My rotifer reactor diary

[Sazmo]

I thought I would do a quick summary of the rotifer reactor I got and how I got started.
This is the reactor when I received it. All I had to do was put the airline on and the rigid pipe on the opposite side and it was ready to go.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/rotifers007.jpg


Everything seems to be really good quality

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/rotifers010.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/rotifers009.jpg


I proudly put the reactor on the window sill which was the wrong move:frown2:. They need to be kept away from direct sunlight as this can lead to a build up of algae on the sides.
Now I keep it in our spare room and it takes about 4 weeks for the algae to build up.

This is the bubble speed I set it at which I later found was too slow.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/th_rotifers014.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/?action=view&current=rotifers014.flv)

I then increased it to this:
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/th_2302bubblespeed.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/?action=view&current=2302bubblespeed.flv)

23/02
This was the density of the rotifers I received (1 litre) just after I poured them in the reactor
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/23021000mlassupplieda.jpg

I then added 1000ml of water mixed to 1.017 and 1ml of the rotifer food
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/23022000mlfed.jpg

Bubbles were started at this speed
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/th_2302bubblespeed.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/?action=view&current=2302bubblespeed.flv)

Now most people count rotifers by the ml but I knew I would not cope with this so I decided each day to remove a 100ml sample into a clear glass and take a picture so I could compare it against the previous days.
So here is 100ml pictured on the day I received my starter culture
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/2302100mlsupplied.jpg

24/02
The next morning I forgot to take a picture but added 1ml of food again

25/02
I took a 100ml sample in a glass again and could see the rots were at about the same density as the 1st day. This meant in 2 days the numbers had doubled ( as I had twice the amount of water now.
I added another 1ml of food and another 1000ml of water.
In the evening I added another 1ml of food bringing the total to 2ml for the day.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/2502100ml.jpg

26/02
The water seemed very clear this morning but decided to stick with the 1ml morning and 1ml evening feeding routine.
Another 1000ml of water added today so the reactor was running at 4 litres.
Bubbles were turned up today too.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/2602100ml.jpg

27/02
I decided that 4 litres was the level I would run the reactor at so today I just took my normal 100ml sample for a photo and fed 1ml food morning and evening.
I am hoping that in the next few days my densities will be as high as the little bottle I was first sent.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/2702100ml.jpg

28/02 fed twice per day

01/03
Fed twice per day
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/0103.jpg

02/03 fed twice per day
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/02033.jpg

03/03 fed twice per day
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/03031.jpg

04/03
Today the numbers were looking really high in the sample so removed 1.5 litres and replaced with 1.5 litres of fresh water at 1.017 then fed morning and night as usual
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/04031.jpg

05/03
Fed twice
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/0503.jpg

06/03
Harvested 1.5 litres and replaced the water with 1.5 litres of fresh 1.017 salted water and fed twice

07/03
Fed twice
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/07031.jpg

08/03
Harvested 1.5 litres and replaced the water with 1.5 litres of fresh 1.017 salted water and fed twice
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/0803.jpg

09/03
Fed twice

10/03
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa115/frosttelecoms/reactor/1003.jpg
Harvested 1.5 litres and replaced the water with 1.5 litres of fresh 1.017 salted water and fed twice

11/03
Fed twice

[Sazmo]

I have continued this routine every day the only difference being that on 14/03 I emptied the reactor to give it a clean.

I am therefore harvesting 1.5 litres per day which is enough to feed all of my tanks. Every couple of days I add a 0.5 litre pot to the fridge in case of a crash. If it isn’t needed I use these for extra food then add another pot to the fridge ao there is always a fairly fresh batch as spare.
I did have one crash and managed to restart the culture easily.

Also remember I took the pictures before feeding in the mornings so this is by far the palest you want the water to be. During the day it was a much darker green colour.

[stevieh]

very interesting keep the updates coming

[Sazmo]

Will do.
I never really believe in all these things until I see them working either myself or from another hobbyist. This reactor really has worked for me.

[cl0wn]

excellent thread mate. very interesting to se how easily it can be done.

[sailin_home]

my reactor should be here by end of week, yippeee...

[Macca]

mine will be too. ye ha