[GaryZ]

I've seen alot of brine shrimp hatcheries available for aquariums. I'm curious as to wether or not alot of people have had experiences using this sort of thing. Apparently, the brine shrimp hatch and eventually find they way out into the tank. Is this a good idea, seems like a nice way to supplement the diet of your livestock. The only downside I can think of is having your fish hang around the thing 24/7 looking for easy food. Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing.

[GaryZ]

I just did a little research on the hatcheries that feed directly into your tank. Apparently there is a chance that the hatchery could contaminate your tank. Thats a bummer.

[Fish R.Ph.]

Originally Posted by GaryZ

I just did a little research on the hatcheries that feed directly into your tank. Apparently there is a chance that the hatchery could contaminate your tank. Thats a bummer.

Hi GaryZ,

Don't know anything about the direct feed systems as you inquired about. The system I use works fine for me. It is the simple mason jar/air pump technique. Not an original idea by any means, but very easy. I just suck the shrimp out with a turkey baster (not my wife's good one!), run 'em through a brine shrimp net to drain off the liquid, and add them to the tank. My fish go crazy for it.

Here is a pic I snapped tonight:

http://www.reefland.com/forum/attach...1&d=1130379951

I don't think I would risk a system that could contaminate my display when this system is so quick and easy IMO.

-Jason

[GaryZ]

Thanks for the pic. That does look pretty easy. I guess I was just hoping for a hands-free approach. It would be nice, but not worth the risk.

[scubadude]

Hi Gary

Brine shrimp hatching is quite simple as a stand alone project, but what you are talking about the closest thing I have seen is called a plankton reactor that is more automated and is a bit more complex. The problem lies with the brine shrimp eggs when they hatch they leave behind the egg caseings which can foul up the water and need to be screened out and seperated from the actual shrimp. Also one of the major key points that has always been discussed about brine shrimp is their nutritional value which is good right after they are hatched but as the brine shrimp that you buy at the LFS they have low nutritional value compared to other foods. So if you use them as a food source they may be the most valuable to you immediately after they are hatched, and they are quite small. These juvenille baby brine shrimp are usually used in rearing fish such as baby clown fish.

[CSeaSee]

Can there be too much aeration in a jar like that? I'd like to set up soemthing like the jar pictured, but I don't want to have to worry about getting the wrong size pump.

[scubadude]

Originally Posted by CSeaSee

Can there be too much aeration in a jar like that?

Sure there can, you just want to get a gentle turnover of the water. Just get a cheap old plastic needle valve to control the air...and bleed off the excess. Lemme know if you need some pics I think I got some sumwheres.

[Fish R.Ph.]

Originally Posted by CSeaSee

Can there be too much aeration in a jar like that? I'd like to set up soemthing like the jar pictured, but I don't want to have to worry about getting the wrong size pump.

The pump I use is manufactured for small aquariums (like 10 gallons). It sells for about 7-8 bux at WalMart, and the airstone goes for about 0.97 cents.

-Jason

[rayjay]

The problem with in tank raising of brine is the chance of harmful bacterial from the cysts contaminating the tank water.
Best way is to hatch in separate container, siphon and rinse, before adding the nauplii to your tank.
RAISING BRINE SHRIMP

Nutrition of brine shrimp is a very maligned topic.
Nauplii have little protein and a lot of the huffa's that so many inhabitants can use, and the adult brine shrimp have a lot of protein, but no huffa content to speak of.
They are ALL nutritious, but just in different forms.
A perpetuated myth prevails on these boards that the brine shrimp have no nutritien, perpetuated by people who don't know, passing on misinformation they read or hear from another source that hasn't bothered to learn about all aspects of artemia.
The best source of information would be the people using brine shrimp in Marine Mariculture industry, where brine shrimp play an important role in raising items like shrimp and fish for us to eat.
Both nauplii and adult brine are used, each for it's own benifits, with the high protein adults being gut loaded with huffa's to make them the best of both forms.
Jean Dhont and Patrick Lavens, from the Laboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center at the University of Gent, Belgium have an extensive writing for the UN, that has a very informative section on Brine Shrimp which if anyone cares to learn about, can be seen at:
ALL ABOUT BRINE SHRIMP
At the bottom of the page are arrows to see the rest of the artemia article.
If you wish a more direct link to artemia nutrition you can start at 4.4
Nutritional properties of ongrown Artemia

[GaryZ]

Wow, Ray to the rescue. Thanks.