Breeding Detrivores

reefnewbie54321 · 06/27/2006, 07:53 PM

I am trying to seed 5 48x48" Sand Beds with the following,

- Mini-Brittle Stars
- Bristle Worms
- Spaghetti Worms

I want to speed up the process and cant wait for them to multiply to proper densitys one tank at a time and I dont have the money to buy mutilple Detrivore kits. These things breed like crazy in my refugiums and displays so I dont see why it wouldnt be easy to breed them in a Detrivore only setup.

Only problem is there are no fish or corals in these tanks so there is no detrius and there for no food. What could I feed them? How would you go about breeding them? Anyone doing this? These creatures are captive breed and sold in kits but there is little information about how to actualy breed them.

breedingroom · 06/27/2006, 07:55 PM

probably phytoplnkton...bt not sure, i wan to do the same

Amphiprion · 06/27/2006, 07:55 PM

They will breed and multiply by themselves. As far as feeding, I would take siphoned detritus from your other tanks (maybe a tiny bit of food as well) and basically change the water with that.

reefnewbie54321 · 06/27/2006, 07:58 PM

Detritus from my tank was my first thought but I don't think my low stocked tanks could keep up with the food demand. I'm mainly looking for some type of artificial food that detrivores will eat.

Amphiprion · 06/27/2006, 08:01 PM

I bet you could keep up. Siphon off your rocks, etc. There will likely be plenty. Plus, waste from food eaten by the bristleworms will be food for the other animals, as well.

reefnewbie54321 · 06/27/2006, 08:21 PM

I wouldnt sink money into a project like this without any back up food supply to prevent a crash. Detrius will be number one food choice and will be great to get rid of all the crud from my sand and rocks but I dont think its a stable or "safe" way to go and I would need a back up artificial food source incase my detrius load cant keep up with the food demand.

reefshadow · 06/27/2006, 08:44 PM

I would go ahead and feed the same things you feed your fish, but in much smaller amounts, increasing as your microfauna increases.

Maybe very small amounts of frozen mysis, finely ground flake food, ect... I don't see why this would be a problem as long as you don't overfeed and cause a cycle. If you put in a few largish pieces of live rock, some sand from your system and maybe mature some media in a cannister or hanging filter on your main display for a couple weeks, you shouldn't have a problem with cycling, and you will introduce lots of starter organisms.

Sounds like a cool project

reefnewbie54321 · 06/27/2006, 08:51 PM

thanks for the input

06/27/2006, 07:53 PM	#1
reefnewbie54321 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 1,263	Breeding Detrivores I am trying to seed 5 48x48" Sand Beds with the following, - Mini-Brittle Stars - Bristle Worms - Spaghetti Worms I want to speed up the process and cant wait for them to multiply to proper densitys one tank at a time and I dont have the money to buy mutilple Detrivore kits. These things breed like crazy in my refugiums and displays so I dont see why it wouldnt be easy to breed them in a Detrivore only setup. Only problem is there are no fish or corals in these tanks so there is no detrius and there for no food. What could I feed them? How would you go about breeding them? Anyone doing this? These creatures are captive breed and sold in kits but there is little information about how to actualy breed them.

06/27/2006, 07:55 PM	#3
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	They will breed and multiply by themselves. As far as feeding, I would take siphoned detritus from your other tanks (maybe a tiny bit of food as well) and basically change the water with that. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

06/27/2006, 08:01 PM	#5
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	I bet you could keep up. Siphon off your rocks, etc. There will likely be plenty. Plus, waste from food eaten by the bristleworms will be food for the other animals, as well. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

06/27/2006, 08:44 PM	#7
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	I would go ahead and feed the same things you feed your fish, but in much smaller amounts, increasing as your microfauna increases. Maybe very small amounts of frozen mysis, finely ground flake food, ect... I don't see why this would be a problem as long as you don't overfeed and cause a cycle. If you put in a few largish pieces of live rock, some sand from your system and maybe mature some media in a cannister or hanging filter on your main display for a couple weeks, you shouldn't have a problem with cycling, and you will introduce lots of starter organisms. Sounds like a cool project __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

06/27/2006, 07:55 PM	#2
breedingroom Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 292	probably phytoplnkton...bt not sure, i wan to do the same

06/27/2006, 07:58 PM	#4
reefnewbie54321 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 1,263	Detritus from my tank was my first thought but I don't think my low stocked tanks could keep up with the food demand. I'm mainly looking for some type of artificial food that detrivores will eat.

06/27/2006, 08:21 PM	#6
reefnewbie54321 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 1,263	I wouldnt sink money into a project like this without any back up food supply to prevent a crash. Detrius will be number one food choice and will be great to get rid of all the crud from my sand and rocks but I dont think its a stable or "safe" way to go and I would need a back up artificial food source incase my detrius load cant keep up with the food demand.

06/27/2006, 08:51 PM	#8
reefnewbie54321 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 1,263	thanks for the input