brine shrimp hatching

[NirvanaFan]

I get decent hatch rates (I think) out of my brine shrimp. The eggs are decapsulated and then bubbled in inverted 2 liter bottles. The eggs seem to collect on the curved portion near the neck unless I really bubble them. I don't want to damage the nauplii.

Gresham said in another thread that airstones provide better water movement. Does anybody use an airstone in their brine shrimp hatcheries? I'm ready to look into making/buying a different hatchery.

 

[jayelblock]

You can keep the eggs from collecting on the neck by choosing a better bottle. I made a study of bottle shapes, and if I recall, Fresca is bad and Sprite Zero is good. Look for the bottles with long sloping shoulders.

 

[RoscoPColtrane]

In addition to bubbling from the bottom I stick a rigid airline in from the top. If I do not do this settling occurs in the cap.

 

[Luis A M]

All you have to do is bubbling it strong.A dedicated small air pump will do.

 

[NirvanaFan]

Thanks guys. I have some of the newer Coca-Cola company bottles. I'll switch over to them exclusively. They have a different shaped neck. I'll bubble them more too and prevent settling. I don't use tubing going through the cap, just rigid tubing.

I'm using one output on a Whisper pump rated for 30-60 gallons for two stations. It is dialed back a decent amount.

Thanks again.

 

[billsreef]

So long as the water is boiling over the top, you can't aerate them too strongly Don't worry about hurting them, you can't. Just get a good strong rolling boil going.

 

[jeff@zina.com]

I use 1 and 2 liter soda bottles and have for decades. The water really should look like it's boiling. A rigid line to the cap end works best for me or I used to drill the line into the caps.

Jeff

 

[NirvanaFan]

Thanks Bill. I was hoping you would chime in. Looks like I'm off to buy a dedicated air pump for the brine shrimp. I don't want to "rob" my rotifers of too much air.