Growing Phyto - how long to bubble for and color

[Reefer1978]

How long should I bubble Phyto for before transferring to the fridge? Picture below is after 10 days. Color is still very bright, neon green, not a dark almost muddy green I was expecting. Photoperiod is 14-16 hours per day for the last 10 days.

 

[therootcause]

Bubble at all times while growing. If it has been 10 days with limited color change hit it with a dose of fertilizer. What are you using for fertilizer?

 

[Reefer1978]

Bubble at all times while growing. If it has been 10 days with limited color change hit it with a dose of fertilizer. What are you using for fertilizer?

I added 1ml to 1liter of water on day 1 of Guillard's F2 Formula. There was plenty of color change in the first 7 days, but last 4+ days it's just not getting any darker.

 

[JTP424]

How much "starter" did you use compared to water?

 

[Reefer1978]

How much "starter" did you use compared to water?

1ml to 1liter of water

 

[therootcause]

That's a weak dose, 1.5x or double it. I used modified f/2 for years and always dosed it on the heavy side.

 

[therootcause]

1ml to 1liter of water

they mean how much phyto starter. Was it 40/60, 50/50, to new water?

 

[ocncheffy]

I use 2ml of fert in 3.5l of water, then add another 1ml on the 4th day. Mine is darker than yours, but not by much and it seems to plateau.

 

[Reefer1978]

they mean how much phyto starter. Was it 40/60, 50/50, to new water?

Ohh I just used a little bit of existing phyto I had.

I use 2ml of fert in 3.5l of water, then add another 1ml on the 4th day. Mine is darker than yours, but not by much and it seems to plateau.

Cool I will try adding some more. Thank you.

 

[JTP424]

Ohh I just used a little bit of existing phyto I had.


Cool I will try adding some more. Thank you.

It'll take some time for "a little bit" of Phyto to regrow completely in a bunch of new water.
I typically see it stated if you stick to 1:1 ratio of old vs new you get it all back in a week or so. Any ratio further off than that expect a longer wait period.

 

[JTP424]

Ohh I just used a little bit of existing phyto I had.


Cool I will try adding some more. Thank you.

*Also definitely add more fertilizer as they say

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I usually harvest after about 7-8 days. It could be the lighting, but yours looks a little yellow to me.

I also don't see bubbles in your water. My airline tube is pushed down to the bottom of the container and bubbles are coming up fast, like boiling water.

What kind of phyto did you start with?

 

[Reefer1978]

I usually harvest after about 7-8 days. It could be the lighting, but yours looks a little yellow to me.

I also don't see bubbles in your water. My airline tube is pushed down to the bottom of the container and bubbles are coming up fast, like boiling water.

What kind of phyto did you start with?

I started with Tetraselmis. Light is pure white, bubbles are there.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I never tried with pure white light, that might be why your having a challenge. Even a cheap $25 grow light from amazon will work. Or maybe put it on your windowsill so it gets some color spectrum.

 

[marinebreeders]

I didn't have a lot of success just using white light, I do recommend switching to the blue and red spectrum. I personally have seen much better results.

Besides a visual check to see if the algae are growing, I also use a culture density stick. This allows me better to quantify my batch.

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[Reefer1978]

Added more fertilizer yesterday morning, no noticeable difference yet, will keep everyone posted.

 

[therootcause]

@marinebreeders and @Mr. Mojo Rising I'd like to share what I've grow with s $2 shop lightbulb or a harbor freight LED white light since 2020. I've also used a grow light with success!

When I first started I had it near our sliding glass door and with natural sunlight the cultures were so dark they looked black! It was harder for me to control temperature this way but it was fun and the density change in the cells was noticeable from sunrise to sunset.

I had the most success with a $2 60W shop light but for temperature control the heated water bath in a cooler worked the best.

Good luck guys.

 

[Pistondog]

1.5 ml f2 per liter, bubble constantly, 16hrs per day pink horticulture light.
10 to 20% seed phyto. Harvest day 7. For tetra, others different

 

[Reefer1978]

1.5 ml f2 per liter, bubble constantly, 16hrs per day pink horticulture light.
10 to 20% seed phyto. Harvest day 7. For tetra, others different

Now I am at 1,5ml, let’s see how it goes from here.

 

[krhagerman]

Hello everyone, I just started cultures of phytoplankton and actually just did my first split and 1 is still going but the other split looks brownish after one day I have a feeling it has crashed anyone else ever have this happen? I tried more f2 and there has been no change for 2 days. But there is gunk on bottom of jars.