Microfood culture: phytoplanktons, Rotifers, ciliates, Artemia, and copepods
- Thread starter FMarini
- Start date
I am very interested in getting a pair of clowns and breeding them. I am still in the planning stages of my setup. I am glad I have found all of this information. What I have read so far has been very helpful and informative. Just wanted to say Thank You and I will more than likely be posting some newbee breeding questions in the future.
Re culture containers :
I have used with success inverted 5 gallon water jugs with the bottoms cut off and the necks siliconed with a tap. These stand in a rack, with an air stone hanging down into the neck,
this will keep artemia, phytoplankton and rotifers in suspension.
Be sure to keep the jugs with the phytoplankton away from the rotifers, if the green water gets contaminated you'll ahve a great rotifer culture instead.
Depending on the set up you can use overhead flourescents and/or upright vertical lights next to the jugs.
I have used with success inverted 5 gallon water jugs with the bottoms cut off and the necks siliconed with a tap. These stand in a rack, with an air stone hanging down into the neck,
this will keep artemia, phytoplankton and rotifers in suspension.
Be sure to keep the jugs with the phytoplankton away from the rotifers, if the green water gets contaminated you'll ahve a great rotifer culture instead.
Depending on the set up you can use overhead flourescents and/or upright vertical lights next to the jugs.
Soujirou
New member
I've read the very informative article provided here in this thread concerning copepod cultivation. I was curious if anyone has actually tried the method written in that article? The main question I have is how much phytoplankton to use when feeding the copepod culture. The author states to keep the tank green, but what is too green? He also states to follow the directions for the phytoplankton you have, but from what I've discovered, most if not all of the brands simply state how much to add to a normal display tank, not for cultivating purposes where the tank stays green. Incidentally, I just picked up a 15oz bottle of DT's phytoplankton.
I'll basically be following the author's suggestions to the letter to give you an idea. With that having been said, DT's suggests I add ~5ml of their phytoplankton per 15 gallons. Can anyone help me out with how much I might use to cultivate my 'pods? I'll have about 1,000 adult copepods and a number of females with eggs. The phytoplankton mixture will take up ~5 gallons of the 10 gallon cultivating tank. Any help concerning how much of DT's phytoplankton as well as any other tips would be greatly appreciated.
I'll basically be following the author's suggestions to the letter to give you an idea. With that having been said, DT's suggests I add ~5ml of their phytoplankton per 15 gallons. Can anyone help me out with how much I might use to cultivate my 'pods? I'll have about 1,000 adult copepods and a number of females with eggs. The phytoplankton mixture will take up ~5 gallons of the 10 gallon cultivating tank. Any help concerning how much of DT's phytoplankton as well as any other tips would be greatly appreciated.
Soujirou
New member
Has anyone here actually tried to cultivate copepods in this manner? Is there a general guideline which could point me in the right direction aside from the cultivating solution being "green?" The green tone accompaning the image of the setup tank makes it appear as though there's ~3 gallons of DT's phytoplankton, which can't be the case. IYO are more than welcome and I appreciate them, but IYE would be even more helpful. Thank you.
rsman
New member
Has anyone here actually tried to cultivate copepods in this manner?
YES! me along with many of us every day for a LONG time!
Is there a general guideline which could point me in the right direction aside from the cultivating solution being "green?"
NO
it takes experience, which i do realize is something you dont have yet
at first you do have to add a lot of phyto, but not 3gallons as for an example of a how much green if its as dark as an empty mountain dew bottle under bright light its more than plenty, though not specifically too much, its more than you need. wait a day, see how much it changes if its clear you needed to be darker, if its a very very light tint then thats about right, if its darker then you gave too much.
secondarly you should try IA (http://www.instant-algae.com/) they are located near the bay area
YES! me along with many of us every day for a LONG time!
Is there a general guideline which could point me in the right direction aside from the cultivating solution being "green?"
NO
it takes experience, which i do realize is something you dont have yet
at first you do have to add a lot of phyto, but not 3gallons as for an example of a how much green if its as dark as an empty mountain dew bottle under bright light its more than plenty, though not specifically too much, its more than you need. wait a day, see how much it changes if its clear you needed to be darker, if its a very very light tint then thats about right, if its darker then you gave too much.
secondarly you should try IA (http://www.instant-algae.com/) they are located near the bay area
Soujirou
New member
Can't say that I'm surprised, but it's great to hear from someone who has experience in this. Thanks for sharing. 
With this new info, for starters, I think I might fill my culture tank with ~2 gallons of saltwater and then add phytoplankton until the solution becomes a lime green (similar to your Mountain Dew bottle example)? I could then check on it the day after and see how close the solution is to being clear and add phytoplankton accordingly. Sound like a good plan? I'll have the copepods in this Wednesday so I'm trying to prep up the best I can.
BTW, thank you for the link. Do you suggest anything from their store that you really liked? Certain strains for example like Nanno.? Any other tips you could give me on culturing copepods would be great. Thanks!
With this new info, for starters, I think I might fill my culture tank with ~2 gallons of saltwater and then add phytoplankton until the solution becomes a lime green (similar to your Mountain Dew bottle example)? I could then check on it the day after and see how close the solution is to being clear and add phytoplankton accordingly. Sound like a good plan? I'll have the copepods in this Wednesday so I'm trying to prep up the best I can.BTW, thank you for the link.
Do you suggest anything from their store that you really liked? Certain strains for example like Nanno.? Any other tips you could give me on culturing copepods would be great. Thanks!
Atticus
New member
As far as what to feed variety is the best, but if money is an issue stick with nano as a base and add what ever else you can afford. Like a Tet or Iso. If the feast is a premix that too would be ok, but I personally like to know what I am feeding. I know it may sound a bit anal, but when you are breeding fish you really like to see what works and stick with it.
Soujirou
New member
Thanks for the advice. I'm a very out-going and friendly guy, but when it comes to certain things, many people would call me a perfectionist. So no, I don't think it's anal to suggest that.
As a college student, however, I have to see what I can afford and what's most cost effective relative to its benefits. From what this Phyto-Feast Live product has in it, its concentrations as well as its price, it would seem ideal by far.
As an aside, have you cultivated copepods yourself and if so, what strains were they and what types of phytoplankton did you feed them?
As a college student, however, I have to see what I can afford and what's most cost effective relative to its benefits. From what this Phyto-Feast Live product has in it, its concentrations as well as its price, it would seem ideal by far.
As an aside, have you cultivated copepods yourself and if so, what strains were they and what types of phytoplankton did you feed them?
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