Hey there fellow aquarists! I’ve been raising brine shrimp for years, and one question I keep seeing pop up is about getting the salt levels just right. Today, I’m gonna break down everything you need to know about salt concentrations for these amazing little creatures.
Quick Answer
For hatching brine shrimp eggs: Use 1-1.5 tablespoons of salt per quart (4-6 tablespoons per gallon)
For growing adults: Use 2 cups of marine salt per 5 gallons
Why Salt Matters for Brine Shrimp
Let’s get real – these tiny creatures are pretty picky about their salt! They’ve evolved to live in super salty environments, and they just can’t hack it in fresh water. Here’s why salt is so crucial
- Helps with osmoregulation (fancy word for maintaining internal water balance)
- Prevents fungal and bacterial infections
- Creates optimal hatching conditions
- Supports proper growth and development
Different Life Stages = Different Salt Needs
For Hatching Eggs (0-36 hours)
- Ideal specific gravity: 1.010-1.018
- Salt amount: 1 tablespoon per gallon
- Water temperature: 80-82°F (26-28°C)
- Pro tip: Don’t use iodized table salt – it’ll mess with hatching!
For Growing Nauplii (Baby Brine Shrimp)
- Ideal specific gravity: 1.020-1.025
- Salt amount: 1.5-2 tablespoons per gallon
- Keep temperature steady
- Constant aeration is super important!
For Adult Brine Shrimp
- Specific gravity range: 1.008-1.030
- Sweet spot: 1.020-1.025
- Best setup: 2-5 gallon tanks with good filtration
What Type of Salt Should You Use?
Listen up, cause this is important! Not all salt is created equal:
✅ Best Options:
- Marine salt mixes (provides extra minerals)
- Non-iodized pickling salt
- Pure sea salt (no additives)
❌ Avoid These:
- Table salt (contains iodine)
- Rock salt
- Anything with anti-caking agents
My Top Tips for Success
After messing up more times than I can count, here’s what I’ve learned:
-
Measure Accurately Get yourself a hydrometer or refractometer – eyeballing it just doesn’t cut it
-
Aeration is Key
- Use an air pump
- Skip the airstone – a rigid airline tube works better
- Keep those eggs suspended!
-
Lighting Matters:
- Provide constant light for hatching
- LED or fluorescent works great
- Helps with temperature too
-
Water Changes:
- Change 25-50% every few days
- Match temperature and salinity
- Remove dead shrimp and waste
Common Problems and Solutions
Problem: Poor Hatch Rates
- Check salt concentration
- Verify water temperature
- Ensure proper lighting
- Make sure eggs aren’t old
Problem: Die-off After Few Days
- Test salinity levels
- Check water quality
- Ensure proper feeding
- Maintain good aeration
Feeding Your Brine Shrimp
Once they’ve hatched, you’ll need to feed them if you want them to grow:
- Microalgae (best option)
- Powdered spirulina
- Liquid phytoplankton
- Baker’s yeast (in a pinch)
Setting Up Your Hatchery
Here’s what ya need:
- Conical container or inverted bottle
- Air pump and airline tubing
- Light source
- Salt (duh!)
- Thermometer
- Hydrometer/refractometer
FAQs (Cause Y’all Keep Asking!)
Q: Can I use tap water?
A: Better not! Use RO or dechlorinated water for best results.
Q: How long till they hatch?
A: Usually 18-36 hours if conditions are right.
Q: How often should I check salinity?
A: Daily is best, especially when starting out.
The Bottom Line
Getting your salt levels right isn’t rocket science, but it does need attention to detail. Start with the basic measurements I’ve shared, monitor your results, and adjust as needed. Remember – these little guys are pretty tough, but they do best when we give them the right environment.
Want more tips or have questions? Drop ’em in the comments below! I’m always happy to help fellow brine shrimp enthusiasts get the best results possible.
P.S. Don’t forget to bookmark this guide – you might need it later!
Would you like me to explain or break down any part of this article in more detail?
Instructions for Hatching Brine Shrimp
In the page below you will find the Webs most complete and simple-to-follow brine shrimp hatching instructions for hatching eggs in a conventional cone-shaped container (Imhoff cone or inverted bottle), or using a Hatchery Dish!
Before we begin, you need to start with viable, properly stored eggs. All brine shrimp eggs need to be stored as follows:
- in a tightly sealed container;
- free from moisture; and
- in a cool environment at or below 40°F. (Refrigeration is ideal for short term storage, i.e., less than three to four weeks. For longer term storage, eggs are best kept at or below freezing.)
We recommend that upon receiving your eggs, divide them into an amount that will be consumed within three to four weeks and store this amount in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator; the remainder should be stored, also in a tightly sealed container, in the freezer. Keep in mind that freezing can lower metabolic activity and delay hatch-out. We suggest removing egg from the freezer one day in advance of using it to allow the embryos to acclimate.
The above storage guidelines apply to all brine shrimp eggs, whether in opened or unopened tins.
THE E-Z answer for seahorse and jellyfish exhibits, larval crustaceans, reef and coral tanks, zebrafish research and more.
Follow these guidelines for the best results when using conical hatching containers such as our 2-Liter standing cone, an Imhoff cone, or an inverted soda bottle:
- Salinity: When preparing your hatching solution, a 25 parts per thousand (ppt) salt solution is ideal under most conditions. This equates to around 1.018 specific gravity as measured with a hydrometer. If you lack a hydrometer, this salinity can be achieved by dissolving approximately 1 and 2/3 tablespoons of salt in one quart (roughly, one liter) of water. Be sure to use non iodized salt.
- pH: Proper pH can be important in hatching brine shrimp. A starting pH of 8.0 or higher is recommended. In areas where the water pH is below 7, Epson salt or magnesium sulfate can be added at the rate of 1/2 teaspoon per quart of hatching solution.
- Temperature: Optimum water temperature for a 24-hour complete hatch is 80-82°F (26-28°C). Lower temperatures will result in a longer hatching time and inefficient hatches. Do not exceed 86° (30°C). Do not place an immersion heater directly into your hatching container! An immersion bath is a preferred method to maintain constant hatching temperatures. Alternatively, an incandescent bulb placed above the hatching cone can provide sufficient heat in the right environment.
- Light: Illumination is necessary to trigger the hatching mechanism within the embryo during the first few hours of incubation. Maintaining a light source during the entire incubation period is recommended to obtain optimum hatch results and, as mentioned above, for temperature control.
- Aeration: Constant aeration is necessary to keep cysts in suspension and to provide sufficient oxygen levels for the cysts to hatch. A minimum of 3 parts per million dissolved oxygen during the incubation is recommended. Strong aeration should not damage or hurt the brine shrimp cysts or nauplii. A [rigid air tube] is ideal to direct air to the bottom of the cone and to prevent unhatched eggs from settling. We do not recommend an airstone.
- Stocking Density: 1 gram per liter or quart or approximately 1/2 level teaspoon of cysts per quart (or liter) is recommended for optimum hatching percentages. A higher stocking density will result in a lower hatch percentage and difficulty separating hatched nauplii from unhatched egg and shell.
- Hatching Cone: Flat-bottom hatching vessels should be avoided. Cone or “V” bottomed containers are best to insure that the cysts remain in suspension during hatching. Be sure to thoroughly wash the hatching cone with a light chlorine solution, rinse, and allow to air-dry between uses. Avoid soap. Soap will leave a slight residue which will foam from aeration during hatching and leave cysts stranded above the water level.
- Incubation Period: Generally, the optimum incubation time is 24 hours. Egg which has been properly stored for more than 2-3 months may require additional incubation time — up to 30-36 hours. Oftentimes, eggs will hatch in as few as 18 hours. If a smaller size nauplii (Instar I) is desired, a harvest time of 18 hours is recommended after which Instar I (first stage) nauplii can be collected before metamorphosis into Instar II.
Brine shrimp egg is sometimes very buoyant. In order to maximize the hatching percentage, it is sometimes helpful to swirl the water inside the hatching container with your finger once or twice at intervals in the first 4 to 6 hours of incubation in order to knock down eggs that have been stranded on the side of the container above the water-line. After about 6 hours, the eggs are usually well-hydrated and will stay in the water column.
The following steps will achieve optimum brine shrimp hatch rates.
- Set Up: Place hatching cone or similarly shaped vessel in well-lit area. Cone should be semi-translucent for ease of harvesting and light transmission.
- Add Water: Fill cone with water and adjust salinity to 25 ppt (parts per thousand). Optimum hatching temperature is 82°F (28°C).
- Add Cysts: Add cysts at the rate of 1 gram per liter.
- Aerate: Provide adequate aeration to keep cysts in suspension.
- Hatch: Depending upon water temperature, cysts should hatch in approximately 18-36 hours.
- Harvest: After hatching brine shrimp, turn off or remove aeration and wait several minutes for the shells and and baby brine shrimp (or nauplii) to separate. Newly hatched nauplii will settle to the bottom of the cone or move towards a light source; the shells will float to the surface. Once separated, the nauplii can be siphoned from the bottom with a length of air tubing or gently drained through the bottom of the cone through a valve, if so equipped.
- Rinse: The warm incubation temperatures and metabolites from the hatching medium create ideal conditions for a bacteria bloom. Rinsing of the baby brine shrimp in a fine mesh net or sieve using clean fresh or salt water is important before feeding them to your fish.
- Clean Equipment: Tanks and brine shrimp hatching equipment should be cleaned and disinfected routinely.
Flat-bottom hatching vessels should be avoided. Cone or “V” bottomed containers are best to insure that the cysts remain in suspension during hatching. Be sure to thoroughly wash the hatching cone with a light chlorine solution, rinse, and allow to air-dry between uses. Avoid soap. Soap will leave a slight residue which will foam from aeration during hatching and leave cysts stranded above the water level.
Generally, the optimum incubation time is 24 hours. Egg which has been properly stored for more than 2-3 months may require additional incubation time — up to 30-36 hours. Oftentimes, eggs will hatch in as few as 18 hours. If a smaller size nauplii (Instar I) is desired, a harvest time of 18 hours is recommended after which Instar I (first stage) nauplii can be collected before metamorphosis into Instar II.