propagating duckweed outside the pond

[marlin08]

I have recently set up an outdoor 150g stock tank for my fish.

I would like to grow some duckweed in a separate tank so that I've got my own source to feed from ( I also have indoor tank).

If I were to do this in a 10-12 gal container outside, what else would the container need to keep the duckweed from getting contaminated with harmful bacteria, etc,? Or is that even a concern?
Also, how could I keep the mosquitoes out or would there be a way to utilize the larvae for the fish without adding to the mosquito population?

I've got a 10-12 gal rubbermaid with green water right now ( trying to sprout packaged water lilly pods that never sprouted, has been outside for about a week now) can the duckweed be grown in there? What would I need to do to manage it? I'm attaching a picture, would this work to propogate it in?

Thank you for your help.

[afertuna]

Hey there I just put the duckweed outside and allow the mosquito larvae to grow. What I do is when the larvea get med is size I remove the duckweed and empty the larvae thru a brine shrimp net and feed the larvae to the fish and refill the water and only put a small portion of the duckweed back and feed the duckweed to the fish. I have 12-14 containers going for just this. In the winter I reduce to four in the greenhouse. as far as the bacteria I cant help you with that I try to keep them in areas where the birds cannot get into them.

[bekko]

Use water from the fish tank to fill the container and there should be enough nutrients for the duckweed.

If you want to grow mosquitoes, feed the container with dry bakers yeast and let it get sort of nasty. The nasty water attracts more adult mosquitoes to lay eggs. Just don't forget to harvest at the first sign of the pupae (wiggler) stage.

If you do not want to grow mosquitoes you could use a mosquito dunk. The Bacillus bacteria in the dunk is harmless to fish.

-steve

[marlin08]

Thank you so very much for your replies, I'm still learning about all this and trying to be sure I do it right...

To clarify, I'm guessing that the only "new water" that would go into the 10g duckweed/mosquito larvae/ green water container would be replacement water ( from my tank ) as the green water in the container evaporates?

( I just want to make sure I don't inadvertently let it go really "rancid"..)

[bekko]

It is difficult to starve duckweed Wynn, but it can be done. With nutrients, broiling sun and frequent harvesting it can double every few days. When you harvest the duckweed you harvest the nutrients it has assimilated. If it is not emerald green then change more water using the fish tank water.

-steve

[marlin08]

That makes sense.
I dumped the "starter" duckweed in the green water container yesterday ( picture on first post) and we've definietly got the broiling sun right now.
Thanks, again for the input and clarification.

Wynn