TypicalNoah
New member
Arg!
So here's the straight skinny:
I've been assigned the task of Aiptasia (pest anemone) aquaculture in 2.5 gallon tanks. As it stands right now, each tank has a Marineland biowheel filter on it - the mini rated to 10 gallons - with the filter pad removed. There are 2-3 fingertip sized anemones in each tank right now, and they are "fed" a few mL of ZooPlex or frozen brine shrimp cube shavings about twice a week. All the parameters are where they need to be, pH 8.3, temp 24 to 27 deg. C, ammo, 'trites n' 'trates, and phosphates are not the issue. The seawater is mixed with Instant Oceans salt. The salinity is measured with a less-than-reliable Instant Oceans hydrometer, but careful measurements still show salinity is at 1.022, with a flux from 1.021-1.024 (evaporative). Lighting is 24 hrs, provided by fixtures of two standard length white fluorescent tubes, lain on their sides - one on EACH side of the two gallon tanks (two tanks between each set of lights).
And after all this, the Aiptasia seem happy - they are darkly colored and have extended tentacles - but they are not multiplying.
Can anyone point out what I'm doing wrong, or direct me in a better direction?
(Just FYI: The goal is just to establish a stable population so I can do research... and it's kind of embarrassing that I'm held back at step 1, especially as more of an aquaculturist than a researcher... gah.)
So here's the straight skinny:
I've been assigned the task of Aiptasia (pest anemone) aquaculture in 2.5 gallon tanks. As it stands right now, each tank has a Marineland biowheel filter on it - the mini rated to 10 gallons - with the filter pad removed. There are 2-3 fingertip sized anemones in each tank right now, and they are "fed" a few mL of ZooPlex or frozen brine shrimp cube shavings about twice a week. All the parameters are where they need to be, pH 8.3, temp 24 to 27 deg. C, ammo, 'trites n' 'trates, and phosphates are not the issue. The seawater is mixed with Instant Oceans salt. The salinity is measured with a less-than-reliable Instant Oceans hydrometer, but careful measurements still show salinity is at 1.022, with a flux from 1.021-1.024 (evaporative). Lighting is 24 hrs, provided by fixtures of two standard length white fluorescent tubes, lain on their sides - one on EACH side of the two gallon tanks (two tanks between each set of lights).
And after all this, the Aiptasia seem happy - they are darkly colored and have extended tentacles - but they are not multiplying.
Can anyone point out what I'm doing wrong, or direct me in a better direction?
(Just FYI: The goal is just to establish a stable population so I can do research... and it's kind of embarrassing that I'm held back at step 1, especially as more of an aquaculturist than a researcher... gah.)
If your looking to get some serious reproduction out of them, I'd feed them daily or at least every other day. Also use of a razor blade will speed things along.
