OK how has everyone set them up?
70/30 distilled/mineral water?
What size tank? Can I hatch them in a 10 gallon? I don't have anything smaller.
Sand substrate? If so from where, can I use the kind of sand you get in a load of sand, like from a dumptruck? 'Cause we already have a load of sand in the yard.
Playbox sand, aquarium sand (please don't say I have to buy aquarium sand haha)
Painted aquarium gravel?
??
haha I'm probably overthinking it but I've seen some very specific instructions and I don't want to murder these ones and have to order more from Germany...
70/30 distilled/mineral water?
What size tank? Can I hatch them in a 10 gallon? I don't have anything smaller.
Sand substrate? If so from where, can I use the kind of sand you get in a load of sand, like from a dumptruck? 'Cause we already have a load of sand in the yard.
Playbox sand, aquarium sand (please don't say I have to buy aquarium sand haha)
Painted aquarium gravel?
??
haha I'm probably overthinking it but I've seen some very specific instructions and I don't want to murder these ones and have to order more from Germany...
I used spring, Jess used distilled, both work (though Jess is right about adults in distilled water). Everyone suggests no tap water until they're 7-8 days old, then start changing their water with tap if you want to use tap. I use a basic water conditioner with my tap water because excessive chlorine will kill them. I don't know if it's necessary with our tap water, I just like to be safe and a bottle for $4 lasts forever and ever.
Hatch them in a little glass or Pyrex dish. If you don't have one, get a glass tupperware dish for $3 at Walmart. (I did.) When they're hatching, any more than a cup or two of water is overkill. They're the size of a grain of sand for the first 3-4 days. I switch mine to the "big" (3 gallon) tank when they're 10-14 days old, and even then they're pretty small.
Jess and I are both using aquarium sands in the eventual adult tanks (I specifically use coral sand because it was on sale LOL) but you can likely use outside sand. Just give it a really good rinsing with cold tap water first.
They do fine on gravel, but I've seen videos of triops on gravel vs. sand, and sand is oh so much more fun to watch them on. They live to dig and lay. I've seen people go OMG NO at any decorative things in the aquarium, but I scrubbed and rinsed my plant + t-rex skull with plain tap water and it's fine.
Not overthinking! But it's important to note that you should only be trying to hatch small batches at a time - I'm, guessing they sent you 50-100 eggs like most Ebay brokers do, and you really only need to attempt hatching 15-20 at a time if you're paranoid of breaking it.