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.

Ultimate Build Your Own Large Refugium Pack - with Free Shipping & an Excellent for Nutrient Control in an Aquarium

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MAC-REFUGIUMPACK-LG

$99.99

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Orders Shipping to the contiguous United States - via 2nd Day Air

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Orders Shipping to Florida - via Ground

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Description

Ultimate Refugium Pack – Chaeto + Pods (MD) + Phytoplankton (16oz)

Build a thriving refugium in one shot. This bundle pairs fast-growing Chaetomorpha macroalgae with a live culture of amphipods & copepods, a fresh 16 oz bottle of live phytoplankton, and porous refugium rock to seed your microfauna. Great for nutrient export, biodiversity, and natural fish/coral nutrition.

What’s Included

Pods – MD (5 ml | ~600–900+) — Mixed Amphipods & Copepods for clean-up and live fish/coral food.
View our MD Pods product for full details
Chaetomorpha – Small Portion — Approx. baseball-size clump. Stiff, filamentous strands (“spaghetti algae”) ideal for tumbling/refugium growth.
Live Phytoplankton – 16 oz — Daily pod feed and water-polishing microalgae blend.

Why It Works

Grow your pods — Phyto feeds pods; pods multiply and graze detritus/film.
Reduce nutrients — Chaeto uptakes nitrate and phosphate when lit & tumbled.
Natural nutrition — Pods are irresistible to finicky fish and LPS/zoas.

How to Use

Chaeto: Rinse in tank water; place in refugium with gentle tumble and strong light.
Pods: Turn off return/powerheads; add at night to refugium & rock. Lights on next morning.
Phyto: Dose 5–20 ml/day (or per your nutrient goals) to feed pods and fine-filter feeders.

Shipping

Free UPS Next Day Air is included in this bundle (a $29.99 value). We pack live items to arrive healthy and ready to seed your refugium.

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How to take care

Click here for detailed water parameters

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Saltwater Macro Algae Mangrove Shoot (Rhizophora mangle) & Excellent for Nutrient Control in an Aquarium

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Did you know?

As the coral reefs of the world become more endangered, addressing sustainability is the number one concern among coral growers. AquariumDepot.com has been a certified aquaculture facility since 2011. Since receiving our certification, AquariumDepot has increased the number of sustainable products to the marketplace by 90 percent. We also support organizations like ReefCause.com, who work directly with conservation groups to sustain the animals and their homes.