To begin, use a handheld electric saber saw to cut four evenly spaced rectangular openings into the sides of a standard 7 gallon polyethylene bucket. With a table saw, slice the cutout pieces lengthwise into 2 centimeter wide strips. Cut out four panels of nylon mesh to overlap the cutout openings of the bucket.
Temporarily secure one edge of a mesh panel over the long edge of a cutout with small spring clamps. Now glue the edge of the mesh panel to the bucket opening with hot glue. Once the first edge is fastened, glue down the other edges while maintaining a top tension on the panel.
Next, trim down the ends of the cutout pieces so that they fit over the glued area of the panel. Press each covering strip in place with a liberal amount of hot melt glue. Finally, secure the end of each strip with a nylon blind rivet installed from outside the bucket.
Use a utility razor to trim the excess glue and mesh from the edges of the reinforcing strips. The larvae of Crepidula Fornicata appeared to grow faster in the mesocosm relative to the laboratory cultures. The larvae metamorphose spontaneously between the fifth and sixth day.
Almost all the larvae had metamorphosed by day seven.
