Where to purchase cultures
- Thread starter Biffer
- Start date
rustybucket145
New member
I used florida aqua farms. Not sure how they are on cost compared to others but I felt it was reasonable.
Here are some links I found while searching.
haven't used any of these to recommend, but gives you something to compare prices etc.
http://www.inlandaquatics.com/prod/dry_goods.html#culture_pricelist
http://www.reed-mariculture.com/microalgae/
they sell bulk microalgae for feeding, but can't be used as starter cultures
their site does have links to some places that sell starter cultures
http://www.reed-mariculture.com/rotifer/
https://3kserver7.com/~frank/secure/agora.cgi?cart_id=230717.4689*IX2Jm3&product=LIVE_CULTURES
https://www2.carolina.com/webapp/wc...splay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10101&langId=-1
http://www.oceanpods.com/index.html
http://www.livephytoplankton.com/index.php
Cheers,
Doug
haven't used any of these to recommend, but gives you something to compare prices etc.
http://www.inlandaquatics.com/prod/dry_goods.html#culture_pricelist
http://www.reed-mariculture.com/microalgae/
they sell bulk microalgae for feeding, but can't be used as starter cultures
their site does have links to some places that sell starter cultures
http://www.reed-mariculture.com/rotifer/
https://3kserver7.com/~frank/secure/agora.cgi?cart_id=230717.4689*IX2Jm3&product=LIVE_CULTURES
https://www2.carolina.com/webapp/wc...splay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10101&langId=-1
http://www.oceanpods.com/index.html
http://www.livephytoplankton.com/index.php
Cheers,
Doug
Hrmm....
Not sure why that last link didn't work.
Let's try again:
http://www.livephytoplankton.com/index.php
Cheers,
Doug
Not sure why that last link didn't work.
Let's try again:
http://www.livephytoplankton.com/index.php
Cheers,
Doug
Ok, it looked right in the attach window, maybe Reef Central is cludging the link because they aren't a sponsor?
try
Just remove the spaces.
Cheers,
Doug
Sorry, but there is reason for the *****. That particular vendor violated our <a href=http://reefcentral.com/agreement.php target=_blank>User Agreement</a> a few too many times.--billsreef
try
Just remove the spaces.
Cheers,
Doug
Sorry, but there is reason for the *****. That particular vendor violated our <a href=http://reefcentral.com/agreement.php target=_blank>User Agreement</a> a few too many times.--billsreef
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi ediaz,
Why is the S strain worthless?
Also are you not able to post a link because they are banned by reefcentral? Or do you just not have a link?
The only difference I found on strains was on Reed rotifer site:
The most commonly used marine rotifers are the species Brachionus plicatilis ("L" type) and Brachionus rotundiformis ("S" and "SS") types.
"L" type - 70 F
"S" type - 80 F
"SS" type - 80 F
so for Marine aquariums, wouldn't you want to use S or SS type if they are more suited for reef aquarium temperature of right around 80 degrees?
Most the places I see selling live rotifers or resting cysts are selling the "L" strain.
Is it just because they can culture them at lower temperatures so it is cheaper for them, but if you wanted them to reproduce in your own tank you'd be better off with S or SS strains?
Is there a preferred type based on size?
Cheers,
Doug
Why is the S strain worthless?
Also are you not able to post a link because they are banned by reefcentral? Or do you just not have a link?
The only difference I found on strains was on Reed rotifer site:
The most commonly used marine rotifers are the species Brachionus plicatilis ("L" type) and Brachionus rotundiformis ("S" and "SS") types.
"L" type - 70 F
"S" type - 80 F
"SS" type - 80 F
so for Marine aquariums, wouldn't you want to use S or SS type if they are more suited for reef aquarium temperature of right around 80 degrees?
Most the places I see selling live rotifers or resting cysts are selling the "L" strain.
Is it just because they can culture them at lower temperatures so it is cheaper for them, but if you wanted them to reproduce in your own tank you'd be better off with S or SS strains?
Is there a preferred type based on size?
Cheers,
Doug
ediaz
Active member
I breed more than 30 species of marien fish , some claim small species require small strains of rotifers I raise all on L strain.Others strains are not necesary hence the lack of S strain in the business.
If you are feeding a reef tank that I don't, any strin will do but I doubt they will remain in the tank they will get consumed and removed by the filters not to mention some will die of starvation if you don't feed them.
The way reefers I know do it, they enrich the ortifers with algae and feed the tank twice a week.
L strain or any will tolerate reef paramenters.I keep my cultures @ 82 degrees
Ed
If you are feeding a reef tank that I don't, any strin will do but I doubt they will remain in the tank they will get consumed and removed by the filters not to mention some will die of starvation if you don't feed them.
The way reefers I know do it, they enrich the ortifers with algae and feed the tank twice a week.
L strain or any will tolerate reef paramenters.I keep my cultures @ 82 degrees
Ed
Hi Ed,
Thanks for the response and the info that your L strain rotifers don't have any issue at 82 degrees.
That is useful, I think I am planning on doing the same thing as Biffer is, and that is trying to set up an in-line automatic feeding to a reef tank to establish continual live feeds.
I want my display tank mainly for sea horses and mandarin dragonets, so will be trying to set up sustainable cultures of rotifers and copepods and mysid shrimp, which will require cultures of different micro algaes.
Since I want to do it inline with the main tank, I was concerned with the water temp I saw on Reed's site.
Cheers,
Doug
Thanks for the response and the info that your L strain rotifers don't have any issue at 82 degrees.
That is useful, I think I am planning on doing the same thing as Biffer is, and that is trying to set up an in-line automatic feeding to a reef tank to establish continual live feeds.
I want my display tank mainly for sea horses and mandarin dragonets, so will be trying to set up sustainable cultures of rotifers and copepods and mysid shrimp, which will require cultures of different micro algaes.
Since I want to do it inline with the main tank, I was concerned with the water temp I saw on Reed's site.
Cheers,
Doug
Pick up a copy of Frank Hoff's Plankton Culture Manual, it's available from Florida Aqua Farms for the best price I've seen anywhere...not surprising since that is Hoff's outfit 
Lots of valuable culture information, including ranges of acceptable salinity and temperatures as well as the "ideal". A lot of people get scared off of culturing from seeing narrowly prescribed conditions because they don't realize those particular set of conditions are for maximized yield as opposed to something that will still work just fine
Lots of valuable culture information, including ranges of acceptable salinity and temperatures as well as the "ideal". A lot of people get scared off of culturing from seeing narrowly prescribed conditions because they don't realize those particular set of conditions are for maximized yield as opposed to something that will still work just fine cutegecko3
Member
for live amphiopods theres a ebay seller called piece of the reef that sells 500+ and 1000+ pods and let me emphasize the plus.i purchased the 500+ for 29.99 with free shipping and got around a thousand.no better deal than that considering free shipping too.
Hey Biffer,
Been searching around some more, seahorse.org has a page that lists lots of live food sources for seahorses for some additional links.
http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/LiveFoodSources.shtml
I'm still trying to find if anybody sells Moina Salina (saltwater daphnia) anywhere, but so far no luck.
If anybody knows where you can get cultures of saltwater daphnia, please post or send me a PM.
Thanks,
Doug
Been searching around some more, seahorse.org has a page that lists lots of live food sources for seahorses for some additional links.
http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/LiveFoodSources.shtml
I'm still trying to find if anybody sells Moina Salina (saltwater daphnia) anywhere, but so far no luck.
If anybody knows where you can get cultures of saltwater daphnia, please post or send me a PM.
Thanks,
Doug
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
www.garf.org is a great place to get some of their 'grunge'. Its loaded with critters.
I'll agree w/ Ed on 99%. Most fish that we can breed commonly will readily take "L" strain rotifers. If your trying something unique like a pelagic spawner (centropyge sp. , wrasse sp., etc) then maybe, just maybe something smaller is warrented. I've listed below the common sizes for rotifers.
large -L-300-350(microns)
small-S-180-220
super small-SS- 80-100
What i've found is that the "ss" strain is mythical at best. A number of folks have it, and it grows, but it always seems to be contaminated w/ S strain, meaning that its just a runted version of the s strain. I'm still awaiting to see, touch, and grow a consistant batch of "ss", that stays "ss"
large -L-300-350(microns)
small-S-180-220
super small-SS- 80-100
What i've found is that the "ss" strain is mythical at best. A number of folks have it, and it grows, but it always seems to be contaminated w/ S strain, meaning that its just a runted version of the s strain. I'm still awaiting to see, touch, and grow a consistant batch of "ss", that stays "ss"
