• Skip to main content
AlgaeBarn

AlgaeBarn

Marine Aquariums Made Easy!

  • Sign In
  • Cart
    • Shop See All
      • Ultimate Packs See All
      • Ultimate Refugium Starter
      • Clam Keeper Kits
      • Ultimate Ecopack
      • Mandarin Feeder Kit
      • Hair Algae Killer Kit
      • See All Ultimate Packs
      • Live Foods See All
      • Copepods
        • Ecopods
        • 5280 Pods
        • Galaxy Pods
        • Poseidon's Feast
        • Tisbe Pods
        • Tig Pods
      • Food Combos
        • Ecopods & Phyto
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto
        • Poseidon's & Phyto
        • Tig Pods & Phyto
        • Tisbe Pods & Phyto
      • Phytoplankton
        • Oceanmagik
      • Brine Shrimp
        • Simple Brine
        • Nano Brine Shrimp
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Galaxy Pods 5 Species Copepod Blend

          Galaxy Pods

          $66 – $139
          Shop Now
        • Ecopods 4 Pack Special

          $99
          Shop Now
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto Combo

          $80
          Shop Now
        • 5280 Pods

          $45
          Shop Now
      • Macroalgae See All
      • Clean Macro Series
        • Clean Chaeto
        • Clean Sea Lettuce
        • Clean Green Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Spike Sphere
        • Pom Pom
        • Red Ogo
        • Red Spike Sphere
        • Red Spaghetti
        • Red Mangrove
      • Premium Rare Macro
        • Leafy Ogo
        • Blue Hypnea
        • Dragon's Tongue
        • Thick Ogo
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Clean Chaeto

          $20 – $65
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • Clean Sea Lettuce

          $20 – $95
          Shop Now
        • Red Ogo

          $20 – $80
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • Red Mangrove

          $13
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Fish See All
      • Gobies
        • Green Mandarin
        • Court Jester Goby
        • Watchman Goby
        • White Spotted Goby
      • AngelFish
        • Biota Coral Beauty
        • Maculosus Angel
        • Majestic Angel
        • Swallowtail Angel
      • Tangs
        • Yellow Tang
        • Blue Tang
      • More Species
        • Grammas
        • FileFish
        • Blennies
        • Damsel
        • ClownFish
        • RabbitFish
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Blue Mandarin

          BIOTA Green Mandarin

          $99
          Shop Now
        • ORA Neon Goby

          $35
          Shop Now
        • Captive Bred Yellow Tangs by BIOTA

          BIOTA Yellow Tang

          $239
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • ORA Premium Picasso

          $145 – $300
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Invertebrates See All
      • Clams
        • Ora Derasa Clam
        • Squamosa Clam
        • Ora Gigas Clam
        • Ora Maxima Clam
        • Ora Hippopus Clam
      • Shrimp
        • Ora Peppermint Shrimp
        • Harlequin Shrimp
      • Snails
        • Cerith Snails
        • Trochus Snail
        • Nassarius Snails
      • Urchins
        • Ora Tuxedo Urchin
        • Ora Pincushion Urchin
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Animated gif of peppermint shrimp

          ORA Peppermint Shrimp

          $49 – $119
          Shop Now
        • 10 Cerith Snails

          Cerith Snail

          $25 – $39
          Shop Now
        • pincushion urchin lytechinus variegatus reef safe and captive bred by ora for sale at algaebarn

          ORA Pincushion Urchin

          $29 – $55
          Shop Now
        • Gold Maxima Clam Bed

          ORA Maxima Clam

          $50 – $90
          Notify Me When in Stock
      • Corals See All
      • LPS Corals
        • Biota Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Marshall Island Goniopora
        • ORA Marshall Island Hammer
      • SPS Corals
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Imperial Acropora
        • ORA Turquoise Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Yellow Porites
      • Soft Corals
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool
        • ORA Long Polyp Leather Coral
        • ORA Silver Xenia
        • ORA Pulsing Xenia
      • Frag Packs
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Biota Pearl Bubble Coral

          $60
          Shop Now
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora

          $290
          Shop Now
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool

          $65
          Shop Now
      • Additives & Bacteria See All
      • Live Cultures & Bacteria
        • Turbostart 900 Saltwater
        • Aquarium Cycle Kit
        • Coralline Algae
        • PNS Yellosno
        • PNS Probio™
      • Additives & Chemicals
        • Nitrocycle
        • Clarifier
        • Fritz A.C.C.R
        • Fritz RPM Salt
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit by Algaebarn

          Mandarin Feeder Kit

          $66
          Shop Now
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now
        • Ultimate Refugium Starter Pack

          $120 – $450
          Shop Now
      • Aquarium Supplies See All
      • Fuge Lighting
        • AI Fuge 16HD Light
        • Kessil A360X Fuge Light
        • Kessil H160
        • Kessil H80
        • Chaetomax
      • Biomedia
        • Marinepure Gems
        • Marinepure Rocks
        • Marinepure Plate
        • Marinepure Cubes
        • Marinepure Spheres
      • Foods
        • Dragon Roe
        • Simple Brine
        • Can'O Cyclops
        • Benereef™
        • Fresco Cyclops
      • Rock & Sand
        • Dry Rock
        • Clam Rocks
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit by Algaebarn

          Mandarin Feeder Kit

          $66
          Shop Now
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now
        • Ultimate Refugium Starter Pack

          $120 – $450
          Shop Now
      • CADE Aquariums See All
      • Reef Series
        • CADE REEF 500 S2
        • CADE REEF 600 S2
        • CADE REEF 900 S2
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2
        • CADE REEF 1500 S2
        • CADE REEF 1800 S2
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2
      • Frag Series
        • CADE Frag 600 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1200 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1500 S2/F
      • Peninsula Series
        • CADE Peninsula 1200 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1800 S2/P
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2

          $7,225
          Shop Now
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P

          $5,525
          Shop Now
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2

          $4,125
          Shop Now
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F

          $3,275
          Shop Now
    • Contests Win Free Aquarium Supplies!
      No Purchase Necessary*
    • Top Deals Huge Savings!
    • AlgaeBarn Heroes Discount for Military,
      First Responders and more!
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shipping
You are here: Home / Copepods / From Detritus to Delicacy: Using Harpacticoid Copepods for Natural Nutrient Cycling

From Detritus to Delicacy: Using Harpacticoid Copepods for Natural Nutrient Cycling

by Sean Tadjeran

Pretty much nobody wants their marine aquarium to be covered with filth and green slime. Yet, mulm and benthic microalgae show up (at least in some amount) in just about every system. This is normal to some degree. However, anything more than a patch here or there can be seen as a symptom of problems or deficiencies that are inherent in the maintenance regime, tank set-up or ecology of the aquarium system itself.

Harpacticoid Copepods

These issues might include:
•Overfeeding.
•Overstocking (especially with fish).
•Poor water flow or the presence or “dead areas” in the aquascape.
•Inadequate filtration (mechanical, chemical and/or biological).
•Inadequate water exchange.
•A lack of detritivorous and herbivorous organisms.

Most of these individual issues can compound to affect (either beneficially or adversely) the others. For example, moderate stocking and judicious feeding can greatly reduce the input of biological waste products. Powerful filtration and water movement can significantly ease the removal of these wastes. Finally, the presence of a large and comprehensive clean-up crew can (1) mop up whatever solid waste products might remain as well as (2) control the bacterial and algal biofouling that might result from them.

Clean-up crews are necessarily comprised of a diverse group of detritivores and herbivores. This typically includes relatively larger organisms such as snails and hermit crabs. But this can also (and should also) include relatively smaller scavenging organisms such as copepods. There are a few of big reasons for this. For one, tiny pods attack both detritus and nuisance algae. They do so from the ground up, preventing major accumulations/growths before sizeable numbers of larger scavengers are needed. Perhaps most importantly, pods play a critical role in establishing a truly efficient nutrient cycle. Why? Because in addition to serving at the front lines of your clean-up crew, they provide a highly nutritious and self-supplying food for many of your aquarium inhabitants!

[Copepods]

Copepods are The Critical Link

Copepods can be found in virtually every natural marine ecosystem. And, their impact on these ecosystems is generally quite strong. By feeding on particulate organic matter, protozoans and (especially) microalgae—and then in turn being consumed by higher animals such as fish and corals—copepods facilitate the transfer of food energy from lower to higher levels of the food chain.

And copepods are not just naturally abundant; they have a very impressive food value. They have a high protein content (44-52%). They are rich in color-enhancing pigments (e.g. astaxanthin). Though specific content of fatty acids relates directly to the amount/types of algae in their diet, pods tend to be a very rich source of HUFAs. They even contain enzymes that can greatly promote digestion for those animals that eat them. Moreover, their exoskeletons provide an important source of dietary roughage. Find copepods for sale online to ensure a healthy marine ecosystem.

Getting Around

Harpacticoid copepods (such as Tigriopus) are particularly useful to marine aquarists. This is because they tend to undergo both planktonic stages (when young) and benthic stages (when mature).Tig Copepod Nauplius The planktonic juveniles (i.e. nauplii) strip the water column of excessive phytoplankton, helping to keep the water clear. They are heavily preyed upon by filter-feeding zooplanktivores (i.e. corals). The benthic adults scour rock, sand and tank panels clean. They are heavily preyed upon by small reef fishes such as mandarins.

Harpacticoids usually enjoy a much more varied diet than other types of copepods. Even so, some (e.g. Tisbe) seem to be able to consistently maintain an ideal ratio of fatty acids regardless of the content of their diet. This is because they are capable of elongating and desaturating the shorter chain n-6 and n-3 fatty acids (18:2n-6, 18:3n-3, etc.) into the long-chain EFAs 20:4n-6, 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3. Thus, they are themselves a wholesome, balanced food even when grown on nutritionally bereft items such as detritus.

Because harpacticoid copepods (especially nearshore species) are adapted to sudden, broad swings of environmental quality, they are comparatively easy to keep for long periods of time in aquaria. In fact, if pampered just a little, they can form stable, permanent populations that just keep on giving. Perhaps the most important factor here is feeding of nauplii.

A captive population of copepods might reach a point where densities become limited due to low densities of appropriate phytoplankton. Here, regardless of the amount of detritus and biofilms that is available for adults, juveniles suffer from a lack of suspended microalgal food sources. In many cases, this is simply because the food in the water column ran out before the food on the bottom did. The solution? Restore the balance by adding select species of phytoplankton! In addition to benefiting many corals and clams, these desirable forms of phytoplankton will greatly promote the survival of young pods, which leads to more adult pods, which leads to better clean-up on the tank bottom.

Nature’s way is best

Is it really that simple? For the most part, yes! The first step, of course, is seeding (and periodically re-seeding) with lots of harpacticoid pods. The best live products (1) combine a smart mix of species and (2) include individuals of all life stages. A mixed-species live product (for example, one containing both Tisbe and Tigriopus) provides a more well-rounded clean-up capability and also provides a wider size range of foods for their many predators. An all-life-stage live product (that is, one containing ages from larvae to adult) is not only immediately useful as a food for all sorts of fish and invertebrates, but also can speed up the process of seeding (i.e. establishing a permanent resident population).

Poseidon’s Feast meets both of the above criteria. Like Poseidon’s Feast, 5280 Pods includes Tisbe and Tigriopus; 5280 Pods additionally includes the cyclopoid copepod Apocyclops which (being planktonic as adults) will be appreciated by zooplanktivorous fishes such as seahorses, anthias and many small wrasses. Especially with the regular addition of quality live phytoplankton such as OceanMagik, both Tisbe and Tigriopus will flourish, promoting reef-clean rocks and tank panels while providing a natural and nutritious live food. Any remaining sediments are enriched by photoheterotrophic bacteria (such as those in PNS Probio™); this naturally transfers vitamins and carotenoids up the food chain (bacteria>pods>fish). What better way to deal with aquarium wastes than to turn them into a wholesome meal?

[Copepods]

Related Posts

The Tank Booster Pack: Wholistic Reef Aquarium Balance

If AlgaeBarn is known for one thing, it is our focus on natural aquarium maintenance methods. Some of our products are designed to naturally maintain good

Read More about The Tank Booster Pack: Wholistic Reef Aquarium Balance

A Closer Look at the Harpacticoid Copepod Euterpina acutifrons

It’s both strange and unfortunate that some of the most widely occurring copepod species on Earth remain rare in the aquarium trade–particularly those that

Read More about A Closer Look at the Harpacticoid Copepod Euterpina acutifrons

Goldline Rabbitfish: Most Underrated Reef Fish Ever?

Oddly, rabbitfishes (Family Siganidae) have never really been hugely popular in the marine aquarium hobby--not with reef aquarists nor with fish

Read More about Goldline Rabbitfish: Most Underrated Reef Fish Ever?

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Browse the AlgaeLab by Category

  • Advanced Education
  • Beginners Education
  • CADE Aquariums
  • Captive Bred Fish
  • Clean Up Crew
  • Company News
  • Copepods
  • Corals
  • Freshwater
  • Freshwater Aquariums
  • Intermediate Education
  • Invertebrates
  • Live foods
  • Macroalgae
  • Phytoplankton
  • Product Info
  • Refugium Education
  • Rock and Substrate
  • Saltwater Aquariums
  • Wholesale

Company

  • About Us
  • The AlgaeLab Blog
  • Our Team
  • FAQ

Get in Touch

  • Contact Us
  • AOA Claim Form
  • Press Inquiries
  • Call Us: 772-444-7637

Policies

  • Legendary AOA Guarantee
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Other

  • Store Locator
  • Wholesale & B2B inquired
  • Business Location

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join our mission to build a more sustainable aquarium hobby, one tank at a time!

Copyright 2022, AlgaeBarn LLC - Live Copepods and Phytoplankton

adroll_adv_id = "RWFLKG57L5GR7KGYSOEUOK"; adroll_pix_id = "CH2QRUFHXZELLLCMHAB5GI"; adroll_version = "2.0"; adroll_current_page = "other"; adroll_currency = "USD"; adroll_language = "en_US";
0

Your Cart is Empty