Are Copepods Visible?

[ReefSparky]

When I purchased chaeto for the first time a couple of weeks ago, it was green and bright, looking almost like green plastic monofilament fishing line. It's in my newly made refugium, under a spiral compact flourescent daylight bulb. The light is lit overnight when the main tank's light is out.

I've read chaeto is a harboring agent for copepods, and I've noticed my chaeto has changed appearance somewhat. It now appears almost dusty, with white/yellowish grains or specs that cover each strand individually. It is no less green, but the green almost appears to be masked by the white/yellow discoloration.

I'm wondering if this is copepods. I know copepods are nearly microscopic, and I have no evidence that I now have them since purchasing the chaeto.

So is this textural/coloration change normal? Good? Bad? Healthy?

[amcarrig]

Sounds like your algae is dying. How old is the tank that you've added the chaeto too? Is it possible that the tank is too "young" and the algae doesn't have enough to eat?

As for copepods, they are pretty small but if you take a magnifying glass and check out the glass in your refugium when the lights are out, you might see them.

[ReefSparky]

the tank finished cycling about 3 weeks ago. I've been looking for the cope's with a flashlight at night. Nothing.

[amcarrig]

And what have you got in the tank fish wise to feed the algae?

[ReefSparky]

Originally Posted by amcarrig

And what have you got in the tank fish wise to feed the algae?

Nitrates are at 0. Other than the daylight bulb in the fuge; nothing that I know of.

[amcarrig]

So, you don't have any fish in the system producing waste?

[ReefSparky]

it's a 55g tank with 2 small banggai cardinals and a good sized skunk cleaner shrimp.

[amcarrig]

Most likely, your water doesn't have enough stuff in it to feed the algae yet. We like to wait until the tank is a month or so old before we add one. How big is your refugium and how many watts is that bulb over it?

[reef_guru]

sounds like the cheato is struggling

[ReefSparky]

the fuge and all its details can be seen here:

Creation of the fuge pic thread