JHardman
Premium Member
OK, in keeping with the idea of talking about some more advanced topics in this forum...
I am getting really fed up with grow phytoplankton. It is time consuming, subject to crashes, contamination, etc, etc. So I am considering switching to a prepared phytoplankton product and convert the culture station to something more useful like mysis and brine shrimp culture area.
What has made me not "pull the trigger" and order some "instant algae" is the price. I have read the information on it, and sounds like an ideal replacement. I know that there are a lot of breeders, include the big ones that do not grow phytoplankton.
So the first part of this post... Do you have any experience or thoughts about using a prepared phytoplankton product to grow/feed rotifer cultures? What would make you switch? How do you feel about the cost?
Second I tried an experiment... After reading a post in the fish breeding forum (I think) that suggested using an ammonia binder in rotifer cultures to increase densities. So I restarted two ~5gallon cultures. I had each 5g jerry can filled to 3g level at a SG of 1.020 and added 1L of rotifer water at an equal density to each can, added phytoplankton (nanochloropsus) to each in the same amount. I added (1) teaspoon of AmQuel to one culture and not the other. I let the rotifers clear the phytoplankton then fed lightly for (2) days, then stop feeding for (2) days. Today I drained and restarted the cultures.
The results in a less than scientific manner...
The culture without AmQuel was nearly devoid of rotifers. I barely had enough to restart a viable culture.
The culture with AmQuel was VERY dense. I pulled a liter to restart and sieved the rest of the ~4.5 gallons. In the 53Ã"šÃ‚µm sieve I had a think ~1/16" thick layer of rotifers. That is the most I have ever had in the sieve.
So from now on, I am adding an ammonia binder to the rotifer cultures.
So what are your thoughts and experiences with growing rotifers for clownfish larva?
I am getting really fed up with grow phytoplankton. It is time consuming, subject to crashes, contamination, etc, etc. So I am considering switching to a prepared phytoplankton product and convert the culture station to something more useful like mysis and brine shrimp culture area.
What has made me not "pull the trigger" and order some "instant algae" is the price. I have read the information on it, and sounds like an ideal replacement. I know that there are a lot of breeders, include the big ones that do not grow phytoplankton.
So the first part of this post... Do you have any experience or thoughts about using a prepared phytoplankton product to grow/feed rotifer cultures? What would make you switch? How do you feel about the cost?
Second I tried an experiment... After reading a post in the fish breeding forum (I think) that suggested using an ammonia binder in rotifer cultures to increase densities. So I restarted two ~5gallon cultures. I had each 5g jerry can filled to 3g level at a SG of 1.020 and added 1L of rotifer water at an equal density to each can, added phytoplankton (nanochloropsus) to each in the same amount. I added (1) teaspoon of AmQuel to one culture and not the other. I let the rotifers clear the phytoplankton then fed lightly for (2) days, then stop feeding for (2) days. Today I drained and restarted the cultures.
The results in a less than scientific manner...
The culture without AmQuel was nearly devoid of rotifers. I barely had enough to restart a viable culture.
The culture with AmQuel was VERY dense. I pulled a liter to restart and sieved the rest of the ~4.5 gallons. In the 53Ã"šÃ‚µm sieve I had a think ~1/16" thick layer of rotifers. That is the most I have ever had in the sieve.
So from now on, I am adding an ammonia binder to the rotifer cultures.
So what are your thoughts and experiences with growing rotifers for clownfish larva?