Raise your own food?

Lyscer · 09/11/2006, 12:01 AM

I've been seriously considering growing some of my own food for my tanks. Is it worth it? I can grow phytoplakton no problem, which seems to be the source for most of the food. I'm thinking about growing nanochloropsis to feed brine shrimp and copepods. I already have a ton of mysis living in my tank/fuge so I don't think I will do those.

What are your takes on growing your own food? Is there something that is easier than something else to raise? What does your setup look like(pics) ? I'm just trying to get a general feel. Thanks.

boxfishpooalot · 09/11/2006, 12:23 AM

Sure you can grow anything you want. Live food can be nutritious. Fwiw, I only grow macroalgae for live food.

Ever try rotifers? They feed off of phytoplankton.

rayjay · 09/11/2006, 11:28 PM

Growing your own food can be labour intensive if you want any significant amounts. Live food should only be a "part" of a varied feeding program. The greater the variety, the more chance there is that all nutritional needs will be met.
There are only two benefits that I can think of at the moment for feeding live foods and that is to give your fish exercise that they normally don't get going after frozen/flake foods, (they go into a feeding frenzy) and, you can gut load them with something they may not get any other way.
I raise mysids, and brine shrimp for my own use and for resale.
Mysids are too slow growing to be of any use other than for restocking depleted numbers in your reef.
Brine shrimp can be grown in great numbers, but it's a lot of work getting dense cultures to adult stage.
Low density growth doesn't require much effort, but then you don't have much to use for food.
If you are lucky there will be a store near you that sells live adult brine shrimp and save a lot of work.
RAISING BRINE SHRIMP TO ADULT

GreshamH · 09/11/2006, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lyscer
I've been seriously considering growing some of my own food for my tanks. Is it worth it? I can grow phytoplakton no problem, which seems to be the source for most of the food. I'm thinking about growing nanochloropsis to feed brine shrimp and copepods. I already have a ton of mysis living in my tank/fuge so I don't think I will do those.

What are your takes on growing your own food? Is there something that is easier than something else to raise? What does your setup look like(pics) ? I'm just trying to get a general feel. Thanks.

Nanno is a bit small for most copepods unfortunatly.

09/11/2006, 12:01 AM	#1
Lyscer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 675	Raise your own food? I've been seriously considering growing some of my own food for my tanks. Is it worth it? I can grow phytoplakton no problem, which seems to be the source for most of the food. I'm thinking about growing nanochloropsis to feed brine shrimp and copepods. I already have a ton of mysis living in my tank/fuge so I don't think I will do those. What are your takes on growing your own food? Is there something that is easier than something else to raise? What does your setup look like(pics) ? I'm just trying to get a general feel. Thanks. __________________ 68 Cadlights Versa 24" x 8 ATI Dimmable Sunpower 2 x Gyre XF-130 DIY Arduino Uno Controller with temp probes and 8 outlets ran from web interface ReefOctopus Skimmer and Eheim 1262 return Current Tank Info: 68 Cadlights Versa

09/11/2006, 12:23 AM	#2
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	Sure you can grow anything you want. Live food can be nutritious. Fwiw, I only grow macroalgae for live food. Ever try rotifers? They feed off of phytoplankton. __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

09/11/2006, 11:28 PM	#3
rayjay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,969	Growing your own food can be labour intensive if you want any significant amounts. Live food should only be a "part" of a varied feeding program. The greater the variety, the more chance there is that all nutritional needs will be met. There are only two benefits that I can think of at the moment for feeding live foods and that is to give your fish exercise that they normally don't get going after frozen/flake foods, (they go into a feeding frenzy) and, you can gut load them with something they may not get any other way. I raise mysids, and brine shrimp for my own use and for resale. Mysids are too slow growing to be of any use other than for restocking depleted numbers in your reef. Brine shrimp can be grown in great numbers, but it's a lot of work getting dense cultures to adult stage. Low density growth doesn't require much effort, but then you don't have much to use for food. If you are lucky there will be a store near you that sells live adult brine shrimp and save a lot of work. RAISING BRINE SHRIMP TO ADULT __________________ Seahorses. Culture nanno, rotifers and brine shrimp. Current Tank Info: Seahorses