Buzz
Greenwater, also referred to as phytoplankton, is highly regarded among aquarium enthusiasts as premium nutrition for small fish fry, such as betta fry. This article will delineate various methods for producing your own supply.
Steps
A Simpler, Slower Approach
Transfer aged aquarium water into a transparent container.
Expose the water to sunlight. This process requires a considerable amount of time for the algae to proliferate. Check out the following method for a quicker alternative.
Quicker Approach
Select 10 smooth and thinly textured leaves.
Thoroughly wash and rinse the leaves until they are completely clean. Avoid using soap!
Place the leaves in a blender with water. Optionally, you can include fish micro pellets to expedite the culture's growth.
Blend the leaves with the water. Blend for approximately 1 minute.
Strain any blended leaves and transfer the water into a bottle.
Place the bottle under a bright light overnight to encourage the bloom of phytoplankton.
Fill a bucket with water.
Transfer the greenwater, which has been left under a bright light overnight, into the bucket.
Allow the bucket to bask in the sunlight. After a few days, the phytoplankton will flourish.
Helpful Hints
- Opt for smooth, thin leaves for easy blending in a kitchen blender. Avoid adding tough and thick leaves as they won't blend well.
- You'll observe a considerable amount of algae on the water's surface - this is phytoplankton. You can introduce daphnia culture (water fleas) at this stage. Your local pet store is a reliable source of Daphnia. Adult Daphnia make excellent live food for aquariums.
- Consider microwaving the leaves to expedite the breakdown of plant cells.
Warnings
- Do not directly feed freshly blended greenwater to your fry! Allow it to sit under the light to promote phytoplankton growth and ensure all cells in the leaves are dead. Some leaf cells serve as the plant's defense system, which could harm your fry.
