Howto start a Daphnia culture

Most of us often wonder how to start a Daphnia culture with some to have great success and other have terrible bad luck. Here is my quick way that have never failed me.

For this you will need the following.

1x Container (This is something not really smaller than 20lt)
1x SeaGrow Liq Fert
1x Starter Culture Daphine
1x Banana
Some water

Something to keep in mind is that I have found that daphine cultures does best with a lot sunlight.

1x Container - This will be as per your needs and space. I keep mine big so that I can have a big culture that can very easly recover from a constant use.


Fill it with borehole or tap water.

1x SeaGrow Liq Fert - Add Liq Fert as per instructions of the bottle +10%. Let it stand for about a week to settle. This stuff gives off a bit of a smell so best to do this not to close to home if possible.



In the summer months mosquito's will take over from day 1 of this mix. They love the smell.

I don't know what it is with the banana to the system but it does wonders. Maybe it is the potassium .. Don't know.

1x Daphnia culture - Once the week is past add your good clean culture to your system. Be on the look out for daphnia with black "egg packs". Te more you have of them the better for now. This will help to fast track the total culture.



With all of the above done. You let them multiply in vast numbers. Rain helps them. So don't worry about all the other natural elements that might come along.

I left mine for a nother 2weeks before I first harvested. Since then I can continiously harvest 3-4 times a week without hurting my culture.



The dusty particals is actually daphnia.

Hope this will help someone. Enjoy the feeds.

 

Thanks, will definately try this.

 

What is this stuff and what do you use it for??

 

@OBI - Daphnia is also called water flea's. You use it a live food. Here is a close up of them.

 

Oh good thanks now I also know :-D

 

Where can I get Daphnia culture?

 

@ROEKSTE - do you continue to add the Seagro and more banana on a weekly, monthly basis for continual food supply ?

 

Does anyone know where i can get a starter culture in CT

 

Fish-etc. | Aquarium Specialist Shop |Tropical Fish, African Cichlids and Koi
Speak to Neil, they have live daphnia on weekends for sale @R20/bag

 

Awesome thanks.

 

@eros111 - My setup as above is now 5 weeks olds and I have not seen the need to feed yet. I am sure in maybe a month I will need to start a feed. The banana is a once off.

@AKovarsky - Just make sure that your source is a good source. It is very easy to get bad bugs in with live feeds.

 

Hi do you still have daphnia? I am looking for some if you are willing to sell.

 

@Cle07044 I have two different kinds available - pm me... @ROEKSTE got his from me but I dont think he has at the moment he can confirm.

 

Anyone in durban willing to sell a culture ?

 

Cle07044 - Sorry.. I moved recently and don't have any at the moment.

 

I also have, but got mine from francoisve.

@francoisve: Did I get one culture from you, or are they mixed? I have no idea what I got from you, except that they are breeding extremely well. He he.

 

@Cle07044 my mailbox is cleared...

 

@GavinD one culture, the red ones. not sure of the exact scientific name as ther are about 100 species... They are the best of what I have as well...

 

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