Breed Clownfish | Saltwater Fish

[richard]

Hi Scott,

first I want to thank you for your advises, they are very helpful

I always order my rotifers from reef nutrition, I keep them in 5 gallon buckets and I feed them with Rotifer-diet, however after a week or so the rotifer population keeps decreasing. As per you advise, I replace 2 gallons per week with new salt water but it takes a while before the density start increasing.

When I remove 2 gallons from the bucket, should I remove the dirt at the bottom? should I add the salt water from my main tank or use newly made salt water? should I be careful about the PH?

Richard

[admin]

Richard-I would remove the sediment at the bottom of the bucket. Siphon it out if you can. I always use fresh saltwater, and not the saltwater from my main tank. PH shouldn't be a problem. Most salt mixes have buffers in them so that when you make saltwater the ph should be close to ideal. Test your freshly made saltwater. I have a feeling the ph will be pretty close to what it should be. I use Instant Ocean and usually the ph is already where it needs to be. One thing you can experiment with is using a heater in your rotifer cultures. Warmer water will make the rotifers reproduce more quickly but you will have to be careful because as they are reproduce more quickly they also are eating more food=more waste=more detritus=possible crash. Monitor it closely and change your water as often as possible.

[richard]

thanks for the advice Scott, the water temperature is 72F which the room temperature. I will try to increase it. I have not checked the amonia level and so far I have never used amonia remover, could that be the problem

Richard

[d.wilson4]

Can activated carbon be used to limit ammonia in a 5 gallon rotifer bucket?

[UNIXMan]

Richard: I've had the best success with rotifers when the SG is about 1.017. I try to keep my holding tank about 1.023 and slowly lower it. If there is more than .007 difference between the rotifer culture and the holding tank, the rotifers will probably die, and that's not good. I would not keep my rotifer culture at more than 1.018. Also, you should get either rotifer floss or a thin filter pad for the bottom of the bucket to catch waste more easily. Room temp is perfect. My rotifers are under my tank in my living room, and I don't have a heater. There is no problem for them going from 72F to 80F. The only problem you will ever have is if the SG is more than .007 difference.

d.wilson4: Don't use carbon - it releases small particles that will get into your holding tank and clog up the gills. Instead, use AmQuel or Prime (I use Prime) every other day to keep ammonia and nitrogen waste down to a minimum. If you do this and have a good air supply, you should be fine.

Hope this helps!