How I use my Makerbot 3D printer for marine fish breeding ...
3D printed base A 8 inch length of 3/8 inch rigid airline tubing Two zip ties Porous sponge salvaged from an old powerhead or purchased from your local fish store Download the model from Thingiverse and print it. Obtain the additional parts listed... In my previous installment, I explained how I use my 3D printer to print equipment for fragging corals . The premise is essentially the same in this installment: identify equipment that is potentially 3D printable, model it, and then print it.... These brine shrimp hatcheries essentially consist of two parts: a 2-liter container with its base cut off and a plastic base that the 2-liter screws into. Use it as you would any other sponge filter in your larval tanks. Again, they are not expensive but the cost will add up as more larval tanks are setup. Brine Shrimp Hatchery Retail, brine shrimp hatcheries cost anywhere from $10 to $15 per hatchery. by Suzy Applegarth Sponge Filter Sponge filters retail also for $10 to $15 per filter. Now attach the 3/8" airline tubing to the 3D printed base and then attach the other end to a standard aquarium air pump. My brine shrimp hatchery base shown here uses ABS plastic and costs less than $2. To assemble, place the 7/8" washer in the base and screw on the 2-liter container until it is good and tight. It is available on Thingiverse and once printed yields a nice, sturdy base that the 2-liter container screws into. It has an integrated airline attachment that accepts standard airline tubing. Simply cut the base off of the 2-liter bottle about 3" up from the bottom using a razor knife. The only other item needed is a 7/8" garden hose washer that is available at your local hardware store for approximately $1-$2 for a 10-pack. This part uses PLA plastic and costs maybe $2. While that is not expensive, 3D printing them will cost much less.
