Pelagic eggs collector

[aomont]

I´ve seen some comments on this and the quest of Matt (mandarinfisherman ) and his pipette and would like to ask if anyone here has tried or come across any kind of egg collector for pelagic spawners. Something that can be attached to the tank or drain and give us some sleep time when we want to and leave hand collection to when we´re in tho mood.

I´ve seen a suggestion in Hoff´s book anyone with a similar of different design/experience ?

Anderson.

 

[mwp]

My main concern on any pelagic egg collector is that if connected as part of the "in line filtration flow", i.e. a "pre" prefilter, it would either become quickly clogged with debris or perhaps even the eggs / larvae themselves. The alternate is to shut down the filtration all night, or at the very least set it up so it can be throttled way back.

I don't know if my concerns are justified as I've NEVER actually tried anything other than placing a brine shrimp net as the first "pre filter" in one of my tanks to hopefully collect GBG larvae...I think none made it long enough in the tank (full of predators like Firefish and Cardinalfish) to make it INTO the filtration system itself!

I'd LOVE to see some ideas / proven concepts.

Matt

 

[Kathy55g]

How about a gentler version of the larval snagger? Basically, a container with a hole in the side and a sponge/airlift filter with the outflow of water going back into the tank. Clamp the container onto the inside side of the tank, so the surface water comes to the hole and can flow in as the filter carries water out. Or, you could use a soda bottle or a milk jug with the top cut off and teeth cut into the plastic around the rim.

Turn off the filter and clamp it a little higher, so water can no longer flow in, and you could hatch mandarin eggs right in there if the temperature is right!

 

[aomont]

Think it can work Kathy. Have just been to your gallery to check it and got me thinking if the larvae was caught due to that flashlight and not just random flow... but I think it can be adjusted to work.

Anyone with other ideas ?

Anderson.

 

[Kathy55g]

The larvae are caught because of the light. They go to it, and get sucked in .

If you cut teeth in the rim, you could have what amounts to an overflow in a bottle.

 

[aomont]

Ok Kathy, it´ll be a actual overflow !

Here is a large scale egg collector, similar to Kathy´s. And the eggs were used to hatching, hence still viable even with such a flow.

http://www.breedersregistry.org/Reprints/SeaScope/v08_wntr/spade.htm

Anderson.

 

[mwp]

HMMMMMM!

Matt

 

[aomont]

Ok... I like paint brush and as a kid that has just found how to use it just quit hand drawing

I was thinking of ways of doing it without an extra pump and without being next to it... Of course these are only theoretical drawings and I have no experience with its pratical use and would welcome any theoretical and pratical views on them.

Aside from the masochist pleasure of thinking on ways to solve a problem, I'd like to see if I should add anything to my system project or think on ways of introducing them later on.

The first one would be put in every tank of the system. The left valve would lead to the drain and the rigth one to a tank/reservoir in the rack below where there would be a sort of a net breeder.

The second idea could be added to any tank at any time. Just would have to carry the thing and plug it to the tank. Main drain would be shut and the water flowing through the sponge would end in the sump by tubing.

The third is modification of the second while trying to think of what would fit in mwp "$#*@& nano tank design" . The box on the left would be the filter or whatever the water normally goes in.

You shouldn't think on the pieces of the third one side-by-side as in the drawing, just think of the collector in contact with both tank and filter.

Now pick up any stone you have and start throwing !

Anderson.

 

[aomont]

Oh please,
The "throwing stones" was just kidding !!! Sorry if it felt disrespectful it was really not my intention.
Anderson.

 

[David M]

Here is a very simple set up I used to collect lysmata shrimp larvae for feeding baby seahorses. The overflow empties into a plankton collector which can be cleaned daly. There was a small 12v light at the overflow to attract the larvae. The 10 gallon had a ug filter with a p-head that returned water to the larger tank. I plan to duplicate this with some modifications, I will have two 18 talls with a 10 between them, they all sit side by side to conserve space. The two tall tanks will overflow into collectors in the ten and the ten will have a drain to the system sump. I'm gonna put Nicole's YMG's and shrimp on one side, not sure what will go in the other.