Culturing Journal DataSheet
This first post should be updated regularly to include new information as events take place or changes are made to your system
General Species: Tigriopus californicus
Species description: Large red harpacticoid copepod
Culture source (link if possible
): http://reefnutrition.com/tigger_pods.php If algae, CCMP # (Optional
): http://ccmp.bigelow.edu/ Culture Establishment Date: September 15, 2012 (estimated date)
Continuation Date: 3/16/2014
Culturing Vessel Details Salinity: ~1.025-1.055 Typically ~1.030-1.035
Temperature: 68-78ºF (located in basement right next to a furnace)
pH: Not measured
Vessel description: 5g bucket
Lighting description: 2x 120w equivalent compact fluorescent bulbs in clamp-on shop light fixtures, ~2ft above cultures
Lighting cycle: ~10 hrs
Aeration description: None. I found a higher density with less aeration and the highest with no aeration.
Methodologies Split methodology: Split every other week or as needed depending on densities. Sieve out copepods and replace water with synthetic sea water using Seachem Reef Salt.
Culture medium description: I started this culture feeding PhytoFeast Live once a week, keeping the water a green tint. I then decided to try Reed Mariculture Shellfish Diet since I had some to experiment with and found significantly lower densities over a period of about 4 months. I will be switching back to PhytoFeast Live exclusively the next time I go to a LFS.
I have now switched to feeding Rotigrow+ because it keeps much longer (frozen) and much more bang for the buck. It also gives me super high yields at least compared to phytofeast live or shellfish diet. I feed almost every day but sometimes every other day depending on how clear the water is.
Cell count: **Estimates**
PhytoFeast Live: 100-350/liter
Shellfish Diet: ~100/liter, never more
Rotigrow+ (co-cultured with rotifers): ~200-450/liter (maybe more)
Reference links: Additional Information (No Pictures or Videos in the Section Please) Notes: I now have 7 cultures co-culture my Tigriopus with rotifers in all but one culture. I have noticed higher yields when cultured with rotifers. The one other bucket has been self sustaining itself for over a year and a half with Nanno. which was from the phytofeast live. This one culture always has very low densities and I have not harvested from it or split it in over a year, only top off. It is an experiment more than anything.
<message edited by Bongo Shrimp on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 8:33 PM>