Well suited for smaller freshwater fish. Water fleas (daphnia) survive in the aquarium for days and feed of microscopic waste particles. This live food is the main nutrition source for most fish in nature.
Water fleas are tolerant to poor water quality i.e. low oxygen, high nitrogen content, ammonia and pH. They actually thrive on green water pea soup. Culturing them therefore does not require strictly maintained water parameters.
All that is needed is a 10 Gallon tank with a source of light (direct sun light is preferred). Temperature should be around 60 - 70 degrees F. Low aeration is needed for hatching and the bubbles should be large. To create planktonic micro-algae (pea soup) an organic fertilizer will do the trick in combination with lighting. The organic fertilizer will also promote bacterial and fungal growth, which is a food source next to planktonic algae.
Brewers yeast (1 oz weekly) can be fed if algae are not properly developed yet.
Water fleas are sensitive to salt, potassium, calcium as well as zinc, copper, and chlorine/chloramine. Most of these compounds can be successfully removed using a water conditioner.
A pH of 6 - 9 is acceptable, high ammonia levels and pH will not kill them, but drastically reduce the reproduction.
Harvesting the water fleas can be done with a fine meshed net. The water fleas will collect themselves near the surface as soon as the airstone has been turned off, which makes it easy to collect them. They can be kept alive for several days in the refrigerator.
In an established colony at least 25% of the population should be harvested every 3 days, as the rapid re-production can have a negative effect on the water quality (reducing overall production).
A female can produce 100 eggs every 3 days, so the culture will renew itself.
Under good conditions only females are present, reproducing asexually. In less favorable conditions males are produced for sexual reproduction.
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