Cultivating Copepods - first timer and with a ?

[RaymondL]

So far my first attempt at cultivating copepods appear to be going okay (I think). I am noticing brown powder deposits at the bottom of the vessel - I am assuming that these are excrements from the pods themselves?

If I do a water change, do I ensure that these deposits aren't brought over? Since I don't know exactly what the composition is of these, I want to be sure that I'm not tossing out some good elements - ie. eggs, etc.

Thanks

 

[fishywishy]

So far my first attempt at cultivating copepods appear to be going okay (I think). I am noticing brown powder deposits at the bottom of the vessel - I am assuming that these are excrements from the pods themselves?

If I do a water change, do I ensure that these deposits aren't brought over? Since I don't know exactly what the composition is of these, I want to be sure that I'm not tossing out some good elements - ie. eggs, etc.

Thanks

It’s just pod poo and other waste. So I wouldn’t bring it over, but it’s not going to hurt anything if you do.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Its called mulm.
Normally water changes are not done on a copepod culture,. Normally completely harvest the pods in 3-4 weeks, then completely clean the container and start over.

 

[lpramos]

I was curious about the "mulm" as well. I bought an ammonia test kit. Ammonia goes up considerably if no water changes. I've read that copepods tolerate some ammonia, but there has to be a limit. Not sure what it is. Any thoughts on optimal water change frequency?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I was curious about the "mulm" as well. I bought an ammonia test kit. Ammonia goes up considerably if no water changes. I've read that copepods tolerate some ammonia, but there has to be a limit. Not sure what it is. Any thoughts on optimal water change frequency?

Yes ammonia continues to slowly rise, but they can tolerate quite a bit ammonia and we can complete the harvest in 3-4 weeks before the ammonia kills them. I let a culture go for 2 months once and they were fine.

I've not heard of people changing water on pod cultures, its more work than is needed. Just leave the culture alone for 3-4 weeks, then drain all water through a sieve, clean the container, add new water and start over.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I was curious about the "mulm" as well. I bought an ammonia test kit. Ammonia goes up considerably if no water changes. I've read that copepods tolerate some ammonia, but there has to be a limit. Not sure what it is. Any thoughts on optimal water change frequency?

Yes ammonia continues to slowly rise, but they can tolerate quite a bit ammonia and we can complete the harvest in 3-4 weeks before the ammonia kills them. I let a culture go for 2 months once and they were fine.

I've not heard of people changing water on pod cultures, its more work than is needed. Just leave the culture alone for 3-4 weeks, then drain all water through a sieve, clean the container, add new water and start over.