Freezing Rotifers ??

[Dawman]

I have heard of people freezing their rotifer cultures for when they need them . Is this possible ? I`ve had my culture stations going for months now and still waiting on my pairs and have enough phyto to last a long time . Wondering if I can freeze my rots and stop my station until one of my pairs start spawning ?

 

[JetCat USA]

freezing kills them and lowers the nutritional value but you can freeze them and feed the dead ones.

in your situation you'd prolly be better off getting some resting cysts and IA and start culturing when they lay.

 

[Dawman]

Ok , I have some resting cysts for backup anyway . Thanks

What is IA ?

 

[Rod Buehler]

I have kept them in a refrigerator for 2-3 weeks and then re-started cultures from them. If you ever need rotifers, Im not to far....

 

[JetCat USA]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10845818#post10845818 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dawman
What is IA ?

Instant Algae, the Rotifer-Diet HD3600 from Reed Micro Cultures is an excellent one IME as it can be frozen in proportions in ice cube trays then bagged and kept frozen. you then take a cube out of the bag, put it in the appropriate amount of RO/DI water and you've got instant feed. the 3600 concentration will make an equivalent 900 gallon of algae.

FYI the Rotifer-Diet, Nannochloropsis, and Tetraselmis are the only IA that can be frozen for prolong shelf life.

 

[MarinaP]

If needed, IA concentrate should be diluted with saltwater, not RO/DI.

 

[JetCat USA]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10847761#post10847761 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarinaP
If needed, IA concentrate should be diluted with saltwater, not RO/DI.

Yes i guess that would be best. i use RO/DI but i only put enough in to get decent drips from a high concentration so it has little effect on salinity of the culture being fed., i also keep my Roti's at 14ppt so i guess one would need to adjust the salinity accordingly for their own needs.