Growing pods and phyto to feed the pods.

[Maggie321]

Working on a little project here, just thought I would share. I am attempting to grow pods and phytoplankton.

The phyto is going great I am able to "harvest" about a liter every other day. So I am alternating which bottle I dump from. Then I fill it back up with low salinity fertilized water. So about every 4 days I am using 1/2 a bottle, but am alternating which bottle I pull from. I hope that makes sense. I actually got 2 different sources/brands of phyto just to see the difference. They are supposed to be the same kind (nanochloropsis I think) but after about 2 weeks there is not much measurable difference.

The little tank was my QT, but I decided instead of just leaving it there, unused, I wanted to grow pods. I think I want to switch it to a bucket though. This would allow me to put it in the basement with the phyto operation.

I got a pack of tisbe pods (along with the 2nd brand of phyto) about 4 days after I mixed up my 1.010 salinity refill water, fertilized it and set up the bubbler in the first 2 liter bottle with the first brand of phyot. Into the tank they went! Along with the first pour of phyto from the first 2 liter. Then I set up the 2nd brand of phyto in its 2 liter.

I fed pretty routinely every other day 1/2 a bottle (approx 1 liter) alternating bottles of course. After the first 10 to 12 days, there was a pod explosion! Hundreds on the glass in the little 2 inch circle my flashlight made. It stayed that way for about a week or so. Then I helped my sister move and was lazy about feeding for 6 days. Oops. The numbers have dwindled a bit, but they are still there.

I will update in a week or 2 and try to get some pics of the population density. But after that, I'm moving the entire operation to the basement! Total $ for this was just the cost of the phyto, pods and fertilizer. I also bought a few 2.5 gallon jugs (the clear ones with the spigot) from Wal-Mart but I would have bought those eventually any way.

If anyone has tips for me to make this easier/better, please don't hesitate to help!

 

[jsker]

Let us know how it goes!!

 

[CreatiVe2]

Following along! I am about to start this as well.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Cool! Following along!

 

[Zephrant]

Love those 2 gallon jugs from Walmart. They were out of stock for well over a month here, checked three stores even. On about the 10th trip they had some more in.

I go through 4-6 liters a day, with clownfish and seahorse fry.

 

[Maggie321]

My pods aren't recovering quite as fast as I expected... But then again it hasn't been another 10 days I don't think

 

[Maggie321]

Love those 2 gallon jugs from Walmart. They were out of stock for well over a month here, checked three stores even. On about the 10th trip they had some more in.

I go through 4-6 liters a day, with clownfish and seahorse fry.

Are those different kinds of phyto? The one on the far right looks a different color... or is it just at a different stage of maturity?

 

[Clownfish2]

From my experience, make sure the copepod water is always tinted with phytoplankton. My went clear for a few days while away for work and had a massive die off when I returned.

Also when starting a culture use an ammonia detox product so the copepods survive through the first week of culturing.

 

[Maggie321]

From my experience, make sure the copepod water is always tinted with phytoplankton. My went clear for a few days while away for work and had a massive die off when I returned.

Also when starting a culture use an ammonia detox product so the copepods survive through the first week of culturing.

Would I still need to use that if they were in a cycled tank?

 

[Clownfish2]

Would I still need to use that if they were in a cycled tank?[/QUOTE

Sure cycled tank water should prevent an ammonia spike.

 

[Zephrant]

Are those different kinds of phyto? The one on the far right looks a different color... or is it just at a different stage of maturity?

Both-four Nannochloropsis, one Isochrysis galbana.

The different green tints are from density. At about five days old, I start tapping it. When I get down to 1/4 (2 L), I top it off with new 1.020 water with 3ml of f/2, and put it back on the shelf. Then I move to the next one.

Once a month or so, I draw the last 2 L out through a 53 micron sieve (to remove any inadvertent hitchickers), clean the jug with hot water and a scrubber, chlorinate if needed, and reload it. If I don’t take those steps, I get a dark buildup on the walls that blocks light. Ive found fat/happy brine swimming around too, amazing how well those cysts can travel.

Spent three hours adding to my grow operation yesterday. Needed more phyto for two fry tanks, six buckets of pods, friends, and to sell to the LFS. Five Nanno, and soon enough, five Iso. Was told to never thin Iso more than 50%, so first two jugs are about that. Next two are 25% then 12%, last jug is none (ran out). Will see if the two thinned jugs crash or not.

 

[Maggie321]

Both-four Nannochloropsis, one Isochrysis galbana.

The different green tints are from density. At about five days old, I start tapping it. When I get down to 1/4 (2 L), I top it off with new 1.020 water with 3ml of f/2, and put it back on the shelf. Then I move to the next one.

Once a month or so, I draw the last 2 L out through a 53 micron sieve (to remove any inadvertent hitchickers), clean the jug with hot water and a scrubber, chlorinate if needed, and reload it. If I don’t take those steps, I get a dark buildup on the walls that blocks light. Ive found fat/happy brine swimming around too, amazing how well those cysts can travel.

Spent three hours adding to my grow operation yesterday. Needed more phyto for two fry tanks, six buckets of pods, friends, and to sell to the LFS. Five Nanno, and soon enough, five Iso. Was told to never thin Iso more than 50%, so first two jugs are about that. Next two are 25% then 12%, last jug is none (ran out). Will see if the two thinned jugs crash or not.

Wow, your setup is much more elaborate than mine. I am impressed... I do find it funny you also have the same shelving unit as I do. Lol. Do you keep your pod buckets heated? Since I am getting ready to switch to a bucket instead of a tank, I was curious about that.
Also why not grow phyto and pods in the same vessel? I would think if you gave the pods sufficient hiding places, it would work... maybe an experiment for another day.

 

[Zephrant]

Yep, pods in buckets on the bottom shelf, with a few extras spread around the place. The buckets multiple faster than the pods. Two Rotifers, two Tigre, two Tisbe, two Artemia.
Keep two of each because I crashed all my rotifers once.

Rotifers will multiply faster than phyto will, so they will clear the water. Many other pods won’t I’ve read. It is easier to deal with phyto if it is only phyto. I’ve also read some pods (Tigre?) are nocturnal, so would not be happy under 24 hour lighting. Have considered setting up some 2 gallon jugs for pods, but the jugs are difficult to clean, and pods are dirty. They are just much easier in a bucket. Very light aeration, no light.

 

[cpschult]

Zeph , is growing iso any different than other phyto?

Also curious if you use a dark bucket for your pods, I’ve read mixed things about what color bucket to use.

Love both of your set ups. Going to change how one of my set ups was and get some of these jugs for culturing!!

 

[Zephrant]

(Sorry for the slow reply, missed this thread somehow.)

Iso is tougher. If you thin it too much it crashes. I managed to get all of mine contaminated with Nanno, so I have a golden-green mixture now. Was doing fine with it until then.

If you are feeding rotifers for fry, then it may be worth it to do Iso. I would not bother for just feeding a Pod culture, unless you really needed the different nutrition profile for fry.

I read the black bucket tip too, but could not find any to try. All white buckets here so far.

Tigre pods are doing well, not so impressed with Tisbe. Maybe just because they are smaller and slower.
Took two months or more before I could do a 50% harvest in the Tigre pods.

I feed 250ml of Nanno every night to the bucket, and about s 1/16tsp of powdered flake.
I pull out 2-3 liters of solution each weekend, strain it and and feed my tanks. Last weekend I took out half the 6 gallon bucket, made up three 2L bottles of Nanno and Tigre pods, and took them in to my LFSs.

About a minute a day of maintenance, and 5-10 minutes each weekend for the pods, so easy.
Phyto takes a bit more time, as I have to mix up new water, sterilize old containers, etc...

 

[ESVAreefer]

Was wondering what sort of lighting you're using? Would the plain florescent grow lights from any old hardware store provide sufficient lighting?

 

[Zephrant]

Yep, a basic cool white shop light is perfect.

I ended up buying a box of six LED lights to save power, but they put out less light than a shop light. One bulb is fine, about two weeks to grow to maturity (starting with a 20% culture to new water ratio).
With two bulbs, that’s reduced to 5-7 days in my experience.

I turn off one of my bulbs if I want to flow down the growth (like when I’m out of town).

 

[Zephrant]

I don’t currently heat my pods, might start doing so though to increase production.

LFS wants me to bring more in. They sell 6oz for 20.99. I brought in 2 liters.
Going to start making up 15 oz apple juice bottles for 19.99 for them, so need to increase production greatly. It took me three months before I harvested this time, mostly because I feed my own tanks a few times a week, was not growing them at full rate really.