Culturing daphnia

[novice breeder]

Hi guys,
I'm trying to culture daphnia but my culture goes through the crash and rebirth stages.
As a result I'm trying to cultivate green water using an adopted version of phytoplankton culturing but I can't seem to identify a light timer which can be on for 16 hours and off for 8 hours in a 24 hours period. Can anyone recommended a brand of timer and where to purchase it. Thanks. Any additional information would be appreciated.

[ericatdallas]

Hmm.. I use the cheapo ones that you push in a button for each 30 minute interval. I think I paid $5-6 for it at Walmart...

I can actually have the lights turn on/off at 30 minute intervals, so any configuration to your hearts content.

[ericatdallas]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Good-Choice-Heavy-Duty-24-Hour-Grounded-Appliance-Timer/17279140?action=product_interest&action_type=title&placement_id=irs_middle&strategy=PWVAV&visitor_id=48906217594&category=0%3A4044%3A133012%3A133113%3A1043750&client_guid=ceb710ab-42db-4d17-9875-87fb99eb6fdb&config_id=0&parent_item_id=24580320&guid=637e9ab6-fa7b-474a-86c1-30cd34530e55&bucket_id=000&findingMethod=p13n

Mine's a GE, but it looks something like that.

[novice breeder]

Hi Erica,
Thank you for the reply.
So the timer you are recommending can run "ON" for light 16hrs and "OFF" for 8hrs?
Is it this one from home depot?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-24-Hour-Plug-In-Basic-Timer-15119/100685881

[William Palumbo]

I had my culture outside in a plastic garbage can for years. It would freeze in the winter, and by springtime there were Daphnia swimming in it again. Pretty much self-sustaining, and WAY more than I could feed...Bill

[ericatdallas]

I had my culture outside in a plastic garbage can for years. It would freeze in the winter, and by springtime there were Daphnia swimming in it again. Pretty much self-sustaining, and WAY more than I could feed...Bill

Come to think about it... I left an aquarium with daphnia in it without food and it went from 3 to like 30 in two months. Not even sure what they were eating... Someone had sold me some RCS with Daphnia mixed in and I didn't want them in my tank so I netted the RCS out one at a time to transfer to another tank. No air pump, filter, no lights, no food. I actually was worried I was leaving an environment for breeding mosquitos but that never happened --- maybe they were eating mosquito eggs/larvae <shrug> Pretty hardy... so I imagine crumbling up some fish food might work ? (not sure) I ended up killing the daphnia by emptying/bleaching the tank.





http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-24-Hour-Plug-In-Basic-Timer-15119/100685881

Yes. That will work.

[William Palumbo]

I also had a small barrel for Mosquito larvae, and did notice there was always a lot less of the larvae in the barrel with the Daphnia. In both barrels ls, maybe once in awhile I would throw a bit of flake food in there, that was it. I just figured they ate stuff I could not see, algae being one of them. In the bottom of both barrels, there was always live Bloodworms mixed in the detritus. That being said, the Mosquito larvae was the best!...Bill

[Milo2]

I have a garden water feature that creates alot of green water that I pour into a brute garbage can. In the winter i mix a little bit of yeast in a cup of water and pour it in. I feed them to my discus fry every couple of days. Bill do you run any air into yours? Also do you have a water changing process for them?

[William Palumbo]

Hi Milo...I never do anything to it. No air, or water added/changed. Got direct sun for a few hours a day. It got fresh water when it rained. No maintenance on my part at all...Bill

[novice breeder]

Thank you Erica.

[novice breeder]

Hey Milo,
Aeration is not necessary once you have a large enough surface area but you can add an air hose only with a few bubbles a minute. Don't use an air stone as the fine bubbles causes problems for the daphnia. I personally fine green water gives you the best yields but you must keep harvesting regularly or you'll loose them. Hence that's why I'm trying to grow green water. Lol.

[Crazydiscus25]

:angel:

[Skip]

Novice.. it's eric at dallas..

Not erica t dallas

[ericatdallas]

Novice.. it's eric at dallas..

Not erica t dallas

Thanks Skip... I'm so used to it I don't bother any more. That's why I put the tagline, but not everyone notices...

[novice breeder]

I'm sorry Erica ooh I mean Eric :bandana: lol but thanks 4 input. Can you post a pictures of your setup?