I guess some folks don't have a big issue with ammonia, but I sure am. I am running about a 3 or 4 gallons in a 5 gallon culture bucket. It is about all I can do keep it below 2 ppm with agressive water changes every day or 2 and running amquel daily. Is this what it takes to keep these things from killing themselves with ammonia?
Controlling ammonia in rotifer culture?
- Thread starter jetfixr
- Start date
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
Oddly enough, I have heard of a method. Drop a sponge filter in there with them. (Thanks, Kathy!) You probably lose some rots to the filter, but you more than make up for it with increased production. You could also use something like ClorAmX.
gpsmart
New member
I used to have nothing but trouble with my rotifers cultures. I changed from having a couple of small cultures to having one 150litre drum outside exposed to the weather. I take out about 30litres a day and collect the rotifers from this. I replace this with phyto and new salt water. The only thing I ever check is salinity and I have more rotifers than I can use. I have never cleaned the culture. This can be done with a smaller drum if you don't have space or don't want to be using this volume of water. When I was only using about 15litres a day my rotifer production was low so I would say you need to be using at least 20% of your total volume daily and size your drum/bucket accordingly.
Good luck if you decide to try this method.
Graham
Good luck if you decide to try this method.
Graham
Lifes A Beach
Premium Member
Try to figure out the source of the ammonia and you'll probably have better results. Are you using Instant Algae or live phyto? If you use too much, this could foul the water quickly causing ammonia problems. Rather than just doing a water change, I would try siphoning out the rotifers (without getting any of the debris from the bucket) and starting them again in a clean pail. The junk that accumulates in the pail can be pretty foul. Then add some more saltwater. I wouldn't recommend using Amquel for rotifers.
I've had the same rotifer cultures going for over a year now. I clean the buckets every 3-4 months and don't do water changes. All I add is the Instant Algae twice a day and r/o water when needed and I've never had an ammonia problem.
I've had the same rotifer cultures going for over a year now. I clean the buckets every 3-4 months and don't do water changes. All I add is the Instant Algae twice a day and r/o water when needed and I've never had an ammonia problem.
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
Did you use a sponge, or a sponge filter? Two different beasts.
I used a corner type sponge filter from the LFS. I have been doing water changes as well. When I do my water changes I siphon off all but the last inch or 2 in the bucket where sludge resides. I then squeeze the nasty stuff out of the sponge filter. I move the rots over to a fresh bucket with about 2 liters of their water. The fresh bucket has 2.5 gallons of freshly mixed saltwater that has been PH, temp and salinity matched. The sponge filter is not yet a week old so it is very possible it has not had a chance to cycle. As for the phyto, I was running DT's phyto keeping the water tinted light green, a little darker in the evenings so it would last thru the night. Yesterday I just got some Instant algae and set it up with a peristaltic pump I had laying around, still trying to dial it in. I can automate the feeding but the frequent water changes are making this a big hassle.
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
These are the ones you need, but, yeah, they won't help you much 'til they've cycled.
http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategories/457/HydroSponge-Filters/sponge filter/0
http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategories/457/HydroSponge-Filters/sponge filter/0
kerusso316
New member
"Yesterday I just got some Instant algae and set it up with a peristaltic pump"....How do you plan to keep the phyto cold in the pump and pipe?Just wondering.
It is in a styrofoam cooler with 2 ice packs in it. I change them out every day. Never gets over about 53 degrees. The tubing running from the cooler is really short and small in diameter, so it has no time to spoil while in the tubing. Still having a bit of an ammonia issue, but i am coping with it.
If you are using Instant Algae Rotifer Diet it is highly suggest using Cloram-X every time you feed (or on a peristaltic pump).
The formula is:
mix at 66.5 grams of Cloram-X to enough RODI water to make 1 liter of final product. Use in a 1:1 ratio with Instant Algae Rotifer Diet.
For Phyto-Feast Rotifer Diet the formula is cut in half.
33.5 grams Cloram-X to enough RODI to make 1 liter final product.
Use in a 1:1 ratio with Phyto-Feast Rotifer Diet.
The formula is:
mix at 66.5 grams of Cloram-X to enough RODI water to make 1 liter of final product. Use in a 1:1 ratio with Instant Algae Rotifer Diet.
For Phyto-Feast Rotifer Diet the formula is cut in half.
33.5 grams Cloram-X to enough RODI to make 1 liter final product.
Use in a 1:1 ratio with Phyto-Feast Rotifer Diet.
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
Hey Gresham! Did you all ever figure out the 66.5 grams/liter ratio in an easier measurement? How many tablespoons would that be?
Thanks!
Thanks!
I will have to ask our scientist (when leave today) about the properties of Cloram-X, in particular if it absorbs moisture from the air like salts do. If it doesn't pick up much water weight, I'll measure it myself next week and let you know. (I'll post here, MOFIB and on our website)
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
Thanks!
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
Thanks, Gresh! You rock! I just split a small culture into a carboy, so I'll get a good chance to test this out.
kerusso316
New member
I was thinking about a few pieces of dry reef rock.Has anyone tryed it.
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
By the way, Gresham, I've always had trouble with my rotifer cultures before. The combination of IA Shellfish Diet, ClorAmX, and maybe the carboys with small necks to help minimize evaporation and salinity swings (dang dry state) seems to be making it very easy. Thanks!
