bbs farming
2 - 2 liter bottle base units sold on foster & smith.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=4445
Cost currently is $9.99 (LOL 5.99 when I bought mine) add to that the smallest air pump, check valve and air manifold along with empty soda bottles, that's it.
I reset one bottle every night.
Feeding;
I pull the airline off the manifold pinning it above the bottle, just holding it above the hatchery water level. Allow the water to settle and the shells float up. With a light low on the side of the bottle the shrimp go low. after about a minute I lower the tube holding it over a brine shrimp net which is held over a plastic cup for about 3-5 seconds then reconnect the airline.
Carry the net to the sink for the fresh water rinse and put them in the tank. The brine water from the drain cup pours back in the hatchery.
Tricks that work;
When you cut the bottom out of the 2 liter soda bottle,,, save it.
The soda bottles are flared slightly before rounding for the bottom where the plastic is thicker. I cut it on the straight part and place it upside down back on the now top of the hatchery to collect condensation and muffle the bubble noise as an inverted lid. New spawns for the first week or until fins form and the fry gain size I add a small spoon of new eggs from AngelsPlus everyday. When the fry are larger like now in my 55g I load two spoons of eggs everyday.
Fish breeders often talk about setting up new bottles every day with fresh saltwater and killing off bacteria. That makes raising brine shrimp much harder than it needs to be. The old/used egg shells are easily removed and the water re used. If it stinks I change it. 13 days on the same water and more if it passes the sniff test.
Once the babies have been fed the second or third time on a bottle (end of the day) before pouring in the water strained though the net gathering bbs 'I 'clean' the bottle. How is I hook the air line back up, at this point the bottle usually has about 1/2 the water still in it. Using the same fine mesh shrimp net used for harvesting I net out the husks by repeatedly scooping though the water rubbing the sides with the net frame loosening anything stuck to the sides and rinse the net in the sink. Reload with fresh eggs, add the water from the brine drain cups back in and put the lid on.
done!
2 liter brine shrimp rig.
HTH :smile:
