lights is good, mainly just to minimise pH fluctuations.

Edit. I noticed your other thread about crappy looking algae stuff in your sump. This can certainly be caused by exudates released by stressed chaeto.

Will this new schedule improve growth from the chaeto? I’m all new to this refugium thing tbh

 

[vetteguy53081]

Chaeto or rocks will house pods happily. Return pump will carry some to the display tank

 

[Garf]

Will this new schedule improve growth from the chaeto? I’m all new to this refugium thing tbh

You’re not alone. Algae health is key to a healthy nutrient export system.

 

[Shar29]

Once you get overrun with pods in your sump it will look like this. My light was on 16 hours a day and the pods like to bath in the sun. Looks like they at the beach getting a tan!!!