Copepods: to fuge or not to fuge

fishmonkey

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So I have a 40 gallon breeder and a 20 gallon sump with LOTS of bio media for around 6 months now. It’s getting to the point where I would like to actively work on establishing a copepod population.
I have no refugium but am considering getting those hob ones mainly for the pods. I really don’t want to bother with it but if it’s necesarry I will.
First question is if it is even necessary knowing my sump has tons of bio media and my tank has plenty of dry rock and 2 inch sand bed. Maybe I can add a loofa if I really have to.
Second is who makes the best hob refugiums out there?
Thirdly how long should I turn off my skimmer and what about my mesh filter socks?
 

Spare time

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Fijicube hob refugium are nice.


Do you need one for pods? No. Does it help? Sure, more space and a place where they can graze on algae and what not without fish.

I think the best way to keep a big population is to dose phyto daily
 

Mr. Mojo Rising

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pods dont need a specific place like a hob or refugium, just put them in your tank, they will live in the holes in the live rock. If your really concerned for them to have a safe spot, you can put a pile of rock ruble in the corner, or they even sell pod "hotels" now for like $30, but I dont think its neccessary. When I add then to my tank, I normally turn off my skimmer and machines for 5-10 minutes. Just feed phytoplankton or phytofeast to your tank so they have food, then they will multiply
 

Jay'sReefBugs

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I culture a decent amount of copepods and some amthipods. I acutaly recommend turning fuge areas into rock rubble to my customers. It's the most natural for them and a great place for them to thrive . So no you don't need a fuge at all
 

homer1475

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I culture a decent amount of copepods and some amthipods. I acutaly recommend turning fuge areas into rock rubble to my customers. It's the most natural for them and a great place for them to thrive . So no you don't need a fuge at all
I would second this.

When I turned my fuge into just rock rubble I had way more pods then just macro. Dosing phyto daily will help them feed and multiply.
 

jmichaelh7

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Unless you really have nitrate and phosphate issues I wouldn’t even bother.

I think I’m at the last stage of battling dinos because one day I wanted to set up a fuge and it pulled all nutrients
 
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fishmonkey

fishmonkey

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I culture a decent amount of copepods and some amthipods. I acutaly recommend turning fuge areas into rock rubble to my customers. It's the most natural for them and a great place for them to thrive . So no you don't need a fuge at all
Rubble in sump or display? Any difference?
 

Reef.

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Another thread similar to this the other day, the advice was to look at night with a torch (flashlight) the OP was amazed what he saw.

So no, no need to add a refugium.
 
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