i picked up a bottle of kent yesterday, i want to say off the top of my head its micro vert. it supposeouvly is for sponges,corals,anemones, and filter feeders. i got it to add some sort of food source to my water for a common neon green sponge i have growing in a few locations on my live rock and some tiny feather dusters, nothing else is in the tank yet.. i mean i see some copepods and some bristleworms ( nasty lookin critters huh? ) and whatever bacteria growing in my live sand but no clean up crew yet and no fish, so what would be benifitial to add to the water to get a more natural sea water? im not looking for chemicals im looking for food sources like plankton and whatever should be in the water..i want to seed the water now, so by the time i have fish and everything it has a good natural food source supply in the tank as well as my refugium which hopefully is completed in the next week or so. anyways any advice? thanks.
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adding things to make a more natural tank water
- Thread starter onefish2fish
- Start date
Wondering if you'll be adding cheato to the sump? live sand in the tank?Live rock should have some critters as well...I had a site bookmarked for live critters..I will send you a pm.
hey thanks, and yea i have a 46gal bowfront with 60lbs live sand, 50-60lbs live rock and theres def copepods and bristleworms in there but im asking about in the water itself, like plankton or anything
The problem with most "bottled" retail plankton is that they tend to clump together and / or are of the wrong size or species for the fauna you want to feed.
So here's the 411 on plankton.
Best plankton? Well get it from the ocean of course. But then you're also likely chancing getting parasites / predators in the plankton also.
Next best thing? Make your own. There are a lot of DIY recipes that just require a couple 2 liter plastic bottles and air pumps.
Too much of a hassle?- then you could purchase bottles of plankton. Without stating my personal preference on what to buy - I tend to seek out bottles that have LIVE plankton. These will typically be in the refrigerated section and have expiration dates. They also tend to be a lot pricier than the stuff that sits on the shelves at room temp.
Finally - if all of this doesn't appeal or seems too much work - then if you insist on the bottles at room temp, do make sure you SHAKE it well. Even better if you could somehow get it to the blender (be nice to your family and wash the thing afterwards).
Just be careful of this stuff - it is high in phosphates and will mess up your water chemistry if over-dosed.
Good luck!
p.s. copepods are very hard to see with the naked eye. Perhaps you see some amphipods?
So here's the 411 on plankton.
Best plankton? Well get it from the ocean of course. But then you're also likely chancing getting parasites / predators in the plankton also.
Next best thing? Make your own. There are a lot of DIY recipes that just require a couple 2 liter plastic bottles and air pumps.
Too much of a hassle?- then you could purchase bottles of plankton. Without stating my personal preference on what to buy - I tend to seek out bottles that have LIVE plankton. These will typically be in the refrigerated section and have expiration dates. They also tend to be a lot pricier than the stuff that sits on the shelves at room temp.
Finally - if all of this doesn't appeal or seems too much work - then if you insist on the bottles at room temp, do make sure you SHAKE it well. Even better if you could somehow get it to the blender (be nice to your family and wash the thing afterwards).
Just be careful of this stuff - it is high in phosphates and will mess up your water chemistry if over-dosed.
Good luck!
p.s. copepods are very hard to see with the naked eye. Perhaps you see some amphipods?
thanks phil, and i guess there amphipods? not 100% sure, the best way i can describe them is that there almost like cockroachs of the water lol. there tanish/brownish and small and come out of the rocks cracks at night.. im assuming theyre good? i know copepods are because its a natural food source..