How do copepods benefit my reef tank?
Copepods eat bacteria, diatoms and other tiny, single-celled organisms in the water. Free-swimming copepods are a component of zooplankton and are eaten by many organisms including mussels, fish and fish larvae. Although some marine fish will breed and grow in captivity, others are more problematic and require specialized diets. Copepods are the natural food for fish in the ocean and their movement in the water column elicits a strong feeding response from many fish. Copepods have naturally higher levels of fatty acids which is necessary for good health and nutrition for your fish and invertebrates.
While I'm going on and on about copepods I'd like to reference the below graphic on what may or may not be a copepod in your already established reef tank. |