Will Decapsulated brine hatch in the SH tank?

[Big Ying]

I'm exploring setting up a dwarf tank this summer. I remember reading somewhere that decapsulated brine shrimp naupli could be dropped into the tank if you were going away for a few days and would hatch. Does anyone have any experience doing this? Is it a much lower hatch rate? If they are sitting on the bottom and not swirling around will they still hatch? Do they disappear into the sand bed and would you be better off bare bottom if you have to do this?

I also remember reading somewhere, not here, about putting brine shrimp naupli in a black film cannister and poking a hole in it so that when they hatched they would swim out the hole into the light. Will they hatch in a dark cannister with no water flow?

I know that is a lot of questions so thanks in advance! Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[JennyL]

The cysts need to be hatched in a hatcher or appropriate container w/an airline, light. The cysts need to be kept suspended and moving in the water column.

Just dropping them in the bottom of the tank without hatching will only succeed in making your water quality worse and no food for the horses.
Also, dwarf need variety in their diet just as other species do.

HTH

 

[sloshes]

Thats also what I've been told. I do put it in my SH tank but it's for the gorgonian.

 

[Big Ying]

I know that's the conventional wisdom, but is there anyone out there who has tried anything similar to this? Did it fail totally, partially succeed, etc. Based on where Brine Shrimp are native, it is my understanding that these lakes are not rough, turbulent waters, like most lakes. Does putting them in a turbulent boil just increase the hatch rate, because that is certainly not what happens naturally, is it? I can understand some light being needed, but there are creative ways to make sure that happens in a SH tank if it is absolutely necessary.

 

[sloshes]

The answer is a definitive YES. I turn off all flow when I feed my girls. Well tonight, after using the decapsulated eggs for the last week for my coral, I looked in there and lo and behold hundreds of little critters be-bopping around. I don't know how they survive the filters but they do.

 

[Big Ying]

Thanks! Anyone else have experiences or first hand, or even second hand knowledge?

 

[Wink]

For me the question isn't will they hatch (I'm sure some will), but is it a good plan? My vote is no. According to everything I've read the hatching of brine shrimp creates a lot of bacteria - I wouldn't put that in my tank. I rinse them in freshwater before feeding out. Have you seen the gunk in the bottom of the hatchery? - that's all I need to see to know it doesn't belong in the tank.

 

[sloshesv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7434193#post7434193 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wink
For me the question isn't will they hatch (I'm sure some will), but is it a good plan? My vote is no. According to everything I've read the hatching of brine shrimp creates a lot of bacteria - I wouldn't put that in my tank. I rinse them in freshwater before feeding out. Have you seen the gunk in the bottom of the hatchery? - that's all I need to see to know it doesn't belong in the tank.

You rinse the eggs in FW? That collander must have some tiny pores. I don't see how it could be any more detrimental than other pods hatching in your tank. I don't plan on them being a food source for my horses either.

 

[JennyL]

A brine shrimp net is used to rinse the newly hatched artemia.

All foods should be given a light rinse before feeding out to the horses to prevent fouling the water, whether frozen or live.

 

[sloshesv]

Oh......thanks, I didn't know that. I was just draining the water from the mysis before I put them in the tank. What's your take on the brine causing a problem?

 

[imbuggin]

i would not

i would not

the water after they hatch is very dirty. They always reconmend not using the water they hatched in. Plus if shells are in the tank mini seahorses will die trying to eat them getting them lodged inside of them.

 

[sloshesv]

Okay, what a minute here. I'm adding Decapsulated Artemia Cysts to the tank to feed my gorgonian, which it loves. How am I adding dirty water or bacteria? Dan, could you weigh in here?

 

[Big Ying]

I'm just trying to think outside of the box here. Decapsulated brine shrimp don't have shells, so there is no worry there. As far as fouling your water, I think if you put an equal amount of fish food into a brine shrimp hatchery it will look just the same because there is nothing in there eating it or breaking it down and filtering it. How about this for an idea? You put some decap brine in a small plastic container in the tank near the top near the light (sit or glue it on a rock or something). The flow would be light because it is a dwarf tank, therefore the decap brine doesn't blow out of the cup (Without shells they are negatively buoyant right?) Make sure clean-up critters can't knock cup over or get into it easily. You wait 24 hours. Atleast some of the shrimps should have hatched and swam/ floated into the rest of the tank. You gently take the cup out, pour off the excess water if any shrimps are swimming in it into the tank, being careful not to pour any unhatched brine into the tank. Your small clean-up crew in the SH tank will help out with anything that ends up in the sand or on rocks (Nassirius snails would be helpful). Next, you either dispose of the unhatched brine, or add it to your reef tank where it is snicked up in about 30 seconds by all the corals and fishes. Put fresh decap brine back in cup and back in tank, and do it all over again. Just trying to be creative here. I know that goes against conventional wisdom. But conventional wisdom has always said not to use natural seawater too, but I use it along with many others on this site with absolutely no problems. The people who say not to use it, are the ones who don't use it and have no first hand knowledge. That's why I would like to hear from people with firsthand knowledge of this idea. Keep that feedback coming. Just be nice!

 

[imbuggin]

why

why

why?

Get a 2 liter bottle turn it upsidedown add an air tube, cut the bottom of the bottle, and you have a hatchery. You can try all these idea's but like every one keeps telling you it is a bad idea. Also you will find shells decapsulated or not IMO.

 

[Big Ying]

The why is pretty obvious if it works. It is a lot easier and simpler than running a hatchery. Remember, my original notion was doing this if you have to go away for a few days instead of having some novice hatch brine and feed them for you. But if it works, it might be worth trying as the normal means of feeding, along with having a good pod population in the tank already.

 

[JennyL]

BY, if you are looking for simple and easy, perhaps H zosterae are not for you.
I am speaking from years of experience with this species as well as many other species. It's a lot of work and if you are willing and have the time to put in the work and care required, it is very rewarding.

Do plenty of research on the species and decide if you can supply the care they will need.

 

[sloshes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7435379#post7435379 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sloshesv
Okay, what a minute here. I'm adding Decapsulated Artemia Cysts to the tank to feed my gorgonian, which it loves. How am I adding dirty water or bacteria? Dan, could you weigh in here?

Anybody?

 

[Big Ying]

I didn't say it had to be simple and easy. But if there is a way to make something simpler and easier, it is certainly worth exploring. I'm simply looking to see if there are people who can directly answer my questions from first hand experience. Atleast 1 person says who has actually done it says that decap brine will hatch in a regular tank. The hatch rate is unclear, however, as is the effect on the tank. That doesn't mean it is a great idea, but it certainly shows it can be done. In addition, I originally got this idea from Alysa Abbott's article (i think that was her name) on Seahorse.org who said she put decap brine directly in the tank to hatch out when she went away for a few days. You can read it yourself. I assume she is some kind of expert. That is why I want to hear more about this. I assumed other people had done this or something like it.

 

[sloshes]

Jenny was being a bit of a Negative Nelly there.

 

[Wink]

I read that... and cringed.. because I knew some people would go for it and IMO it's just a really bad idea. I don't have any scientific data to show you but look at the facts - the shell is not fully dissolved by decapping - it couldn't be, therefore when the brine hatch there is leftover shell material. If you've hatched eggs, you've seen the mess left in the hatcher. And yes, uneaten flake food would cause a similar problem, I won't put flake into a tank where no one will eat it either and if I did I would expect the water quality to go down. Common sense tells me I shouldn't put that in my tank, so I don't - I don't have to try it to know I don't want to take that risk with my dwarves. Now- you may have a different thought process, and you may decide to try it.. that would be your choice - but you came here asking for opinions and that's what people are giving you. We are all here trying to help each of us provide the best care we can - in that spirit, I advise you to hatch decapped eggs in a hatchery and rinse them before adding to your tank. Just so you know, I've had better than 90% success with 11 adult dwarves, their children, and their grandchildren - a total of 75 fry.