My "build"

[awelcome]

here are a couple crappy phone shots of the drainage layer... hopefully you can see where the water sits. Does that look ok? You can also see where I had some substrate leak down because the barrier moved a little when I put it in and it wasn't quite large enough.... that little bit should be ok right? On the worst spot I took a strip and put it on the side to try and keep more from falling down. The right side seems slightly higher for water level... it's possible my bricks aren't super level there, but hopefully it isn't too high on that side.



I could have swore when I put the drainage layer in it was more level, but I think it just settled more in certain places.

[DigitalPunk]

It looks fine! You have learned well

[awelcome]

ok, shipment came in... I am about to need some serious help.

[awelcome]

First off... I don't know how to get things set up for the culture and whatnot.... I THINK the springtails came in ok condition... I see some moving around. I also see some fast moving bugs on top that I don't know what they are. Are those also springtails?

I have a bag of charcoal, a tub, a container of some powdery yellowish substance that I think is the food?, and the culture. When I do open the springtails, whatever those things on top are will bolt I am sure.... How do I put some into my tank, and then make the culture from these items?

I also set up my digital hyrgo.... for lack of a good spot to put it I placed it in the back lower corner next to the glass thermo since it suctions to the glass. Is there a better spot to put it? I imagine I want to put it somewhere I am least directly spraying?

I also got my extra stuff for fly cultures. I have two cultures right now (purchased) and while it was overflowing the other day it seems somewhat lower today (the second one) so I wondered what is the best way to start another from the ones I have without depleting those cultures too much? Like how many flies do I need to dump into a new one?

Thanks.

[DigitalPunk]

Ok here we go

Rinse the charcoal in your sink. You can either use a strainer or the bag the charcoal came in.

Add rinsed charcoal to your container. Fill container with about 1" of water.

Did your springtails come in ABG mix or charcoal?

I always hang mine as close to the middle of the tank as possible. 1/2 way down the glass is fin, but I stick the suction cup to the center of the glass to I use and let it dangle in the center of the tank.

You want to add around 50 flies to new cultures. The new ones will start producing flies in 2 weeks.

[awelcome]

I read their site instructions, but still a few questions....

They say to put on just charcoal for culture... but it comes in a mixed substrate type thing. So how do I move them from that to the charcoal without getting it in there?

I am thinking of doing like suggested and using the fern bark or whatever to move them to vivarium... so I was going to get them into the culture first, and put the fern bark in there overnight with some yeast to get them on it and shake it into viv tomorrow. So I hopefully just need to figure out how to get them into the culture right now. I also sent them an email to know if my culture arrived ok.... when I look at the container I only see one, maybe two moving around plus whatever is on top (like 4 bugs or so and I don't know if those are also springtails) so hopefully they can answer that for me. I did get express shipping, so that's good. I had hoped to get them in today, but I want to do this right lol.

[awelcome]

regarding the hygro.... my top is still screen. I have glass over top, and need to actually get a piece cut to size to fit into it, but I will be leaving the screen since perhaps (I know it might eventually rust and I will consider removing then). I am going to have to go with measurements though for the cut, and don't want to leave anything to chance that there might be a gap and not have the screen there anymore. So I can't hang it from middle unfortunately.

[DigitalPunk]

The NeHerp media is awesome.

1/3 cup water in the deli cup
Pour media over water (2/3 cup I think but check the bag instructions).
Add another 1/3 cup water slowly getting all the media wet
Add a splash of white vinegar
Abut 12 grains of the yeast they send taped to the media

Then add your excelsior and flies.

I write the day I made the culture on the side of the cup to help me ensure I am using the oldest culture first and to help me toss them in the trash at 30ish days old.

[awelcome]

wonder if I can somehow suction to top corner, run along top, and hook to the screen and let dangle... will look at that later

[DigitalPunk]

On the side glass halfway down is fine also.

[DigitalPunk]

Here is how I did it.

Springtails float in water. I filled there cup of mixed media full of water and then slowly poured it over my charcoal.

Once you have enough in the charcoal ( the more the better to get the culture going. Will take it 30 days to start producing). Then just dump the container into the tank and spread it around some the excess water will drain into you drainage layer.

[awelcome]

I don't think I will be getting a reply from them today... and really hoping to at least get them out of the shipping container and into the culture kit. Their business closes at 3 today unfortunately.

So I filled it halfway with the charcoal... but do I for sure need to rinse it? Their site didn't say anything like that in their steps for setup.

I have the shipping culture in what seems to be ABG type mix, and I need to transfer them to the charcoal bin without the mix according to their instructions which state not to use a mixed thing. What do do about those bugs that are going to get out as soon as I open it too?

Then once I get them in... sprinkle some yeast, spray it with treated water, and also do a little on that fern piece and leave it for night. I hope if I don't see any bugs when transferring them I can get some help from them tomorrow on getting more or whatever.

[DigitalPunk]

What color are the bugs ?

[awelcome]

we were replying at same time... so if I put water in there and dump out into the culture is it ok to have water in there at bottom just sitting there? That also wasn't in their instructions that I saw. And should I see a lot of them come out? It seems so full of the ABG I don't really see anything else.

[awelcome]

bugs on top have wings and look greyish and looking closely they may have some rings on their body but they are hard to see now with the condensation on plastic and moving so fast.

[awelcome]

ok read their page for the 10th time and see they say to put water in bottom too, so will for sure do that. Dang kids keep distracting me lol.

[DigitalPunk]

Ew on the bugs. Try to kill any of those you see. If there are a lot of them I would not add this culture to your terrarium. Get the spring breeding culture going and kill all winged insects you see.

Spring tails are little white bugs. About 1/8 long. They are so light they float in water. Filling it with water will bring them all to the surface. You will see them then. The will not drown so don't panic and rush

Then slowly pour the water onto your charcoal but try not to get the ABG in the culture. Come ABG won't hurt and the spring will eat it as it breaks down.

Then pour the remaining water and ABG mix into your tank. I would then add water back to the shipping cup and look to see if more springtails are floating if so pour that into your culture and then add more water to the culture so it has about an inch of water in the bottom.

Rinsing the charcoal is optional.

[awelcome]

so I can open it outside and let those escape? Good.... I don't want to deal with such fast moving, jumping around bugs lol. Sucks that they might be an issue though.... I do want to go ahead and get these in and give it a try.... but will see what they say tomorrow when they reply too and see if I need to dump the whole thing..... hopefully not because I don't want to have to buy the kit again too! Getting it set up now... will update how it goes... thanks again for the help and being so prompt!

[DigitalPunk]

With it being infested they should send you out a replacement culture for free.

I'm hoping you have tons alive in this one and get a free one

[Mentat]

IRT springtails and FFs, read this: Frog Forum - Culturing Livefood for your Dartfrogs and Frog Forum - Fruit Fly Culturing, Care and Feeding - Everything you need to know about Drosophila.

You want to split your springtail culture when population booms. Also, you want to start a new FF culture from one that is starting to produce new flies. That way, when the time to throw the older culture arrives, you will have a new producing one.

Myself dump around 50 flies in a 32 oz. plastic cup with 1/8 teaspoon of CA supplement. Shake them a bit and then shake them flies (not the CA) into new culture cup. The CA powder is supposed to help knock off and reduce presence of any mites .