Best way to re-stock Amphipods and Copepods

[msmith619]

In my thread Disaster Strikes I related how I lost my 75 gallon reef. All fish, corals, anemones, bristle worms, snails, shrimp, crabs, copepods and amphipods died. There were hundreds of dead critters in the sand and after rinsing the rock. I have begun rebuilding the reef and am using the old live sand, rinsed and cleaned several times, the old live rock, scrubbed free of all dead corals, and want to know the best way to re-stock Copepods and Amphipods since I will not be adding more live rock, just coral frags. Should I buy some jars of Copepods and Amphipods from the web sites or is there a better way?

[Europhyllia]

Do you have a refugium? You could probably just get some chaeto from somebody else's tank. Dosing phyto seems to help me with reestablishing pod populations.
You're way far away or I'd offer you some of mine (both phyto and cheato). I am sure you have somebody closer.
Advantage of regular sump pods is that they're not just snack (like tigger pods) but actually will continue to thrive in your tank.

[Kristy]

We could give you some chaeto that is full of goodies if you like. We are off of IH10 and Huebner.

[Kristy]

+1 on phyto dosing (based on watching the waistline of my mandarin!)

[Big_Pun]

i have some cheato swarming with pods, also should be able to siphon some from fuge, lots living in there, tiger pods have done well in my tank i havent seen a decline in 6 months, they are all over the glass in the sump and main display

[txav8r]

I have some Pod loaded cheato as well. You are welcome to as much as you need. For diversity, I would get a little from several members.

[Pennies2Cents]

When we loaded our 240 the 1st time, we purchased bottles of pods from one of our sponsors as well as taking a few bunches of chaeto filled with life from members & our own 75 gal at the time.. And it worked.. We even managed to transfer mysis shrimp with success. :)