How to choose the correct Copepods for your tank
WHAT ARE THE RIGHT COPEPODS FOR YOUR TANK?
Generally speaking there are two major sub-groups of copepods that we offer. They are:
BENTHIC (Crawlers), these copepods spend the majority of their life on the substrate and rock work in our tanks. You may see them on the glass if you allow a film to develop in an inconspicuous area. These copepods are what we recommend for all tanks for two reasons. They are the most likely to colonize as their habits make them less available for being preyed upon and they are an awesome micro CUC while adding diversity to our mini ecosystem. We culture 4 benthic species Tigriopus, Tisbe, Apocyclops, and our unique Harpa Pod (close relation to Tisbe, but smaller and powerful reproducer). Of the 4 the Tigriopus is the least likely to colonize mostly because they move in a manner that attracts attention and elicits a strong feeding response, yet most popular as they are larger and more easily seen, the other 4 are well known to reproduce within closed systems like our aquariums. The Benthic Pods are perfect for fish such as Mandarin Gobies/Dragonets, Sand Sifting Gobies, Dragonets and many more.
We offer our pods in different densities. Our ORIGINAL density which has gotten many positive reviews based upon actual life in each bottle.
EXTREME PODS harvested with 50% less water for a double density concentration of Copepods per bottle
DOUNLE PODS combining our EXTREME PODS with our HIGH DENSITY Harpa Pods for a double density combination including our specialty pod we have dubbed the HARPA.
Benthic pods are found in the following COPEPOD BUFFETS
BLENDED/BELENDE EXTREME - Tigriopus, Tisbe and Apocyclops
PREMIUM/PREMIUM EXTREME - Blended with rotifers added without compromising the density of the copepods by adding them without additional water.
MAJESTIC DOUBLE POD - 50% PREMIUM 50% HARPA PODS
PELAGIC (Free Swimmers) these copepods spend their lives active in the water column making them the perfect copepods for our “Cruisers”, high metabolism fish in constant motion that need an ever present food source and or frequent feedings, such as Leopard Wrasses, Anthias, Cardinals, and more. These copepods are less likely to establish strong colonies mainly due to their ready availability to be preyed upon. We recommend dosing these pods with some regularity based on the population of the cruiser type fish mentioned above. Dosing them in a refugium may increase the chances of established colonies but still less likely than Benthic species. We culture 3 species of Pelagic species Pseudo, Acartia and Parvo.
Pelagic pods are found in the following COPEPOD BUFFETS
MIXED/MIXED EXTREME - Pseudo, Acartia and Parvo
SELECT/SELECT EXTREME - Mixed with Rotifers added in the same manner as above
ENERGETIC - 50% SELECT EXTREME 50% HARPA (Benthic)
GIGANTIC - 25% PREMIUM EXTREME 25% SELECT EXTREME 50% HARPA
We recommend the following sizes for tanks of the following volume in gallons.
8 Oz Nanno up to 20
16 Oz up to 40
32 Oz up to 90
1/2 Gallon up to 150
Gallon up to 250
EXTREME or DOUBLE PODS can populate a tank of twice the above.
How and When We Ship
NEW 2 DAY SHIPPING POLICY!
With the Holidays upon us, UPS has altered their delivery lead time estimates not in our favor. Most areas that were previously 3 day routes are now 4 days. Although we package with the utmost care and consideration, times of extreme temperatures add stress to our products and challenges to us to deliver in the condition we expect for our customers. So far we have had nearly 100% success even in these below freezing conditions. Even with our selection of heat packs, 40-60-72&96 hour options, 4 day ground shipping means that any delay will push a standard delivery from Friday to the following Monday which makes it 7 Days. With our care in packaging we have had product arrive in 7-10 days in excellent shape, but during times of moderate temps between 30-90.
FOR THIS REASON WE WILL NOT BE OFFERING AN ARRIVE ALIVE GUARANTEE ON GROUND SHIPMENTS!! BUT LIVE ARRIVE IS GUARANTEED FOR STYROFOAM AND 2 DAY SHIPPING!*
While we do not recommend ground shipping especially in extreme times, we will continue to offer it at our current rates but without the Live Arrival Guarantee. This allows our customers an option of saving a few dollars to assume the risk.
NEW LOWER PRICES
At the same time, we have negotiated better rates with UPS and are passing these savings on to our customers. Effective immediately 2 DAY UPS shipping available at these new lower rates.
Purchases of:
$0-$29.99 2 DAY SHIPPING. $14.99
$30-$59.99 2 DAY SHIPPING. $9.99
$60 and up 2 DAY SHIPPING. FREE
That’s right for just $5 more smaller orders can get 2 DAY SHIPPING, Mid sized purchases 2 DAY SHIPPING is now $15 CHEAPER THAN BEFORE, and we have DROPPED FROM $75 down to $60 for FREE 2 DAY DELIVERY.
NEW EXTREME WEATHER OPTIONS
We are now offering Styrofoam shipping boxes for an additional charge. Choose this option for FULL LIVE ARRIVE GUARANTEE when temperatures are above 90 degrees or below 30 degrees and if your order arrives DOA we will replace your order at no cost, once verified. If you choose to ship without the Styrofoam, we still guarantee live arrival on two day shipping, we will package in thermal insulated box liners, with heat and/or ice packs, but we will REPLACE PRODUCT ONLY, customer will pay only for shipping. We have achieved very high success rates with the before mentioned practices but are adding options to allow people in our nations Hot Spots and Artic Tundra to be able to order year round. This allows you to save by giving you options while choosing the risk you are willing to take, and allows us to keep our prices as low as possible by not having to factor the cost of the higher priced packaging into every order. Please choose your option at check out.
We offer multiple shipping options.
To the 48 contiguous states we offer:
UPS Ground or Priority Mail FREE over $30
2 Day UPS as follows
Purchases of:
$0-$29.99 2 DAY SHIPPING. $14.99
$30-$59.99 2 DAY SHIPPING. $9.99
$60 and up 2 DAY SHIPPING. FREE
(as 2 day not guaranteed, FREE shipments showing a 2 day estimated delivery will ship ground or USPS Priority Mail).
Overnight FREE over $300.
We ship on Monday and Tuesday all methods. We only ship FREE or Paid 2 Day on Wednesdays and FREE or paid overnight on Thursdays to avoid extended weekend delays.
You can now choose to ship in styrofoam shipping boxes at checkout.
Other shipping requests available please contact us with questions.