rotifer ,green water, and brine shrimp raising
- Thread starter dbgt
- Start date
bang guy
Moderator
I use a broken air stone just to keep the tubing at the bottom. If you scoop a glass full of water from the Rotifer culture and hold it up to the light you can see tiny white dots, these are the rotifers.
I keep the Rotifer culture at a slightly lower Salinity than the fry tank. My fry tank is connected to my reef so the Salinity is 35ppt. I keep the Rotifer Culture at 32ppt.
Don't use old tank water for the Rotifers. Mix it up fresh and age it like you would with your reef tank.
I don't really clean the water. I use the sustained culture method and just harvest 1/4 of them every day and replace the water. Once a week I siphon all of the detritus off the bottom of the containers.
I suggest maintaining at least two cultures in case you get a crash.
I keep the Rotifer culture at a slightly lower Salinity than the fry tank. My fry tank is connected to my reef so the Salinity is 35ppt. I keep the Rotifer Culture at 32ppt.
Don't use old tank water for the Rotifers. Mix it up fresh and age it like you would with your reef tank.
I don't really clean the water. I use the sustained culture method and just harvest 1/4 of them every day and replace the water. Once a week I siphon all of the detritus off the bottom of the containers.
I suggest maintaining at least two cultures in case you get a crash.
overanalyzer
Active Member
Bang - what is instant algea?? a flake or sinking pellet or something???
tsl
Member
If you are really interested in growing your own rotifers and artemia I suggest that you check out the following web-site:
http://www.aquaculture-supply.com
They sell rotifer cultures and all of the supplies that you will need to raise and harvest them. They also sell a very good book called "Plankton Culture Manual" that is very thorough and which I very much recommend. It tells you exactly how to grow rotifers successfully.
By the way, you can use existing aquarium water for your rotifers, it just has to be sterilized first. You can do that by heating the aquarium water in the microwave. Just make sure you don't add rotifers before the temperature goes back to normal.
http://www.aquaculture-supply.com
They sell rotifer cultures and all of the supplies that you will need to raise and harvest them. They also sell a very good book called "Plankton Culture Manual" that is very thorough and which I very much recommend. It tells you exactly how to grow rotifers successfully.
By the way, you can use existing aquarium water for your rotifers, it just has to be sterilized first. You can do that by heating the aquarium water in the microwave. Just make sure you don't add rotifers before the temperature goes back to normal.
diane4
Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
Rotifers grow fine in old salt buckets. You can feed them Instant Algae and not have to bother with culturing the green water.
BangGuy, I see that you are the SFW forum resident expert at clownfish breeding and rearing. I just read your post quoted above.
I have Tomatoe clownfish eggs that are 2 days old and I feel overwhelmed with growing the green water cultures. However, your comment that you can grow rotifers in an old salt bucket and feed them algea, that is great news.
If I do that, what do I need in the bucket? Heater and at what temp? Thermometer. Air tubing for bubbles. What else do I need to do? And, is there a way I can get live rotifer food for my clownfish eggs because I don't have the culture now.
Please advise me further on the process of raising the rotifers in a salt bucket without the greenwater. Thanks.
Rotifers grow fine in old salt buckets. You can feed them Instant Algae and not have to bother with culturing the green water.
BangGuy, I see that you are the SFW forum resident expert at clownfish breeding and rearing. I just read your post quoted above.
I have Tomatoe clownfish eggs that are 2 days old and I feel overwhelmed with growing the green water cultures. However, your comment that you can grow rotifers in an old salt bucket and feed them algea, that is great news.
If I do that, what do I need in the bucket? Heater and at what temp? Thermometer. Air tubing for bubbles. What else do I need to do? And, is there a way I can get live rotifer food for my clownfish eggs because I don't have the culture now.
Please advise me further on the process of raising the rotifers in a salt bucket without the greenwater. Thanks.
bang guy
Moderator
Use two buckets if you can. Keep the water between 70F and 80F with just a few big bubbles coming from the bottom of the bucket to keep the water circulating. Keep the water a noticeably green using the cryopaste of instant algae. Harvest 1/2 gallon of rotifers every day from each bucket even if you don't need them and replace with sterile saltwater at 27 - 30ppt. Be sure to top off the buckets with freshwater daily to replace evaporated water.
