Amphipod Obsession

[Robbedigital]

Been in the hobby for 8 years and I've had a fascination for Amphipods all along. I've only kept nano tanks so far and and they've gotten smaller and smaller (32 gal, 14, and now 7). Also, the majority of the time Ive kept it Invert Only with corals and CUC.
It's a little frustrating to me that I don't see too many posts about amphipods, but I guess they're not as big a deal to most. But I know there has to be plenty reefers who breed them for food. I think that's what I'd like to see more of. Where the amphipod breeders at!!!?? Show me some pix and vids. I'm hurtin for it!

 

[resortez]

From a couple of months ago while rinsing some sponges.

 

[sklywag]

Just set this up a week ago using water change water and dipped the sock in it. My kids old desktop frog setup. No sand which I really think I need to add. Just the rock from my sump that I replaced with Chaeto. I’ll dip this weeks filter sock in it as well. Mentioned in a post not long ago about how many thousands of micro life we rinse out that we can’t see while we pick out all the large copepods and amphipods. So I decided to do the same. I also put in the Chaeto I remove from the screen keeping it from return pump section. There a shore crab in there from the rock I used to cycle my tank. From microcosm to 2” crab about four months.
We have a vase on our dining room table with a plant in it with just rock and water. You can see micro micro life moving about on the glass as small as the periods that end this sentence without expanding screen.
Like to get my hands on some micro stars but not interested in $5 a piece from online shops.
Checkout “Life in Jars” on the YouTube. There’s others that copy him but he’s the longest going. Been watching for years.

 

[Robbedigital]

Just set this up a week ago using water change water and dipped the sock in it. My kids old desktop frog setup. No sand which I really think I need to add. Just the rock from my sump that I replaced with Chaeto. I’ll dip this weeks filter sock in it as well. Mentioned in a post not long ago about how many thousands of micro life we rinse out that we can’t see while we pick out all the large copepods and amphipods. So I decided to do the same. I also put in the Chaeto I remove from the screen keeping it from return pump section. There a shore crab in there from the rock I used to cycle my tank. From microcosm to 2” crab about four months.
We have a vase on our dining room table with a plant in it with just rock and water. You can see micro micro life moving about on the glass as small as the periods that end this sentence without expanding screen.
Like to get my hands on some micro stars but not interested in $5 a piece from online shops.
Checkout “Life in Jars” on the YouTube. There’s others that copy him but he’s the longest going. Been watching for years.

I love it! That's where all the critters go who would normally spend their time out on the train tracks or abandoned buildings. Not a trustworthy bunch. But boring without them IMO.

 

[Robbedigital]

From a couple of months ago while rinsing some sponges.
View attachment 98430

Mmmmmmm Gimey! I sure hope you rescued those critters!!

 

[JohnBRZ]

Just set this up a week ago using water change water and dipped the sock in it. My kids old desktop frog setup. No sand which I really think I need to add. Just the rock from my sump that I replaced with Chaeto. I’ll dip this weeks filter sock in it as well. Mentioned in a post not long ago about how many thousands of micro life we rinse out that we can’t see while we pick out all the large copepods and amphipods. So I decided to do the same. I also put in the Chaeto I remove from the screen keeping it from return pump section. There a shore crab in there from the rock I used to cycle my tank. From microcosm to 2” crab about four months.
We have a vase on our dining room table with a plant in it with just rock and water. You can see micro micro life moving about on the glass as small as the periods that end this sentence without expanding screen.
Like to get my hands on some micro stars but not interested in $5 a piece from online shops.
Checkout “Life in Jars” on the YouTube. There’s others that copy him but he’s the longest going. Been watching for years.

I always wanted to setup one of these life in jars. I find it very interesting to see and discover the vast diversity of tiny life that go unnoticed. after all the research I ended up setting up ecosystem for Opae Ula instead. the white one has been running for almost 2 years now with no heater, no filter, feeding is not require but I do feed tiny amount once a week. it's also house snails and 4 species of copepod and
everyone seem happy and reproducing like crazy.

Do you think pulsing xenia would survive in your setup with no heater or filter? would be cool to add pulsing xenia, asterina starfish, micro brittle starfish, and all the tiny critter you find in a reef system that would survive such a setup.

 

[Kobin]

I always wanted to setup one of these life in jars. I find it very interesting to see and discover the vast diversity of tiny life that go unnoticed. after all the research I ended up setting up ecosystem for Opae Ula instead. the white one has been running for almost 2 years now with no heater, no filter, feeding is not require but I do feed tiny amount once a week. it's also house snails and 4 species of copepod and
everyone seem happy and reproducing like crazy.

Do you think pulsing xenia would survive in your setup with no heater or filter? would be cool to add pulsing xenia, asterina starfish, micro brittle starfish, and all the tiny critter you find in a reef system that would survive such a setup.
View attachment 98455 View attachment 98456 View attachment 98453 View attachment 98454

How often do your opae ula reproduce? I setup a small 3 gallon around December with about 20 if them. They love hiding in the rocks and going in the chaeto. I heard they were super slow breeders

 

[JohnBRZ]

How often do your opae ula reproduce? I setup a small 3 gallon around December with about 20 if them. They love hiding in the rocks and going in the chaeto. I heard they were super slow breeders

I heard they're super slow too so I started with 150 in a 4 gallon since I want a busy tank and didn't want to wait. I feed them a tiny amount once to week to try increase breeding and I think it worked. Got maybe a thousand or so baby shrimps from last season. they reproduce during the warmer months and it started already this year. do you see any berried female yet?

 

[Kobin]

I heard they're super slow too so I started with 150 in a 4 gallon since I want a busy tank and didn't want to wait. I feed them a tiny amount once to week to try increase breeding and I think it worked. Got maybe a thousand or so baby shrimps from last season. they reproduce during the warmer months and it started already this year. do you see any berried female yet?

No berried shrimps yet. I was considering picking up more to up the activity in my colony! I should try feeding as well

 

[sklywag]

Not sure if it would or not. I have no light on it nor is it air tight as the guy that does “Life in Jars”. It gets diffused light in the after noon till sunset through opaque windows in my garage. I do have Asterna stars in my tank I see once in a while. I can try some Xenia. It’s very very low flow in it. The shore crab in there may eat it, not sure.
When it was in my display it would graze on the rocks like the hermits.
Those set ups you have are very cool. Post those on S.C.A.P.E. and you’ll start a new fad.

 

[Kobin]

Here's my little setup that desperately needs the front glass cleaned andneeds more shrimpies

 

[resortez]

Different but I also appreciate the work these guys do.

 

[SBreef]

The Opae tanks are sweet. I remember the ecospheres that had them and some algae. Supposedly self contained but I don't buy it.