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Hi, while thinking about what to feed my shrimp larvae, I had thought of an idea and I was hoping someone knowledgeable in the field could let me know if it is possible.
Would it be possible to run a small scale biofloc culture at home (not to grow anything in it but just to culture the heterotrophic bacteria) and use it as the biofloc/bacteria as the live feed for the larvae?
Correct me if I'm wrong but the way I understand it, biofloc is basically carbon dosing. The aquaculture industry uses it to have the heterotrophic bacteria consume nitrogen sources from the left over feed and animal poo and form mass flocs of the heterotrophic bacteria bloom by adding carbon source, aeration (oxygen) and keeping them in suspension. The biofloc is then consumed by the animal being cultured. I read the biofloc (the heterotrophic bacteria) is an excellent food source for aquacultured shrimps.
The aim is to have a relatively easy to culture, nutritious and continuous source of live small food for planktonic larvae (Live, so that the water doesn't start to go bad as soon as I put it into the tank).
So,
1. If I get a jar/bottle,
2. mix some saltwater,
3. add some fish food (nitrogen source),
4. add some carbon source (sugar, vodka etc),
5. keep the carbon to nitrogen ratio right (C/N: 15~20/1),
6. maintain alkalinity by adding baking soda,
6. add some bacteria (Microbacter 7 or other product which contains heterotrophic bacteria)
7. and aerate it (to provide oxygen and to keep stuff stay afloat),
Would I end up getting some biofloc culture in the jar which I could then feed the animals with?
The culture jar would not need any larger animals living in it and hopefully, this would make the process a bit easier if this actually is possible or viable.
I might've made it sound easy but I'm sure it wouldn't be in that simple. What could be the potential risks?
Any input would be much appreciated!
Would it be possible to run a small scale biofloc culture at home (not to grow anything in it but just to culture the heterotrophic bacteria) and use it as the biofloc/bacteria as the live feed for the larvae?
Correct me if I'm wrong but the way I understand it, biofloc is basically carbon dosing. The aquaculture industry uses it to have the heterotrophic bacteria consume nitrogen sources from the left over feed and animal poo and form mass flocs of the heterotrophic bacteria bloom by adding carbon source, aeration (oxygen) and keeping them in suspension. The biofloc is then consumed by the animal being cultured. I read the biofloc (the heterotrophic bacteria) is an excellent food source for aquacultured shrimps.
The aim is to have a relatively easy to culture, nutritious and continuous source of live small food for planktonic larvae (Live, so that the water doesn't start to go bad as soon as I put it into the tank).
So,
1. If I get a jar/bottle,
2. mix some saltwater,
3. add some fish food (nitrogen source),
4. add some carbon source (sugar, vodka etc),
5. keep the carbon to nitrogen ratio right (C/N: 15~20/1),
6. maintain alkalinity by adding baking soda,
6. add some bacteria (Microbacter 7 or other product which contains heterotrophic bacteria)
7. and aerate it (to provide oxygen and to keep stuff stay afloat),
Would I end up getting some biofloc culture in the jar which I could then feed the animals with?
The culture jar would not need any larger animals living in it and hopefully, this would make the process a bit easier if this actually is possible or viable.
I might've made it sound easy but I'm sure it wouldn't be in that simple. What could be the potential risks?
Any input would be much appreciated!