My latest project is creating an aquatic insect tank. It seemed simple enough, I mean, I've had fish before and no problem, but after doing some research I found that creating a tank suitable for aquatic insects requires a bit more work. Firstly, since the insects I'll be collecting are from stream habitats a constant current and high level of oxygen is necessary. Secondly, I want to collect both predator and prey species, but if put together there would be obvious problems, so a barrier would be necessary. Thirdly, the temperature needs to stay rather cool to maintain oxygen levels, but my apartment doesn't exactly have central air. Finally, most aquatic insects are naiads, or aquatic larvae of flying adults, so there will be an emergence or two to deal with.
So, I decided to just take it one step at a time, and try to come up with solutions along the way. As of now, I have a 20 gallon tank inherited from my mom's storage, along with a filtration system, cover, and a means to change water. Today, I'm going to fill the tank with water and let all the chemicals evaporate out over the next week or so. I'm hoping to get a few more pieces to the tank during this time, such as an aerator, thermometer, some sort of mosquito netting or cheese cloth, and a plastic divider.
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| The tank's current state. |
Hopefully, I'll be able to get the ball rolling and have some awesome insects to show off in the next week or two!
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