How often should I feed my fish in a saltwater tank?

Most saltwater fish should be fed once or twice per day with only as much food as they can consume within 1–2 minutes. Overfeeding can lead to water quality issues, so moderation is key. For picky eaters, supplement with live food like amphipods and copepods.

Can fish food cause algae blooms?

Yes, overfeeding or using poor-quality fish food can increase nutrients like phosphate and nitrate, fueling algae growth. To reduce waste, feed high-quality flakes, live pods, or phyto blends and monitor nutrient levels regularly.

Do I need to turn off filters when feeding coral?

It's often helpful to turn off your return pump or wavemakers briefly when target feeding coral. This allows them to catch food more efficiently. After 10–15 minutes, resume normal flow. Use coral-safe foods like phyto or small live zooplankton for best results.

What fish benefit most from live food like pods?

Dragonets, seahorses, wrasses, anthias, and small reef fish often rely on live food like copepods and amphipods. These species may refuse flakes or pellets, making live food essential to their health and survival in captivity.

Can I mix live food with dry flakes?

Yes! Mixing high-quality flake food with live food creates a well-rounded diet. Live pods offer enrichment and help clean detritus, while flakes deliver consistent nutrients. This approach supports both fish and invertebrate health.

How many copepods and amphipods are in each portion?

Each portion contains a live biomass of Gammarus species. For example, our Medium size includes approximately 600–900 pods in 5ml, while the XXL size provides 10,000+ pods in 50ml. Quantities may vary based on density and reproduction.

What do live copepods and amphipods eat?

They feed on detritus, microalgae, and phytoplankton. For optimal results, supplement with our Live Phytoplankton Blend to maintain a healthy pod population.

How do I dose live phytoplankton in my aquarium?

A general guideline is 5ml of live phytoplankton per 10 gallons of aquarium volume, dosed daily. Shake well before use and store in the refrigerator between feedings.

Are copepods and amphipods safe for reef aquariums and marine fish?

Yes. Live copepods and amphipods are reef-safe and commonly used to support picky marine fish like mandarins, seahorses, and wrasses. They also help clean up detritus and improve biodiversity.

Do I need to acclimate copepods before adding them to my tank?

No drip acclimation is required. Float the sealed bag to match your tank’s temperature, strain through a mesh, and then add the pods directly to your tank or refugium.

How often should I feed live food like pods?

Live food like copepods and amphipods can be offered daily or several times a week depending on your tank’s needs. They're especially beneficial as a regular supplement for picky eaters like mandarins, seahorses, and anthias.

Why is live food better than frozen or dry food?

Live food is more natural, helps reduce uneaten waste, and promotes natural hunting behavior in fish. It also boosts biodiversity by adding beneficial microfauna to your tank's ecosystem.

Can I combine flake food, phyto, and pods?

Yes! Flake food supports daily nutrition, live phytoplankton feeds filter feeders and pods, and amphipods provide clean protein. Together, they mimic natural reef feeding dynamics and support coral, fish, and microcrustaceans.

Are copepods good for seahorses and mandarins?

Absolutely. Seahorses and mandarins often reject frozen food, but they readily hunt live pods. Amphipods and copepods provide a natural, highly nutritious live food source for these delicate species.

How do pods support my reef tank's biodiversity?

Pods help clean detritus, feed picky fish, and populate refugiums. Their presence supports natural nutrient cycles and mimics wild reef environments, making them a cornerstone of a thriving marine system.

My pods aren't moving—are they dead?

Not necessarily. Copepods and amphipods often go dormant during shipping. Float the sealed bag for 15 minutes, pour contents into a white bowl under light, and watch for twitching or movement. Aeration helps revive them quickly.

How should I store live phytoplankton?

Refrigerate phytoplankton immediately upon arrival. Shake daily to keep it oxygenated and prevent clumping. Use within 2–3 weeks for maximum potency.

Do I need to acclimate pods or phyto before adding?

For pods, float the sealed bag to temperature, strain through a fine mesh, and pour into the tank. For phyto, no acclimation is needed—just dose as directed after shaking.

How can I avoid cloudy water when feeding live food?

Start with smaller portions, and dose consistently instead of all at once. Live food is less likely to cause water quality issues than frozen or powdered food, especially when used with filtration or refugiums.

Can I culture pods or phyto at home?

Yes! You can grow copepods in a small tank or jar using clean saltwater, gentle aeration, and live phytoplankton. Feed regularly and harvest adults every few days. Phytoplankton can be cultured with light, nutrients, and daily shaking.

Acclimation

Thank You for Your Order from AquariumDepot.com

We strive for 100% customer satisfaction and want your new amphipods to thrive in their new home. Please review the quick guide and videos below before adding them to your aquarium. Proper acclimation helps minimize stress and supports long-term success.

How to Acclimate Amphipods

Follow these beginner-friendly steps for reef tanks, nano tanks, refugiums, and live-rock systems.

Prep Your Tank

Dim your aquarium lights or turn them off. Low lighting helps amphipods find hiding places faster.
Turn off mechanical filtration (filter socks, sponges, canister filters, power filters). Do not turn off heaters.
Choose a low-flow release area such as a refugium, back corners of the tank, macroalgae (chaeto), or rock crevices.

Temperature Match

Keep the bag sealed. Your pods arrive in a clear long cylindrical bag tied with a knot—leave it tied.
Float the sealed bag for 5–10 minutes in your sump or display tank to equalize temperature and reduce stress.
Gently rotate the bag to resuspend pods. Do not shake. A soft swirl helps move amphipods off the sides of the bag.

Release the Pods

Turn pumps off for 10–20 minutes so pods are not pulled into filtration before they can settle.
Open the bag and pour gently into a low-flow zone—into a chaeto bundle, behind rocks, in a refugium chamber, or near shaded areas.
Release during low lighting. Nighttime or dimmed lights provide natural cover from fish.

Let Them Settle

Wait 10–20 minutes before restoring flow so amphipods can grab onto rocks, algae, and surfaces.
Turn pumps and lighting back on and resume normal filtration.
Allow pods to settle without feeding for a few hours to reduce immediate hunting by fish.

Helpful Videos

What to Do If There Is a Problem with Your Order

Learn More About Caring for Your Amphipod Shipment

As with any live shipment, unexpected issues can occur in transit. If something does not look right when your order arrives, please:

Watch the “What to Do If There Is a Problem” video above.
Take clear photos of the product and packing slip.
Submit a claim through our File a Claim online form as soon as possible so we can review and help.

We genuinely appreciate your business and will always do our best to work with you and support your success.

Why Acclimation Matters

Amphipods experience a rapid change in temperature, lighting, and water chemistry when they move from our systems to yours. Proper acclimation helps them avoid shock so they can quickly find shelter, begin grazing, and reproduce in your rockwork, refugium, and filtration areas.

Tips for Pod Reproduction

Add amphipods after your display lights are off for the night to give them extra time to hide.
If your shipment includes filter media, tuck the media into a rock crevice and leave it in place. Amphipods will slowly migrate from the media into the rock.
To “spy” on your pod population, shine a flashlight into the tank after lights out. Using a red film or balloon over the lens can make them easier to see before they scatter.
Remember: adult amphipods are small and often hide in shadows and crevices. You may not see them immediately, even when they are present and active.

For additional guidance on recommended water parameters, visit:
Water Parameters to Pay Attention To