A Little Nervous Starting My Microalgae/Rotifer Cultures

[Patti]

Hi Everybody,

I purchased the maxi kit from Florida Aqua Farms, I have read the book, and am finding it very mind boggling,and frustrating. Maybe I'm just thinking it's harder than it actually is. They don't seem to explain a procedure for using 10 gallon tanks for both microalgae and rotifer cultures.
After soaking the miroalgae disc for 12-24 hours, how do you transfer the cells to the 10 gallon ?
I am trying to get these cultures going to feed my Dascyllus melanurus fry, and also as a coral food in between egg laying pauses.

If anyone has done this regularly (danmhippo, where are you ?? ) could I possibly bother you for easier to understand step by step instructions for getting my micro and rotifer cultures started in 10 gallon tanks, and how to maintain their nutritional value on a continuous consumption cycle.

Thank you all so much in advance, and I appologize for being such a chicken about this

Patti

 

[chris_h]

You are not supposed to be able to grow the rotifers and mircoalgea in the same aquarium. The rotifers will eat the algea faster than it can grow.

 

[Anonymous]

They do overcomplicate it. I think I just scraped some off the dish to innoculate the gallon jar I was growing the algae in. Then as long as you keep it bubbling and in the light there is no problem. I committed every possible crime to mine do to varying levels of interest in raising the stuff. It has dried up totally and also been left in the dark in my basement for months. Restoring it to a functional algae culture again was always easy. Although I could not be sure it was the same chlorella strain or not...

 

[Patti]

Hi and thanks for writing,

Sorry I wasn't clear on my intentions, I am planning on a 10 gallon tank for the microalgae and another 10 gallon for the rotifers, sorry for the unclarity.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought the book was too technically written, once I understand the basics, I can see the more detailed information becomming useful and interesting.
So if I get the microalgae tank set up and just scrape the disc into it after the 12-24 hour period, provide light, and temp,what about covering 3 sides with white paper as they say, then 5-7 days later do the same with the rotifers, or do I add the rotifer cysts directly into their tank ? and then add some green water ? Say a cup a day ? and then replace a cup of fresh saltwater to the micro tank ?
Thanks Again,
Patti

 

[Daniel62]

A really helpful book is Joyce wilkerson's,
"clownfish" it has a great section on culturing live food.
Hope this helps.
Daniel