Copepod is a zooplankton used as live feed for fish larviculture. This study involved the development of continuous culture system for copepod production. Growth of copepod in batch culture was performed in 1 L culture vessel supplemented with excess amount of the microalga Isochrysis galbana. Specific growth rate of 0.17 and maximum density of 3,500 individuals/L were obtained from this experiment. Thereafter, growth of copepod in continuous culture system consisted of a 2 L photobioreactor for the continuous production of the marine microalga Isochrysis galbana and a 5 L culture vessel for copepod was investigated. Dilution of the algal reactor was 0.2/day which referred to the specific growth rate from batch culture. The results showed that copepod grew well in continuous culture system during the 79 days experimental period. Average dilution rate of the continuous culture system was apparently 0.24/day. Mixture of various growth stages i.e. nauplius, copepodid and adult copepod were simultaneously found in the culture vessel. Average total density of copepod in the culture vessel was 10,873 ± 4,388 Copepod./L. Most of the copepod harvested from the system was in nauplius stage with average productivity of 1,856 Copepod/L/day.. For the development of continuous copepod culture system, inline sterilization of algal culture medium using 0.3 microns filtration and heat at 80-90˚C for 3-4 seconds were applied. Culture medium in stocking tank was pumped through the inline sterilizer before dripped into the algal photobioreactor. This technique was effectively reduce the contamination of unwanted microorganisms into both algal and copepod reactors. Copepod produced from the bioreactor was harvested and water was treated and recycled. The water recycle was performed by chlorine treatment and filtration using 0.3 microns cartridge filter. Water then reused for the algal medium preparation. This water recycle was operated throughout 33 days of experimental period.
