Culturing your own copepods/zooplanktons is super easy!!!

[project1004]

I’ve been culturing copepods since sometime this summer around May.

I’ve started with culturing 2 different types of phytoplankton (Tetraselmis and Nannochoropsis from Mercer Montana initially).



I have stop culturing phytoplankton because it need lots of sanitization and much careful handling. I tried for about two month. In that time it was 50/50 success rate.

Once I got phyto going, I got me some copepods as well. Idea was to culture both somehow. Until I realized buying concentrated phytoplankton is WAY Better than culturing my own. It’s cheaper as well I’m going to say. Small bottle last me few month.



It’s very simple setup. Matter a fact, you don’t even need to have air bubbler if you don’t want to.

Here is example of culture that got frozen in the back porch but still thriving afterward. Currently I brought them back inside for faster growth.



They don’t bleed fast in cold weather but they didn’t die either


I alternate between two container draining 1/2 and adding to the tank at night.

This one does better than other one because it has less bubbles


This one will be ready by this weekend to be added to the tank.



I added 3 different types of copepods in both jars. I can’t remember 3rd one unfortunately. I did have them separately at one point but I just wanted to see who wins?! One thing I’ve noticed was when I was culturing outside, Apex pod was dominant but inside its tisbee and the another small sized one is doing well.

before adding some liquid phytoplankton


After adding phytoplanton



I dose phytoplankton daily and add reef roid with ato every 3dayish~

 

[chuck]

Lmk when u get more I’ll buy some

 

[project1004]

I don't have enough to sell. I just harvested so if you want some for free~. Let me know in 3-4week time~

Or, get your self a container and start your own. That’s what this thread was made for.

It’s super easy. I’m culturing Apex pods and tigger pods. I don’t culture phytoplankton. Just zooplankton.

Apex:


Tigger:

 

[Mick]

This inspired me - I kept some of my algae aside and tossed that into a recycled gallon water bottle with some old tank water a week and have left it outside to brew. I wasn’t hopeful but it’s working!!

 

[NAS]

I use Poseidon reef system to culture pods and phyto. Works really well.