Plankton reactors

[Karl]

Ive been told that you can buy or make a simple plankton reactor to
provide a never ending supply of food for corals and anemones.
Ive seen what the unit looks like but was wondering if anyone had made
one and with what success? Do you have any tips too!

Thanx

[Richard Reynolds]

> Ive been told that you can buy or make a simple plankton reactor to
> provide a never ending supply of food for corals and anemones.
> Ive seen what the unit looks like but was wondering if anyone had made
> one and with what success? Do you have any tips too!

i have several, most are species dependant which are you looking at making ???

the type will determine which tips you want :D

> Thanx


--
Richard Reynolds

[Karl]

Erm, Not entirely sure to be honest. I was shown one a few days ago
and told i could get a culture for about £10 which would feed my
inverts and some of my fish, and was sold on the idea by how cheap it
would cost to run etc, especially compared to the cost of the likes of
marine snow etc.

Im guessing all I need is a acrylic tube approx 3 or 4 inches in
diameter and about 2 - 3 foot long with a tap at the bottom and some
sort of airation and lighting for it?

what ever I take out of the tank should be topped up with 'clean' salt
water (NOT water from the tank) to make sure the culture gets the best
chance of using the light and not algae, and I should only take a
small cup or two out a day.

Am I on the right track?


"Richard Reynolds" > wrote in message news:<U1XTb.8027$gl2.7617@lakeread05>...
> > Ive been told that you can buy or make a simple plankton reactor to
> > provide a never ending supply of food for corals and anemones.
> > Ive seen what the unit looks like but was wondering if anyone had made
> > one and with what success? Do you have any tips too!
>
> i have several, most are species dependant which are you looking at making ???
>
> the type will determine which tips you want :D
>
> > Thanx

[Richard Reynolds]

> Erm, Not entirely sure to be honest. I was shown one a few days ago
> and told i could get a culture for about £10 which would feed my
> inverts and some of my fish, and was sold on the idea by how cheap it
> would cost to run etc, especially compared to the cost of the likes of
> marine snow etc.

many inverts will live on phyto plankton alone, many wont, used alone almost no fish will
feed on phytoplankton but they will feed a little on things like the now multiplying
inverts. or other plankton items kinda like brine shrimp and such that you could feed your
new found food.

> Im guessing all I need is a acrylic tube approx 3 or 4 inches in
> diameter and about 2 - 3 foot long with a tap at the bottom and some
> sort of airation and lighting for it?

a phytoplankton reactor requires a tad more than that, but thats where you should start.
you can do this with several 2l soda bottles or a fancier acrylic setup. it depends on how
much time and money you are willing to devote and how much you want to produce, as someone
just desiring the ability to feed a tank,

> what ever I take out of the tank should be topped up with 'clean' salt
> water (NOT water from the tank) to make sure the culture gets the best
> chance of using the light and not algae, and I should only take a
> small cup or two out a day.

you might as well get used to this now, its not 'clean' its 'sterilized' it needs to be
more than clean, but it can be from the tank, at least it can start off from the tank, you
will want to re adjust salinity (lower) and sterilize it. your tank will have things in
it, bacteria/cilliates/pods .... that will consume your culture faster than you can grow
it. your culture will also need food you also must collect no less than 1/9th of the
total volume a day, and 1/3 is generally better

> Am I on the right track?

yep.

but being that it sounds as if your in the UK

check into the aqua medic plankton light reactor, and plankton reactor. Ive been told they
run a good price in the UK over here in the US there expensive.
also
http://www.korallenriff.de/reaktoren.html

another almost not available in the US.

both are geared towards creating only enough to feed a tank or 2 max.


for a plankton reference
http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/W3732E/w3732e00.htm#Contents

and if you are really DIY friendly check into a H2O2 reactor, it will automatically feed
your phyto reactor with sterilized tank water

--
Richard Reynolds