Copepods, rotifiers, zooplankton, phytoplancton…. Confused on what to buy !

[Idech]

My Fluval Evo 13.5 is about 4 months old now. It has about 10 easy corals (duncans, xenias, kenya tree, green rodactis, gsp), 2 oscellaris and 1 tailspot blenny.

I’ve been reading about copepods and rotifers and I feel it’s the next addition I need to do to my tank. But I’m confused about what I should buy on this page. https://copepod.ca/collections/packs

Would 8 oz of copepods and rotifers + phytoplankton blend medium concentration 8 oz be okay ? If not what else should I buy ?

My second question is this. This supplier recommends putting 50% of the pods and rotifers in the sump. If I do that, are the pods and rotifers going to somehow transfer into the main compartment or do I need to manually extract them from the sump somehow and put them in with the fish ?

And do I need to put the phytoplankton blend into the sump compartment or will there be enough coming in with the flow ?

Last, what is the difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton ? And is it best to have both copepods and rotifers in a tank ?

Thanks for your help !

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

phytoplankton is single cell algae, or microscopic algae. Zookplankton is microscoptic animals, such as copepods, amphipods, brine shrimp, etc.... one is plant and the other is small animal, but it is all sea plankton.

Copepods are good in a reef tank, they add to the biodiversity in your tank ,makes it more like the ocean. Copepods mostly live in the rocks, but rotifers are free swimming and get sucked into machines. The pods will multiply on their own once you add them, some people culture them and add them regularly to their tanks.... plankton its a whole other part of reef keeping to learn about.

 

[vetteguy53081]

For this size tank and based on current occupants.... Copepods will suffice. Amhipods are a little larger. Rotifiers are a good first food for fish such as baby clowns.

 

[Idech]

I’ve ordered a mix of copepods and rotifers and phytoplancton. It should be good to last me a while (16 oz and 8 oz).

 

[Jay'sReefBugs]

Rotifers are a food source nothing more nothing less . Phyto should be daily dosed for best results

 

[Idech]

Rotifers are a food source nothing more nothing less . Phyto should be daily dosed for best results

This combo pack was the most bang for the buck. Next time I’ll order only copepods.

 

[Megability]

If I add rotifers to a new tank to seed it for the future, will they establish themselves and multiply if fed phytoplankton too, or are both something that just needs to be added/replenished regularly?