Does Bacto-Balance feed copepods

rmcrom · Jun 29, 2023

I have been running NP Bacto-Balance in my tank for a few weeks. I started using it because I liked the idea of it providing bacteria as a food source for the corals. I think they are already looking better. However, I noticed I now have WAY more copepods running around on the glass which I see as a good thing. Does the bacteria also feed the copepods?

livinlifeinBKK · Jun 29, 2023

rmcrom said:
I have been running NP Bacto-Balance in my tank for a few weeks. I started using it because I liked the idea of it providing bacteria as a food source for the corals. I think they are already looking better. However, I noticed I now have WAY more copepods running around on the glass which I see as a good thing. Does the bacteria also feed the copepods?

I really doubt it. If you want a bigger copepod population just dose phyto. Also I'm a big fan of bacterioplankton being present as a food source for corals too but that can be accomplished simply with carbon dosing. I think the noticeable diffince in your corals is much more likely due to a decrease in phosphate and nitrates...

Hans-Werner · Jun 30, 2023

Regarding the copepods: Yes, maybe the NP-Bacto-Balance contributed to increase in copepod population. Besides organic carbon for bacterial growth NP-Bacto-Balance also adds trace elements that could support growth of microalgae which nourish the copepods.

The background for the trace elements in NP-Bacto-Balance is that also bacteria need trace elements for growth. Organic carbon alone is not sufficient.

Jay'sReefBugs · Jun 30, 2023

No as it's just trace elements from what I can see as they can not feed on that . More then likely your population is just expanding naturally with the development of algea in your system .

Hans-Werner · Jun 30, 2023

Jay'sReefBugs said:
No as it's just trace elements from what I can see as they can not feed on that . More then likely your population is just expanding naturally with the development of algea in your system .

What do you mean with "just trace elements"? The algae need trace elements, otherwise no development of algae.