Hatching Live brine Shrimp Right in my Reef

[RockyHeap]

Thought I'd try something new. As I was a big fan of "Sea Monkeys" from my youth, I figure hatching some right in my reef tank would be something to try to provide continous fresh food for the fish, corals and other critters.

See my fancy DIY brine shrimp hatchery........basically a baby food jar, with a zip lock bag corner over the openning.

After cutting off a 1/4" openning right at the point, I stuffed the corner section inside the jar openning and affixed it with a rubberband.

Call it a bit of a one way check valve trap, so water current doesnt blow all the eggs out of the jar, yet when they hatch I know the intelligence level of the Sea Monkeys will make them want to swim out to see the world, get in their cars, have dates with the girl monkey, play volleyball on the beach, and all those other things shown on the Sea Monkey box pictures.

They're supposed to hatch in 36-48 hours, so I'll keep ya'll posted on the results.

 

[iamjosh]

interesting.. I can't wait to see what happens.. good luck

Only concern would be fish swimming in and getting stuck.. IMO

 

[DonW]

If you just put a clear 2 or 3" acrylic tube, from top to just off the bottom. Add a air line. Drop eggs in the top. The shells float up and the shrimp swim out the bottom, use a turkey baster to remove shells.
Works great but I'm not sure of the negative affects to water quality.


Don

 

[Al G.]

I thought hatching brine shrimp required a higher salinity than the salinity in reef tanks. Sounds cool, though. Hope it works.
If you use decapsilated eggs, than you wouldn't have to worry about the shells. You buy decapsilated eggs or decapsilate them yourself.

 

[DonW]

Thats what the instructions say. I just hatch a little in a 2l bottle and use tank water. I just do it for fun every now and again, the fish go wild munching on the live ones.

Don

 

[jasontatro]

I thought hatching brine shrimp required a higher salinity than the salinity in reef tanks. Sounds cool, though. Hope it works.
If you use decapsilated eggs, than you wouldn't have to worry about the shells. You buy decapsilated eggs or decapsilate them yourself.

Actually... I believe they require a lower salinity. Like around 1.018, if I am not mistaken.

Good luck with your expirement.

 

[RockyHeap]

High salinity, low salinity, perfect water temp, should the jar be pointing to true magnetic north, Country Western, Rock, or classical music for them to hatch to........?

That's why its called an experiment........I don't have time nor care to provide "optimum conditions" for them to grow.

Just my standard 79-81 degree temps, My standard 1.025 salinity, and in a 135 gallon tank I figure any extra shells or nutrients will get eatin' up by sumthin'........

<grins> Bring on the Sea Monkeys!

Maybe start a whole series of movies!!!.

"The planet of the SeaMonkeys, Beneath the Planet of the SeaMonkeys, Escape from the Planet of the SeaMonkeys........

you get the picture......

Here is another picture of the "jar of science"

 

[DonW]

I tend to agree. I just stick em on a shelf in the laundry room. Dont know what temp, sometimes hot and other times cold, dont know what wattage the cf light is but I do use a real high tech air regulator, two knots in the hose instead of just one.
But really, all I know is they hatch and its cool to watch the fish eat.

Don

 

[aquariumdebacle]

Definitely decapsilate, hydroids seem to "coincidently" appear when hatched straight from eggs. Use 50/50 bleach until they turn orange. Then wash thouroughly and store in saturated brine in the frig.

 

[NaH2O]

I know the intelligence level of the Sea Monkeys will make them want to swim out to see the world, get in their cars, have dates with the girl monkey, play volleyball on the beach, and all those other things shown on the Sea Monkey box pictures.

They were so enticing! I wasn't allowed to have them, but I told my mom over and over that they really did look like the box showed. I wanted to see the sea monkey carrying his trident. Now look what the lack of Sea Monkeys has done to me.....I'm a reef addict!

 

[DonW]

Definitely decapsilate, hydroids seem to "coincidently" appear when hatched straight from eggs. Use 50/50 bleach until they turn orange. Then wash thouroughly and store in saturated brine in the frig.

Dan
Now you got me wondering. Could you explain your entire post.

Thanks
Don

 

[Al G.]

You can also feed the decapsilated eggs(cysts), directly to your fish and corals.

 

[Ray Pollett]

There is an excellent product called Continuous Hatch and Feed. It runs $14.99 at Drs Foster & Smith. You could try it also.

Ray

 

[RockyHeap]

Here's another product too........$8.99........instead of the "baby food jar with a plastic bubber-randed lid" I'm now marketing for $6.99.........I've heard of using a 35mm film canister with a hole in the lid for these same set-ups.

http://www.fishinthe.net/html/reviews-12.html