feeding Dwarfs

[twintrades]

OK im getting ready to get the tank going now i would like some input about feeding it self.

If im suposed to feed them a blizzard amount how do i get the un eaten food out after a hr or so ? How do you siphon all the water to remove them ??

Im was thinking about a drilled 2.5 galllon tank with a little sump. I thought about fitting a mesh filter on to get debris and un eaten brine.

The pumps would be off for feeding turned back on for cleaning. Work or not ??

 

[DanU]

The sump idea is a good one. I believe it is Seachem that sells "The Bag". It is a 150 micron bag that will catch the artemia naups. Easy to clean and re-use.

Dan

 

[twintrades]

Thats the idea. I would like to make a set up opperated with one switch.

Should i be good to just rinse The bag once a day or could i go longer ??

 

[DanU]

I would go with once a day.

Dan

 

[GrindingNemo]

I like the idea of a sump, but in my experience I have never seen a filter that does much good for dwarf seahorses. In order for a filter to pick up the waste from a tank there needs to be more flow than the ponies like, and if you reduce the flow, the filter wont be able to take care of the high amount of waste produced during feeding. The sump is worth a try if you view it as an experiment, and aren't expecting it to reduce the need for frequent water changes.

As far as feeding and removal of uneaten food, I don't worry much about brine that are not immediately eaten. Brine shrimp are alive so they aren't going to cause an immediate spike in ammonia, and they provide a snack for the seahorses between feeding times. When I make new brine, I just use water from the tank and replace it with new saltwater; This way I can have small daily water changes without spending any more time.

 

[rayjay]

I personally would have concerns about using tank water to hatch out the brine.
I decap my cysts before hatching to minimize chances of pathogen populations increasing, but using tank water would seem to me to possibly aid in increasing the populations of pathogens.
Leaving brine in the tank after feeding means that any that get eaten later don't have the nutrition of those just newly placed in the tank.
While it may work for you, I prefer to have the enriched brine to be all my dwarfs consume.

 

[twintrades]

Im not going to leave a ton of brine in i ust thought what a pain to have to sit and try to suck each one up ! Or try and coral them with a flash light !


How much flow would the pony's handle ?Ive seeen new reports that they can handle more flow than once thought. It wouldnt ge a ton just enuf to curculate water. Since brine cant hold on to anything they should eventualy get sucked up.

Im going to drill the bottom of my tank in each corner. One will have an over flow. The return will be hidden by rock workhaving a tee on top diverting the water.

sound good ?

 

[DanU]

The problem with zosterae isn't as much with flow as it is suction at the point of the filter intake or overflow to the sump. There isn't much surface area at these points so they get stuck, trapped and sometimes lost to the filter.

Dan

 

[Meus]

Tagging along for this one.

I know they don't look good, but maybe if you use a coast to coast and a spray bar just below the overflow. Just an idea.

 

[twintrades]

Well im thinking about a stand pipe with rock around it. Kinda like a Pre filter. SO the pipe would be located about 1'' beneath the surface. With a rock "tower" surrounding it. And the return would be located in another rock tower or pile. To deflect the flow.

The therory would be that if they would get caught in a Suction area. They would first have to get sucked through the rock work. To get close to the Down pipe.

How do ya think that would work ?

 

[rayjay]

How do you propose to make the rock work so they cannot get through in their quest for food? They can certainly get through any rock work I've had in any tank.

 

[Meus]

Could try a foam rockwall type thing. I'm not sure if water could get through the foam quick enough..

 

[twintrades]

I guess that will have to be figured out when i do it. I was counting on fastening the rocks with puddy in a tight pattern. If a dwarf is looking for food over around the down pipe i guess it might get sucked into the strainer. :thumbdown

The rocks would just make the suction less direct . Having to suck water from around the rocks im hoping it wouldnt have the whirl pool effect.

Btw whenim done getting info and talking to all of you i plan on doing a thread on building this.