Pods disappearing?

[Cole_Voeller]

Hey all! I have a question regarding copepods and amphipods. I have been letting my tanks run fishless and the copepods and amphipod population in my tanks has exploded. I would let algae grow on the glass for them to eat and never cleaned it, and also added phytoplankton, as well as pellets. Just recently I used an algae scraper to clean the glass, and my store ran out of phyto so I had to use zoo plankton. My population of both types of pods has plummeted, and if I look long enough I can actually see dead amphipods being blown around by the pump. And its not a matter of that I just cant see them on the glass anymore- they used to be absolutely everywhere. Any ideas as to what could be killing them?

 

[sixty_reefer]

Some ciliates will actively prey on pods

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

pods eat phytoplankton, which is the plant part of plankton. Zooplankton is the animal part of plankton. As mentioned above, you are adding something in the zooplankton (ciliates) which feed on the pods.

 

[Cole_Voeller]

pods eat phytoplankton, which is the plant part of plankton. Zooplankton is the animal part of plankton. As mentioned above, you are adding something in the zooplankton (ciliates) which feed on the pods.

Ah crap, haha. Well thank you petstore for screwing me over.
What I’m using is seachem bottled zooplankton. That would be the issue then?

 

[Jay'sReefBugs]

Ah crap, haha. Well thank you petstore for screwing me over.
What I’m using is seachem bottled zooplankton. That would be the issue then?

Based on the ingredients there's nothing in Seachem zooplankton that should harm your copepod population but.....I wouldn't add it as it's nothing besides dead kirll,brine,and some Astaxanthin with a couple acids which isn't really doing anything for you population. Copepods and amphipods are self regulating based on the food source that's provided . Also check the parameters of your tank as well

 

[ohana888]

amphipods (gammarus) -> copepods (tisbe, tigger, acrop) -> zooplankton -> phytoplankton?

 

[Fish Styx]

You're trying to feed steak to a cow. Pods ARE zooplankton. Your pods need phyto.

 

[Cole_Voeller]

You're trying to feed steak to a cow. Your pods need phyto.

Old thread haha. I have someone in town now who supplies me with a gallon of phyto for $10, so I have some haha.

 

[Fish Styx]

Old thread haha. I have someone in town now who supplies me with a gallon of phyto for $10, so I have some haha.

Ahh. Sorry. It just popped up in my feed. Glad you have it resolved. Happy reefing!