Tiny crustacean zooplankton called “copepods” are like cows of the sea, eating the phytoplankton and converting the sun's energy into food for higher trophic levels in the food web.

What should I feed my copepods?

Feed meaty foods that break down fairly quickly in the water column. A good mixture of marine pellet and marine flake fish foods ground up in a mortar and pestle will yield terrific results. You can also culture phytoplankton in a 2-liter plastic bottle to feed your copepods.

What does phytoplankton feed on?

Phytoplankton rely on nutrients found in their surroundings, such as phosphate, nitrate, and calcium, to thrive. In addition to phytoplankton and zooplankton, two even smaller kinds of plankton can be found floating in the sea. Bacterioplankton are bacteria and virioplankton are viruses.