Anyone growing phyto outdoors.

[Seanb1]

Hi
Like the title says is anyone growing phytoplankton outdoors.
If so are there any problems with heat or cold ?
Ive grown it in hanging bags in the window before and it worked well, im just trying to get it out of the house.

 

[KrisReef]

Yes, but not me-yet. I’m going to order some soon as the wife goes on vacation.
Some people use kiddie pools but freezing is a problem and I supposed solar heating might also pose an issue?
Following to see the answer(s).
Thx

 

[Seanb1]

My plan is to just grow it on a table out in the sun in 2 litre bottles and a air pump.
I ordered from Florida aqua farms 2 discs and some f2 food.
Cant wait to get some going.

 

[jerrod]

I have been doing it outside with an air Pump for about a year. I’m in San Diego so doesn’t get to cold here but during the summer I get a lot of evaporation and on temperatures 85+ I bring it inside just in case. I’m using an old sun tea container with a drain I got at Walmart.

 

[ectoaesthetics]

Yes and no. I grow tigger pods outside. As a result I do put phyto in the water and it self populates for a bit... I continually have to add new phyto not just because it gets eaten but because the culture becomes “compromised” in the outdoors. I live close enough to the ocean that I hear the sea lions every morning when I take my dog out. It is my belief that the fog brings new algae cells to my cultures. I have no idea how far inland those get carried -but I would guess it is QUITE a long ways... so I would definitely keep that in mind.

 

[pledosophy]

Yes and no. I grow tigger pods outside. As a result I do put phyto in the water and it self populates for a bit... I continually have to add new phyto not just because it gets eaten but because the culture becomes “compromised” in the outdoors. I live close enough to the ocean that I hear the sea lions every morning when I take my dog out. It is my belief that the fog brings new algae cells to my cultures. I have no idea how far inland those get carried -but I would guess it is QUITE a long ways... so I would definitely keep that in mind.

I have been looking at breeding tigger pods myself.
What kind of temp fluctuations do you get at your place?

Thank you

 

[ectoaesthetics]

I’m in Monterey CA currently so temp is really really stable. 45-74F year round. I have grown them in CO though 20-105F it was a bit more touchy. They came indoors in the winter -no real production indoors but the colony would not totally collapse then went back out in the spring. In super high heat I had to make sure they stayed in the shade all day!

 

[pledosophy]

I’m in Monterey CA currently so temp is really really stable. 45-74F year round. I have grown them in CO though 20-105F it was a bit more touchy. They came indoors in the winter -no real production indoors but the colony would not totally collapse then went back out in the spring. In super high heat I had to make sure they stayed in the shade all day!

Thank you! I am looking to do a garage setup and my temps stay well within that range.

Did you start with the Reef Nutrition ones or another source?

 

[Snuggs]

I live in Wisconsin. So I only do this in the summer. Put it on the side of my house with early day sunlight used a squirt of ferti fro my planted tank