Freshwater Zoo and Phyto

[jordanphulet]

I've never heard anything of feeding with freshwater phytoplankton and zooplankton; it seems like cultures would be easier to manage without mixing all the salt. These cultures would also be easier to collect for those of us in the middle of the continent. Anyone have any information or input on this?

 

[Anonymous]

I don't know, but I feel that you may encounter argument in the line of "unnatural diet." That is, the nutrient in the freshwater counterpart may not be suitable for the saltwater organism. To prove or dispute this matter intelligently entails nutriential studies, which is very expensive if done scientifically.

Saltwater zoo phyto can be cultured, and you will not get into any more trouble than those of us live within 1 mile from the ocean. See, no matter where you live, it is the same, unless you collect them using nest. You can also buy packaged zoo/phyto, and the price is the same no matter where you live.

 

[monkeyboy]

The only way phyto is usefull in your aquarium is if the cell walls are still intact, once you throw FW phyto into SW, it will be crushed instantly. I also second the unnatural diet thing.

 

[jordanphulet]

I never thought about the cell damage thing, so what about larger foods like copepods or amphipods; I suppose it isn't really worth worying about but I'm just interested; it 'seems' like it would be a lot less complicated to have fresh water cultures and not have to wory about mixing the water first.

 

[monkeyboy]

Well, I suppose that some freshwater zooplankton can be a great food (think PE mysis, all freshwater grown shrimp). I don't see how mixing up seawater would complicate plankton rearing, it's a PITA process even without it. It would definitely be worth trying to raise mysis or at least get some info on culturing it.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree that the saltwater part is the least that you have to worry about. In practice, saltwater can be a plus since you can remove protein and nutrient more easily, but there are other ramifications.

When you put a FW phyto into SW, it will die and dehydrate gradually. The cell wall should be intact, but that not the point.