Sexy Shrimp Breeding Project

I did make a kreisel before, but I used a black plastic barrel, and I couldn't see what was going on in the tank. The pump was an issue. If I got one small enough to produce the right flow (mini-jet), it couldn't overcome the head to pump up to the spray bar. A bigger pump pulled the larvae against the screen. I think your plan of having a bigger pump with two lines would work really well. You use one as a bleed line to adjust flow.

Here's another kreisel design I found. Pictures aren't the best, but it's got some good design elements.
 
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I think you're probably right. Just restrict the pumps and don't worry about it. I do think that the kreisel will be safe from turbulence. Just in case, I'm going to put my spray line and screen on the far side and leave a channel under the barrel of the kreisel for return flow. That way, the draw from the pump will be dispersed. I'm also considering some baffles, but I haven't worked that out yet. Since my system will be an all-in-one, I've got a few more limitations on my design. Your design seems much better.
 
Whys said:
I'm guessing the circumference of the drain is indirectly proportional to the PSI of draw... or something like that. :)
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Uh, I failed fluid dynamics in college. (Just kidding, I majored in English.) On the bright side, my father has a Ph.D in chemical engineering, and has done failure analysis for about 45 years, so I may discuss my design with him when I work out a few more details.

I think the jelliquarium folks have a nice design--just not for $500. I'm going to do a bit more industrial espionage and see what I can see. I still like the idea of baffles. I was also hoping to develop some kind of drain. One of the practical problems I was unable to resolve was how to draw the dead brine shrimp from the bottom of the tank without getting the larvae. The larvae tend to rest on the bottom as they mature.
 
Thanks pj.

I also found this design schema. Unfortunately, it doesn't provide a materials list, so I'm not sure precisely how it was constructed. However, it originates from the Monterrey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, so I'm fairly certain the design is tested and validated. They also grant permission for private, non-commercial use of their design.

This is the source document:
Capture and rearing techniques for gelatinous zooplankton. Biological Bulletin, 204, 68-80 (2003)
 
That's the cutest little pump I've ever seen. As for marrying it up to loc-line, I'm envisioning the black tubing inserted into the loc-line, and some sort of heavy duty but stretchable latex tubing bridging over the joint. Does latex degrade in saltwater? I know it's a natural product.
 
Snort.

Alright, then--take the elegant way out and use properly sized fittings. I plan on keeping my components together with rubber bands and zip ties...

I hope to work on my design this weekend. I'll be extrapolating from the Monterrey Bay Aquarium plans. I've got a 20 long sitting in my garage. Only problem is that I bought it at a garage sale, and didn't stop to consider whether it had been used with copper meds. Perhaps I'll buy a dollar's worth of ghost shrimp and see if they keel over first before I spend my money and time turning that tank into a kreisel.
 
Just got home at 11:00 p.m. friday evening. There was a disaster in the invertebrate tank while I was gone and the temperature got above 90 degrees. I'm too gloomy to assess the damage tonight, so I'll take a head count and see if I still have a breeding colony left. They're likely to be in bad shape if they are alive, so it could be a few weeks before I have viable larvae again. This was my first trip out of town for more than 48 hours, and it was an unmitigated disaster.
 
i would definately look into a reef keeper. it will help to avert any such future disasters. and for around 100 bux you cant beat it
 
jayelblock said:
Just got home at 11:00 p.m. friday evening. There was a disaster in the invertebrate tank while I was gone and the temperature got above 90 degrees. I'm too gloomy to assess the damage tonight, so I'll take a head count and see if I still have a breeding colony left. They're likely to be in bad shape if they are alive, so it could be a few weeks before I have viable larvae again. This was my first trip out of town for more than 48 hours, and it was an unmitigated disaster.
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That really hurts,

and just when you were getting some of the kinks worked out.
 
I actually have a RKL sitting in a box in my closet. Unfortunately, I didn't think I had the time to set it up and test it before I left. I guess I'll have to make time now for cleaning up slimy half-dead anemones and performing massive water changes...
 
Well, it's not so bad in terms of the sexy shrimp. I lost one large breeding females and one male. I still have three females and a male, and I have a line a few more females, so no worries there. My lone male is going to have his work cut out for him!

I performed an 80% water change so there could be repercussions from that, but so far, the damage is minimal. I also lost a small green bta, which dissolved in the tank and really stunk up the place, some sps coral and a porcelain crab (which actually turned from grey to red and looked boiled), but everything else is hanging on.

This is my first crash since restarting my reef tanks three years ago, so I guess I was overdue...
 
jayelblock said:
Well, it's not so bad in terms of the sexy shrimp. I lost one large breeding females and one male. I still have three females and a male, and I have a line a few more females, so no worries there. My lone male is going to have his work cut out for him!
QUOTE]


It's a tough life, someone gotta do it
Click to expand...
 
A quick update--it's been 5 weeks since the big crash, and I have not had a single female become gravid. This tells me that something is still amiss in their environment, even though all the shrimp are engaging in normal behaviors otherwise.

So, this morning I gave the tank a big spring cleaning and scrubbed every piece of equipment, blew debris out from under the rocks, did a 50% water change, and replaced half the sand. This will probably lead to a bit of a soft cycle, which I will control with water changes, Prime, and and bio spira as needed.

I got some good advice from Whys, who advocated that I simply enjoy the process, rather than fixate on the goal, so I'm looking forward to a happy, healthy invertebrate tank once again. More kreisel work to follow.
 
be careful with the use of biospira. while it does do what it says it will, a portion of the bacteria will always be dead, and the effect of adding a large ammount of bacteria will raise the nitrates quickly
 
Thanks for the advice. I'm hoping I can get away without it, but I'll have to wait and see. All that cleaning was a calculated risk, but so far, everything is responding well and I have even spotted my elusive flaming prawn goby.
 
I got some good advice from Whys, who advocated that I simply enjoy the process, rather than fixate on the goal, so I'm looking forward to a happy, healthy invertebrate tank once again. More kreisel work to follow.

___________




something like watching a pot waiting for it to boil
 
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