NEW UP TO 12 x condensed concentrated Marine live copepods in 150mm x 16mm vial

Hi
I will be sending orders out Monday to  wed only

Happy reefing 

simon. 

ps exceptions to next day guaranteed postcodes below

We deliver by 5.30pm the next working day in the following postcode areas:

AB30 - 39, 41 - 45, 51 - 56

HS1, 3 - 9

IV21 - 28, 40 - 49, 51 - 56

KA27, 28

KW1 - 3, 5 - 15

KW16 Stromness Town only

PA20 (0&9)

PA28 - 38, 41 - 49, 76, 77

PH15, 17 - 26, 31 - 40, 49, 50

ZE1

We deliver within two working days by 5.30pm to the following postcodes areas:

HS2

PA60 - 75, 78

ZE2, 3

We deliver within three working days by 5.30pm to the following postcode areas:

KW16 - non Town

KW17

PH30, 41 - 44

Saturday delivery

Some businesses won't accept Saturday deliveries, including:

• banks

• building societies

• travel agents

• jewellers

• Post Office® branches

We can't guarantee Saturday delivery to Herm, Sark and Alderney.

IF YOU CANT ADD TO BASKET THEN CULTURES ARE MATURING USUALLY READY OVER THE WEEKEND FOR MON to WED DISPATCH - THIS IS THE CHEAPEST OFFERING FOR REPEAT CUSTOMERS AND DIRECT SELLING.  nORMALLY £13.24 , FOR 7 VIALS , WEEKLY-  ON SUBSCRIPTION IT IS £10.75 AS ITS FREEPOST WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE SUBSCRIPTION.

if you see my feedback for copepods ON EBAY AND AMAZON  you will see many happy customers receiving what i would expect in the hobby.. ie a nice dense super concentrated batch of copepods. Because of this you must unstopper the vials and mix with tank water asap.!! ;) 

Visit this site for repeat orders from other places I only send if very dense ... and also so there are minimal postage delays i will only send mon - thurs unless you request different and its urgent - ie feeding fry etc 

I figured that the postage limitations is a barrier for those wanting cost effective live food without breaking the bank, maybe wanting to restock or seed your own population or having a go at growing these really beneficial live food  for your tank yourself ;) 

Its like sample buying and experimenting before committing to larger volumes 

I have pictures of the the vials as best i can and is condensed down.  This makes postage cost effective, useful vial amounts for each day of the week if used that way. 

They can be kept in the fridge to slow metabolism and un-stoppering now and again helps gaseous exchange.

they are shipped with a hint of food for the journey and i would recommending if not adding all at once to add half volume tank water initially, then more later in a container. They will happily last a week like this without food if chilled.

Best place to add is sump or rocks at night when inhabitants are all asleep.  This variety will try and swim downwards and like to cling to rough surfaces where they will reproduce under favorable conditions .. 

Background info 

Copepods are shipped in a 150mm x 19mm vials as pictured at 1.022 salinity with a little phytoplankton (5% by volume)  it is a dense batch and required for the journey, this food will not harm your tank residents and most likely will be used up on arrival).  i only send out if max density hence list sporadically 

It is a dense quantity of LIVE COPEPOD  and are very tiny animals measuring  between 1300-2000 micrometers can be seen with the naked eye easily . COPEPOD's are often raised as food for live corals and fish larvae. They are the ideal medium  food for species of fish such as clownfish 2nd stage fry which have tiny larvae with very tiny mouths.  They keep the general fish population active healthy and great for their digestive system. (A welcome change to flakes and much more natural.  They are gut loaded with phyto as can be seen in the pics and also rotifers as seen in my other items for sale.

quoted from commercial supplier- 

"Why buy copepods for my system?

Copepods are the second largest source of protein in the oceans, second only to krill. They are the natural food of many fish in the oceans, especially the early life stages.

Some fish will not eat non-living foods, and require live feeds such as copepods and mysids. Some good examples are: mandarin gobies, any seahorse species, scooter blennies, and early life stages of dottybacks, chromis, tangs, flame angels, etc. Owners of these type of fish definitely need a consistent and reliable source of copepods for feeding.

Reef tank systems do better when there are a variety of natural organisms to maintain the ecological balance. The reason that "live rock" or "live sand" is such a great item is that it provides a foundation for healthy microorganisms that will allow the larger, more visible fish and invertebrates to thrive.

Over time, the population of the invertebrates from the live rock will naturally decline, as they are grazed by the corals, anemones, fish and shrimp in the tank.

copepods are a great way to boost your natural populations of copepods." 

water conditions 

are geared towards a reef tank and a major benefit for the health and well being of fish and can be added directly (just acclimatise for a few mins the water temp especially if its coming out of the fridge, one of the reasons I use pouches so as not to shock the culture) 

the salinity is at 1.022 - 1.025 to reflect most reef tanks using instant ocean crystals (I have taken a pic of my coral that i dose directly as my mix contains copepods and phytoplankton and its doing fine after 8 months and going strong)

Process

You will receive a good batch of copepods in bottle- I also gut load with phytoplankton 5 species

I filter using a 50 micron filer as seen and sieve through about 0.5  litres until the water has trouble getting through as can be seen due to the density. The process demands dosing literally every day about 1000 mls of phytoplankton to keep the liquid slightly green into a 15L system.  The fish and corals love the filtered gut loaded copepods.  This high density copepods culture has led in my 400L system to a self reproducing refugium and reef with arthropods and a range of invertebrates living on the live rock.  It also I believe contributed to my Blue Green Reef Chromis spawning regularly.

This cull is then put into the volume 100mls and repeated to the order stated  of clean salt water as specified with about a 5% dose of phytoplankton for the journey.  It is a very dense culture that you will receive and it may be an idea to dilute matching your order.  If you purchase per vial suggest diluting with equivalent vial of tank water etc .  This saves on costs on postage and is better value for money and helps acclimation.  The culture should only be in the postal system for 2 days max. I send first class post and only mon - thursday.

If you replenish your system regularly you will give these a good chance of survival especially with this density a good % will survive and I suggest dosing at night when the tank lights are out and the animals are less likely to be hunted.

The Copepods are detritivores and will stay in your tank, thriving and reproducing without any additional food.  The general fish population and invertebrates alike will be kept active for hours and provide endless hours of viewing hunting activities (I've wasted many an hour here ...)

BACKGROUND feeding info.

I have put in the pictures the 5 species of Phytoplankton I have cultured under good laboratory practice conditions. ( In plain English the plankton  is well sterilised, air goes through two vessels before coming into contact with the culture and produced to exacting water criteria.)

ph 8.2

0 on ammonia nitrite and nitrates

5 species in question

Nannochloropsis sp

Tetraselmis sp

Isochrysis

Pavlova

Thalassiosira weissflogii

if you want to set up a regular monthly order by paypal let me know  and will make sure you are fully stocked especially for the larger marine reef aquarium owners.  The product can always be kept longer in the fridge. remember to shake the bottles daily to put the creatures back in suspension so they don't clump and drain nutrients in their immediate surrounding.  It is a live product.

Almost any marine aquarium will benefit from the addition of copepods, 

message me with any questions 

sometimes the batches are not dense enough in my opinion and i will let you know and may delay shipping as i like my standard, it may involve waiting but I will advise as we may have till wait till the end of a cycle.

1st class sent Monday through latest thurs,USUALLY ARRIVING NEXT DAY - I DON'T ENTERTAIN 2ND CLASS AS IT CAN TAKE 3-5 DAYS. outside these days is by request only.