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Breeding daphnia at home
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 12:17 am
by 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.
Re: Breeding daphnia at home
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 12:46 am
by 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.
Re: Breeding daphnia at home
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 1:04 am
by 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.
Re: Breeding daphnia at home
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 1:10 am
by Goldie
RavenFold wrote: ↑Fri Jul 04, 2025 12:46 am
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.
Re: Breeding daphnia at home
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 1:27 am
by 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.
Re: Breeding daphnia at home
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 1:38 am
by 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.
Re: Breeding daphnia at home
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 2:20 am
by 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.
Re: Breeding daphnia at home
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 2:51 am
by roadside
Eclipse4 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 04, 2025 1:38 am
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.
Re: Breeding daphnia at home
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 3:49 am
by 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.
Re: Breeding daphnia at home
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 3:58 am
by 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.