Air Powered Egg Tumbler

[ElizabethGreene]

I built one of these. Unfortunately the screen material clogged while I was at work, and the eggs died.

I am going to build another one with two modifications. First it is going to be built onto a short sponge filter. This should make it clog resistant. I am also considering adding a second piece of screen at the top of to keep the eggs from washing out. That would trap the fry though. A better approach might be a V shape, so that the eggs cycle through areas of high and low flow. This may more closely match the swirling effect observed in the female's mouth.

Related: I found a University extension paper that described using empty inverted 3-liter bottles as an impromptu McPherson jar for hatching catfish eggs. One advantage to this approach is using a powerhead instead of an airlift. In my case I have extra water flow, but a shortage of air ports.

-ellie

[jackalope]

Welcome to the forum Elizabeth Greene, glad to have you here! Thanks for sharing your knowledge, we'll all benefit from each other that way ..... pics will help also ............ (I should talk, I'm really slow at putting up pics) .......

[badflash]

I have read a lot of Mike's stuff. I have bought from Miami-Aquaculture and they sell his his fish. What do you think of the Pennyfish? Which fish do you breed?

I keep pureline T. horonorum from Mike and his orange O. mossambica, My own line of black O .mossambica that Mike is now using for his Black Diamond pennyfish, and I keep a sub-species of the Nile called Baringo.

If you want large fillet, go for hybrids, but then you are stuck replacing the breeders every couple of years. Niles are also a good choice. Not quite as big or fast growing as the hybrids, but still an excellent fish. O. mossambica take a couple of years toget to market size, but breed like crazy.

I'm wondering if you could make tilapia sardines. If you could, O. mossambica would be the perfect choice.

[samtheman]

Awesome DIY ....how warm do you keep the temperature in the egg tumbler tank? I 've heard 85 degrees is ideal but I am not sure.

[badflash]

85 is perfect for tilapia, but you'll get more male fish at higher temps. 96F produces 98% males, but there is some mortality compared to 85F which gives about 50/50.

[samtheman]

wow, I did not know that about producing males at high temps.

[AZdesertFarmer]

Thanks for the post Badflash, The fact about the adults snacking on the young answered my question about overpopulation due to breeding in the tank.

[badflash]

They will overpopulate left unchecked, believe me.

[rfeiller]

ingenious design Badflash. do you use this with your other african mouth brooders?

[badflash]

I've used it with Alonocara, but I will be moving to using large tea balls and large air bubble like spooky_ fish shortly.