Culturing Phytoplankton + Microscope confirmation

[Mapongamike]

I‘ve started culturing phytoplankton using Mercer of Montana products. It‘s been 4 days and looking through a microscope the cells are not moving. No motion. For comparison, I put oceanmagik under the scope and saw thousands of cells moving. This has me worried that maybe my culture is dead.

1. Is the culture dead?
2. Is phytoplankton suppose to show movement under the scope?

Culturing process:
1. Using natural lighting by the window. 10-12 hours of light
2. Using airline tubing to add oxygen and movement

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[LgTas]

What species of Phyto did you purchase? Nannochloropsis are non motile and will not move when on a slide.

More importantly, is the water green or brown?

 

[Mapongamike]

What species of Phyto did you purchase? Nannochloropsis are non motile and will not move when on a slide.

More importantly, is the water green or brown?

Interesting. Thank you!

Nannochloropsis is the species i have.

What is green and turning more green.

What species shows motion.

 

[Mapongamike]

What species of Phyto did you purchase? Nannochloropsis are non motile and will not move when on a slide.

More importantly, is the water green or brown?

I meant water is green and turning more green.

 

[RobB'z Reef]

Agreed, not all are motile. A little googling will tell you more. I recommend using a density measuring stick to track your culture to learn how it progresses based on your procedures and setup. This can help you determine when the culture plateaus and it's at that point it's at it's highest density and had exhausted the N&P you fed it at the beginning. Most cultures will survive give for a few days at the plateau before crashing.

 

[Mapongamike]

Agreed, not all are motile. A little googling will tell you more. I recommend using a density measuring stick to track your culture to learn how it progresses based on your procedures and setup. This can help you determine when the culture plateaus and it's at that point it's at it's highest density and had exhausted the N&P you fed it at the beginning. Most cultures will survive give for a few days at the plateau before crashing.

Excellent! Thank you. This is very helpful.