DIY Phytoplankton

[Bengals888]

Hi

I have read several sites on setup,etc...

What is the reasoning behind 7 days then split the culture?
Is it a 7 day growth cycle?

This is in regard to nannocloropsis.

So you cannot go by how dark it is?

Other question, this is suppose to out compete diatoms?

 

[Susan Edwards]

I just go by color. And if it is separating really bad. I've had stuff look gone, left it alone with more fertilizer and had it come back. Not sure the reasoning. I've also read 10 days. Following to see what replies you get.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Following, lets see how it goes, I want to make a culture too

 

[Bengals888]

I started mine 3 days ago, it is darker green now. Hoping to hear from experts if you can split earlier, what differences it makes, 3-10 days.
Maybe volume makes difference, takes longer? I’m testing with 4oz culture and 4oz water 1.019.

 

[Bengals888]

Oh darn. Wish I saw your post before I tossed my previous batch, it had seperated, thought it was a bust.

 

[Susan Edwards]

I had one batch I thought crashed. It went pale and separated. I left it be. Shook it once in a while and just didn't get around to tossing. Looked one day (kept air going) and it was a nice dark green. Now when they pale I add more fertilizer. Sometimes every day. Right now, both my bottles are grainy and separated but when I shake, a nice dark green. Will prob. take half and put in fridge to use, after all the stuff from algae barn separates every day and has to be shaken. Then I'll split what is left in two clean bottles and start again. I use the orange juice plastic bottles. When they get icky, I toss. Always hve clean ready to go.

I think as long as it doesn't smell like rotten eggs, it is still good. Just keep shaking, I keep leds on 24/7 and reasonably warm and lots of fertilizer.

I had so much a few months ago, I froze it in ice cube trays to feed to copepods after thawing. There is an article of a company that sells it frozen and claims you can use as cultures. Ah, here it is
https://www.reef2rainforest.com/2017/06/22/algagen-innovates-frozen-live-phytoplankton-concentrates/

 

[Whiskyclown]

I SAW THIS AND I THOUGHT TO SHARE THIS

 

[Sharkman7]

I was wondering same thing, my cultures seem to settle to bottom, unless shake up, but just resettles. Questions are how much light ? And how strong are you bubbling?, also have Pods which I thought crashed ,jar went clear with all phyto on bottom, stirred it up a bit and can see them swimming around, is that normal? Also have bubbling very slow on the Pods. Thanks for any advice .

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

7-10 days ready to harvest. Take out 1/4 to 1/2. Amount . Also human urine great as fertilizer. As long as you use in 24hrs or less.
I also culture nannocloropsis.

 

[Sherman]

So need light and air? Where to get the fertilizer ?
Thank You

 

[Sharkman7]

I to have had it go yellow and almost gone, but let it sit and added a bit more F2 fertilizer and it came back. I don't go by time just color. Have had some extremely dark and also add some to the lighter almost bad batch. I have been using light for16 hrs, and lots of bubbles , end up with more than what I need...

 

[Sharkman7]

I to have had it go bad yellow in color. But just added more F2 fertilizer and it came back. I don't worry about time frame just go by color. I run lights around 16 hours with pretty heavy bubbling.use jars with spicgouts in them for easy dispense.problem is often end up with more than I can use ...

 

[Sharkman7]

So need light and air? Where to get the fertilizer ?
Thank You

I found it online .https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai...ahUKEwjy2fT-ovnbAhVB2lMKHejaDi4Qwg8IHg&adurl=

 

[Sharkman7]

I found it online .https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai...ahUKEwjy2fT-ovnbAhVB2lMKHejaDi4Qwg8IHg&adurl=

Sorry. Forgot to mention that yes you definatly need light and air. I don't use a air stone just the tubing near the bottom

 

[Sherman]

Thank You Sharkman7 for sharing

 

[tom g]

so if I split at day 4 it will not be a problem . also the ones that went clear on me came back after adding f2
it has turned back to green , is this still a good source

 

[Bengals888]

smell it like Susan posted, smells wrotten, don’t use it.

I have been growing this for few months now. One issue I keep seeing is
the phyto solids bind to the bottom of the bottle, somehow it reduces the effectiveness of the growth so I end up tossing the bottle for a new one.

I do the decanting, try to clean the bottle out but some times it just binds there. I made my own LED light source so it is like 4” away from the bottle.

I use it when it gets a really dark green. I am not sure the reason for waiting 2 weeks before using it. It is working to feed my tisbe.