Need help with Rotifer culture

So many questions I dont even know where to start so I guess I'll start here:

4 days ago I received my starter culture of rotifers from Reed Mariculture. I followed the instructions that they included and have been feeding the rotifers twice a day at approx 25drops (~3ml) which makes the water dense enough that I can't see the airstone at the bottom of the bucket. Each morning or evening since, I have fed the same 3ml then I can no longer see the airstone again. A few questions...

1. How do I know if my rotifers are still good and haven't crashed?

2. How do I know if my culture is too dense?

3. My colors are more green and dont jive with the "spectrum" in Barbara's rotifer thread, is something wrong??

4. When is it ok to split my current culture?

I appreciate all input!

Forgot to include my pics. Here's the culture the day I received it after the first feeding



Here's the culture today before I've done the evening feeding

A couple of questions first.

What are you feeding them?

Depending on what you're feeding it may look different.

Do you have a sieve you can use? 53um seems to be the standard for rotifers. It's the only way to separate them. A coffee filter is more like 27um and you can get rotifers with it too. If you can catch them, more than likely they are alive. If you don't catch any they are dead.

You might want to slow your bubbles down a little too. You want movement, but not enough to toss them around.

Ok. I'll tone the bubbles down. I'm feeding them the rotifer diet that comes with their rotifer starter kit. Also I will be using coffee filters to harvest them but I was thinking to move my first harvest into a new bucket to start a second culture

that's a great idea!!!

So I'm assuming I just pour half my current culture into a second bucket and backfill both with new 1.018 SW. how do I know when the culture is to dense and should be harvested??

Honestly I don't know. There's others that really know more about them than I do. I just harvest about every day. Some out of the three buckets I have. Try to keep the water a little green and it's good to go.

So my culture is currently green enough without feeding again?

it looked good to me.

Ok. Thanks. I've just split them and will check on them in the morn.

Looks like your doing great! I was lucky enough to get to spend an evening with Randy Reed and a few folks a few weeks back and he makes it so easy. Just take out 25% a day and replace with fresh water and your good to go. I do use the rotifer floss daily (but I'm always for overkill) Barbara helped me too...if the water looks gold they need more food. Oh and a ammonia test kit....it's your friend

I almost went to that too!!! To bad you didn't video it!!! lol.


How do you like the floss? I was thinking about getting some myself.

Originally Posted by rgrking

I almost went to that too!!! To bad you didn't video it!!! lol.


How do you like the floss? I was thinking about getting some myself.

You should have!!! It was great and he is sooo nice. I didn't think to video...lol.

I went cheap at first and only bought the one, then after having so many cultures decided to just get plenty. I LOVE IT! Makes a huge difference IMO. I have plenty of Cloram-ax (sp?) if you want some I'd be happy to share.....it will take me years to use the tub of it. And now with RG Complete it's in there already .

Rotifer floss??

Did they actually have RGComplete? be sure to spell it right or the guys from Reeds will stalk you lol.

I need to get some more. I only have a few ounces left.

rotifer floss is here.
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