Breeding daphnia at home

[Eclipse4]

Has anyone had success breeding daphnia at home? I've got a 5-gallon tank set up with a sponge filter, no heater, and indirect sunlight. Trying to feed them spirulina powder but not seeing much population growth.

[RavenFold]

Yo, I've been messing with daphnia for a minute. You gotta keep the water kinda green with algae or yeast, spirulina's cool but it's not enough on its own. What's your water temp at? They like it around 70–75F, but they're pretty chill otherwise.

[roadside]

I've had some luck with a 10-gallon tub outdoors. Used a mix of green water and baker's yeast. The key is small, frequent feedings. Too much and the water goes bad fast.

[Goldie]

Yo, I've been messing with daphnia for a minute. You gotta keep the water kinda green with algae or yeast, spirulina's cool but it's not enough on its own. What's your water temp at? They like it around 70–75F, but they're pretty chill otherwise.

I disagree. Spirulina works fine if you're consistent. I've bred them in a 3-gallon jar with just spirulina and weekly water changes. No algae needed.

[frostmix]

What's your pH and hardness? Daphnia prefer slightly alkaline water, around 7.5–8.0, and moderate hardness. If your water's too soft, they might not thrive.

[Eclipse4]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I'll try adding some yeast and see if that helps. My temp's at 72F, pH is 7.8, and hardness is around 150 ppm. Maybe I just need to be more patient.

[RavenFold]

Patience is key, but also, don't be afraid to tweak stuff. If they're not popping off in a week or two, try upping the yeast or adding a bit of green water. They're hardy little buggers once you get the vibe right.

[roadside]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I'll try adding some yeast and see if that helps. My temp's at 72F, pH is 7.8, and hardness is around 150 ppm. Maybe I just need to be more patient.

Your params sound solid. Just give it time and keep an eye on the water quality. Overfeeding is the biggest killer.

[Goldie]

I still say spirulina's the way to go. Less mess than yeast or green water. Just keep the feedings light and regular. You'll see results.

[frostmix]

Has anyone tried using airstones? I've heard they can help keep the water oxygenated without disturbing the daphnia too much. My setup's pretty basic, just a sponge filter.