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Sunday, May 11, 2014

Goldfish Sperm Activation

Friday, May 9, 2014

SXK TVR BBR 20 DPF 4/19/14 Spawn B




Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Dipterids of the greenhouse 5 species

Today's hatch in the greenhouse. 
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Chironomid (bloodworm) and ?

Moth fly

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Brine shrimp rack

This is an old friend I've pull out of the bone yard to help keep up with the current brine shrimp demand. I'll also keep a few moina cultures going. 

I built this in 2001 at work for an experiment culturing moina. It was designed around  the 1.25 liter crystal geyser brand of soda water bottle. When cut they hold a liter of water.  I typically hatch at 1 liter water, one tablespoon (5ml) and one tablespoon (5ml) salt.  During the cold times of the year, they are run on a 48 hour cycle, with a first small flush of nauplii at 24 hours, given to the smallest of fry, then by 48 hours a large harvest of shrimp is collected.  Today we had a 89 F degree day and the shrimp will likely be on a 24 hour cycle and less density.

It is made with one inch and half inch pvc, friction fit together. 

A separate air manifold is zip tied to the back.

There are 8 positions, giving lots of options.

The cap and neck of the inverted bottle fit nicely into the one inch tee at the bottom.  

Plastic air valves are critical this close to salt.

To fit the available space, it was impossible to lift the cones out of the top, so the front top rail and supports were removed for front loading.

The fit is good enough to not need the side bars.  This rack can be made simply with a row of one inch tees pointing up and one perpendicular at each end to keep the rack upright.

A second harvest at 48 hrs.

I make my own soda water in a 5 gallon cornilius keg so it's novel to buy bottles.

A bottle with exactly 1 liter of water.

As filled with a graduated cylinder.