Copepod question

[Reefer madness92]

Iv noticed copepods finally and my coral are loving it. My question is will my sponge filters trap them or are they small enough to pass right through?

[tebstan]

That depends on the sponge. Are you using a coarse prefilter sponge to protect a pump, or do you have filter media sponge like a filter sock?

Do you have a refugium? I have a 10g plumbed into my sump to grow pods, and I worry about them making the trip to the display tank even though the path is through a very course sponge. I swap macro algae between the fuge and DT, and am going to start doing it with a pile of rubble, too. Hopefully this will help seed the main tank from the booming breeding population in the fuge.

[Reefer madness92]

It's a pre filter sponge like one u would see in a aquaclear biofilter that hangs on the back and creates a waterfall. I don't use the other two stages(ammonia and carbon filter) on the biofilter, no refuge

[tebstan]

I don't think you have much to worry about with a hang-on-back filter. It will slow some of them down, you might notice a few of them when you're cleaning the sponge. For the most part, they breed and grow in your live rock, so won't travel to that kind of filter easily. If you get a pod eating fish, you'll want to replenish the population once in a while and/or add a refugium.

[Reefer madness92]

Cool thanks. Hey do u think I should bother getting coral feed if I have these

[tebstan]

I will biased answering that question! I like to feed things, and I like to try every kind of food I come across. I have about 30 different types of food.

What kind of coral? Feeding can be beneficial, but it can also lead to poor water quality if you're not vigilant.

It's fun to watch a coral eat. If you're starting out, just target feed once or twice a week.

[Reefer madness92]

Il take your advice on that, just low in funds the only thing not getting food is my euphyllia even spot feeding, I almost got it to take a myses it took it like an nem then released it, the my clown stole it