DIY Kreisel

I wanted to start this thread to show how to build one of these. Most larvae and delicate species need one in order to keep them alive while they grow. I already have a 10 gallon tank and buckets. I should be able to get everything else pretty easy.

Materials needed:
10 gallon tank
5 gallon bucket
something to cut the bucket with (dremel, wire snips, hack saw)
clear silicone
cloth mesh - I think I'm going to go with something around the 120um size. Should be small enough to keep pods and the larvae in there.

Wish me luck on this little project!

Interesting your using a 5g bucket. Good luck with it Glen.

I don't have any old water bottles. If I can find one I'll use it. I think our Lowes might have some.

Luck!!

What is a kreisel???

good luck!

here's a video I found of one similar to what I'm building.

Thats a pretty decent design. I tried both the kreisel and BRT designs and I had better luck with the Kreisel. BRT especially for Mandarins just didn't work well, maybe it was my design. I kept finding larvae stuck to the screen and since it was deep and black it was very hard to spot them in there.

Looks like the setup they use to keep jellyfish at the aquarium. Are larvae damaged by touching the glass?

I think it's more to keep them suspended that's what helps to keep them alive.

I found the contact information of someone that has successfully bred and raised these. I'm going to try to contact him next week.

I guess the ability to use a pump without worrying about it sucking up the larvae would make filtration easier as well. Any data on how much flow to have around the larvae? They seem to be flying around in that video.

I'm going to spread the flow out. I won't get time this weekend to do this. I'll try to pick up some things this week.

Originally Posted by LadyOfIreland

Luck!!

What is a kreisel???

I tried to think of a good way to explain it but wiki hit it pretty good.

"A kreisel tank is a circular aquarium designed to hold delicate animals such as jellyfish. These aquariums provide slow, circular water flow with a bare minimum of interior hardware, to prevent delicate animals from becoming injured by pumps or the tank itself.[35] Originally a German design (kreisel means spinning top), the tank has no sharp corners, and keeps the housed animals away from the plumbing. Water moving into the tank gives a gentle flow that keeps the inhabitants suspended, and water leaving the tank is covered by a delicate screen that prevents the inhabitants from getting stuck. "

I have a lead on a 5 gallon water bottle. I was also thinking of just a plastic sled that kids use for snow. They are rolled easily and can be cut square. I think the water bottle will materialize in the next couple days.

Lowe's sells 5 gallons plastic water bottles with water in them for 7 or 8 bucks. But I would stay away from the screen becasue like D3 said the larvae can and will get stuck in it.

You can also use a Plastic goldfish bowel, Pekas Ponies uses them all the time for her Redi Seahorses which are born Pelagic or unable to hitch like the Hippocampus Erectus can. She just puts a small hole in the side and silicones a small patch of screen over it to allow for the water to drain out.

And I agree, the amount of flow coming out or that pump is about 3 times more than needed, they should just flow around the circle nice and easy, not bouncing off the glass like those are. Talk about a headache!

I have a buddy that works at Lowes that is going to get me an empty one this week. That's what I'm going to work with. If it fails, then I have to try something else. I think everything will be fine though. I just need to get a little pump. Dr Foster Smith just sent me a gift certificate so I'll prolly use it for the little pump.

Ok heres a rouch design that just came to me.



by directing the flow between the divider and the wall it will help guide teh flow ina circular direction. Also by having the mesh in this section it will keep the larvae from becoming trapped but will also allow for some water excange. Excess flow will be directed through the screen but flow should still develop assuming the appropriate micron mesh is used.

I was planning on the same thing, except having the screen on the other side.

only problem with havign the screen on the other side is that water will flow out it causing the flow to become less circular and larvae entrapped. thats why most direct teh flow accross teh screen to blow debris and larvae off of it.

altho maybe shrimp larvae are larger and more powerfull swimmers than mandarin larvae where

Well I want this to be as easy on them as possible. I can always put it where you showed. Sounds like a plan!

I think thats a great idea placing the mesh there.