Support a Thriving Reef with Reef SeaCrits Live Pods
- Live Tigriopus californicus Copepods
- Natural Food Source For Picky Reef Fish
- Helps Add Biodiversity To Reef Aquariums
- Supports A More Balanced Microfauna Population
- Approx. 2,000-3,000 Pods In A 4 oz Bottle
HomeBrew Reef SeaCrits Live Pods are an easy way to add beneficial microfauna to your saltwater aquarium. Each bottle contains live Tigriopus californicus copepods, a hardy pod species commonly propagated for aquarium use.
What are SeaCrits?
Tigriopus californicus are especially valuable because they are active, nutrient-rich, and easy for many reef fish to hunt because of there size. They can easily be seen with the human eye meaning your fish can most definately hunt them down. They are a great supplemental food source for mandarins, dragonets, wrasses, pipefish, seahorses, small gobies, and other picky or constant-grazing fish that naturally search rockwork and substrate for tiny live foods throughout the day.
Adding live pods increases biodiversity within the aquarium, helping create a more balanced ecosystem. This added diversity supports long-term stability by making it harder for pests and nuisance organisms to take hold and dominate. An established population of copepods will also help consume small amounts of detritus, leftover food, and film algae. Essentially a micro sized clean up crew!
How Often Should You Add Reef SeaCrits?
Once introduced, copepods can settle into the rockwork, sand bed, sump, refugium, and other protected areas where they may reproduce and become part of the tank’s natural food web. This gives fish and corals access to a more natural, ongoing food source while helping support a more active and balanced reef ecosystem.For new aquariums, adding pods early, like just after the tank is cycled, can help seed the tank before fish begin hunting them heavily. For established reef tanks, regular additionsd help refresh the pod population, especially in systems with pod-eating fish like mandarins, wrasses, and dragonets.
- New Tanks: Add 1 bottle to help seed the aquarium once salinity and temperature are stable.
- Established Reef Tanks: Add every 1-2 months to support biodiversity and ensure an ongoing population.
- Tanks With Mandarins Or Heavy Pod Predators: Add weekly or every other week as needed.
- Refugium Systems: Add directly to the refugium to give pods a better chance to settle and reproduce.
To maintain a healthy, ongoing population of pods, feed the pod population with a quality live phytoplankton such as HomeBrew Margarita Phytoplankton. Dosing live phyto will help keep the pods well-fed and, ultimately, encourage a stronger, more sustainable population over time.
Storage
For best results, add the pods to your aquarium as soon as possible after receiving them. If you are not adding them immediately, store them at room temperature and keep the bottle out of direct sunlight. Avoid extreme temperatures; do not refigerate or freeze them.
Acclimation Instructions
Reef SeaCrits are hardy and can usually be added directly to the aquarium without extensive acclimation. Because they are stored at room temperature, temperature acclimation can be acheived in minutes.
- Add SeaCrits at night after the lights are off when fish are less active to reduce immediate predation.
- Turn off pumps and protein skimmer so pods can settle into safe areas.
- Optional Temperature Acclimation: Float the closed bottle in the aquarium for 15-20 minutes.
- Add the pods where they can quickly find habitat such as a refugium, aquascape or sand bed substrate.
What's Included?
One 4 oz Bottle - Reef SeaCrits Live Copepods
| SKU | 257185 |
|---|---|
| UPC | 732388778638 |
| Aquarium Type | Saltwater |
| Food Type | Live |
| Main Ingredient | Crustacean |
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