Best way to strain rotifers...

dmc456 · Apr 1, 2018

I have been using one of the sleeves with the screen at the bottom and they seem to clog. I have read that people use coffee filters too.

So, I designed a custom strainer to work with coffee filters.

Please share what your using...I’m still looking for something better.

dmc456 · Apr 1, 2018

It is designed to hang on my 5 gal rotifer bucket (level). Just pour them in and use the handle to dump the last little bit of water into a cup.

The rotifers are so dense it’s like soup.

I’m 3D printing it on my Makerbot printer at home. It’s almost done and looks awesome.

dmc456 · Apr 1, 2018

I’m a design engineer and own a large manufacturing company. I’m experimenting with breeding clownfish. Once I get my process down I might scale it up to an industrial operation.

Trying to make everything as efficient as possible.

pdisner · Apr 1, 2018

dmc456 said:
I have been using one of the sleeves with the screen at the bottom and they seem to clog. I have read that people use coffee filters too.

So, I designed a custom strainer to work with coffee filters.

Please share what your using...I’m still looking for something better.

I made these out of 55,60,150,240&320 micrometer sizes of nylon Aquaculture mesh. I got sick of coffee filters. They don’t work, so I found specifically sized mesh to do all my jobs. Theyre not pretty but heck of a tool. I use them every day. I breed two types of rotifers, baby brine, separate copepods from their larvae and a lot more. I use to filter water also.

pdisner · Apr 1, 2018

dmc456 said:
I’m a design engineer and own a large manufacturing company. I’m experimenting with breeding clownfish. Once I get my process down I might scale it up to an industrial operation.

Trying to make everything as efficient as possible.

I also breed fish, clowns also. Currently trying to raise some blennies. Check out my videos and let’s trade some info via chat

My really good pics and video are on my Facebook page @PaulsPods
Check it out. Send me s message

shred5 · Apr 1, 2018

That's cool.. I have used rotifer sieves which are pretty close to the same thing. But way cooler when you make them yourself.

dmc456 · Apr 1, 2018

WHat size works the best...I have a 53 micron and seems too small

shred5 · Apr 1, 2018

dmc456 said:
WHat size works the best...I have a 53 micron and seems too small

Most are 53 I have seen a few smaller.
http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/rotifer-sieve-p220.html
http://seahorsesource.com/?wpsc-product=plankton-rotifer-sieve

https://pentairaes.com/rotifer-sieve.html

Skydvr · Apr 2, 2018

You can stack multiple mesh sizes to filter various sized organisms/eggs/larva.

What is the cyst size for the strain you are cultivating?

chad vossen · Apr 10, 2018

Nice! We use plankton sieves that fit into 5 gallon buckets. This way we can pour a 5 gal culture into another bucket to filter out the rotifers/copepods. Then we rinse the rotifers into a beaker to either feed off to larvae or start new cultures. I've got them in 25, 55, 75, and 100 micron sizes.

pdisner · Apr 10, 2018

dmc456 said:
WHat size works the best...I have a 53 micron and seems too small

I do really well with the 60 micron sieve that I made. I found that by using a diameter of 3”, you can literally pour at will without having to stop and de-clog. However I usually use a 1” diameter for usual purposes. Nothing to fancy needed. I use a 60 micron for pretty much anything...rotifers, pods, baby brine etc.
If anyone needs nylon aquaculture mesh, I have sizes 60-360 microns. Just send me PM.

pdisner · Apr 10, 2018

chad vossen said:
Nice! We use plankton sieves that fit into 5 gallon buckets. This way we can pour a 5 gal culture into another bucket to filter out the rotifers/copepods. Then we rinse the rotifers into a beaker to either feed off to larvae or start new cultures. I've got them in 25, 55, 75, and 100 micron sizes.

Hey Chad-your pics didn’t come out. How much are those? I could use one or two of them.

D-Nak · Apr 19, 2018

Coffee filters are a waste of time.

Just stack the sieves has others have suggested. In your initial post it sounded like you're only using one sieve, and that could be the problem. With stacked sieves, the larger particles get filtered out so there's no chance of the last one clogging.