Is Phytoplankton worth culturing?

[ReeferMadness0347]

I’ve done some research recently and it seems Phytoplankton is a good additive for a reef tank. My question is, in your experience is it worth the time and money?

 

[Taxus812]

Following

 

[LesPoissons]

In my experience, no, unless you sell it or have tons of tanks or several massive ones. I have a 220 gallon tank. When you culture phytoplankton, you make far more than you need but you have to keep making it, or the culture dies. If you over dose your tank with it you can have frustrating nutrient and algae issues. So you either care for phyto with rodi water and lighting and temp control and proper aeration and food... and dump tons of it down the drain until the culture dies (and they all do eventually). Or you just buy a bottle online or some fresh from the LFS here and there. I tried to culture that and brine shrimp simultaneously for my tank in small amounts (like a quart of phyto). Its easy to grow but you make far more than you can use and it's an added hassle- like having a 2nd nano tank to care for. You have to feed and have it on a light schedule and every week or so you harvest half your culture and then fill it back up, and in week it's ready again. If you dont harvest, it dies. There was no way I could use it fast enough (even with fridge storage) and basically ODd my tank on phyto, while also having the time and effort of basically a nano tank.

 

[LiveWire]

I have cultured Phytoplankton for some time now as well as Pods and I say it does not take much effort to get great results IMO. Some plankton a light, timer, airpump, tubing, and some F2 fertilizer and you basically have it taken care of. I enjoy making it myself because I then know exactly what is in it. If you are limited on space that can be an issue and I do agree that sometimes you make more than you need but its easy to give it away or if you are culturing pods you will need it for them. it does not take much money to get what you need and the time is limited to about 5-10 minutes a week so its not very labor intensive. If you have the room I would say go for it and see if you enjoy making it.

 

[bluprntguy]

IMO, phytofeast is $9/bottle and can last a month or two for me. Time/effort/electricity probably makes it not worth it to do myself.

 

[Doctorgori]

It’s worth it if you are breeding fish... I go through a lot because it makes enriching bbs a lil easier in that the culture water doesn’t go south as fast.. also for copepods.....some pods just don’t multiply very fast and just dumping green water is easier vs monitoring artificial feeds and culture water ... again just for certain pods..

 

[ReeferMadness0347]

I have cultured Phytoplankton for some time now as well as Pods and I say it does not take much effort to get great results IMO. Some plankton a light, timer, airpump, tubing, and some F2 fertilizer and you basically have it taken care of. I enjoy making it myself because I then know exactly what is in it. If you are limited on space that can be an issue and I do agree that sometimes you make more than you need but its easy to give it away or if you are culturing pods you will need it for them. it does not take much money to get what you need and the time is limited to about 5-10 minutes a week so its not very labor intensive. If you have the room I would say go for it and see if you enjoy making it.

It seems it can be a bit of a messy process. How much space do you have dedicated to it? Was it difficult to setup / get everything running correctly?

 

[ReeferMadness0347]

It’s worth it if you are breeding fish... I go through a lot because it makes enriching bbs a lil easier in that the culture water doesn’t go south as fast.. also for copepods.....some pods just don’t multiply very fast and just dumping green water is easier vs monitoring artificial feeds and culture water ... again just for certain pods..

What do you mean by artificial feeders?

 

[Doctorgori]

I was talking about the dried/ spray dried feeds/enrichments....the stuff you feed rotifers copepods and bbs in lieu of live phytoplankton...so yeah obviously the live stuff makes it easier to manage culture water ... but yeah you gotta strain and drain every 12hrs anyway

What do you mean by artificial feeders?

 

[Dana Riddle]

IMHO, phytoplankton culture isn't labor intensive, and I've got three cultures going (two phyto-, and one for brine shrimp. And for rotifers in a few days.) I use water changed from the display tank to start new cultures and add f/2. I feed the main tank about 250ml single-cell algae per day. No nutrient problems. Goniopora, in particular, other corals and other filter feeders (feather dusters that came on the live rock) are growing and the tank swarms with zooplankton at night.

 

[ReeferMadness0347]

IMHO, phytoplankton culture isn't labor intensive, and I've got three cultures going (two phyto-, and one for brine shrimp. And for rotifers in a few days.) I use water changed from the display tank to start new cultures and add f/2. I feed the main tank about 250ml single-cell algae per day. No nutrient problems. Goniopora, in particular, other corals and other filter feeders (feather dusters that came on the live rock) are growing and the tank swarms with zooplankton at night.

What are you using for a setup? Did you buy something or DIY something?

 

[Dana Riddle]

What are you using for a setup? Did you buy something or DIY something?

Nothing fancy. Aquaria from Petco for $1 per gallon, an air pump, and a couple of LED lights. Guillard's f/2 algae nutrients really gets the cultures growing. I feed algae to the display tank at least daily. Copepods are abundant there, so the corals get algae and pods.

 

[ReeferMadness0347]

Nothing fancy. Aquaria from Petco for $1 per gallon, an air pump, and a couple of LED lights. Guillard's f/2 algae nutrients really gets the cultures growing. I feed algae to the display tank at least daily. Copepods are abundant there, so the corals get algae and pods.

That’s pretty awesome! How long have you had that culture going for?

 

[shred5]

It is defiantly worth adding but I hate culturing it..
Eventually it can crash or get contaminated..
It is not really hard to do though..

I usually buy it live or buy Instant algae from Reeds and some of it can be frozen..
Live certainly is better if you are breeding more sensitive fish or invertebrates.

 

[Blakjax]

IMHO, phytoplankton culture isn't labor intensive, and I've got three cultures going (two phyto-, and one for brine shrimp. And for rotifers in a few days.) I use water changed from the display tank to start new cultures and add f/2. I feed the main tank about 250ml single-cell algae per day. No nutrient problems. Goniopora, in particular, other corals and other filter feeders (feather dusters that came on the live rock) are growing and the tank swarms with zooplankton at night.

Interested in how you decided on the 250 ml. Can you share your thoughts when calculating? I have a similar sized tank.

 

[Dana Riddle]

Interested in how you decided on the 250 ml. Can you share your thoughts when calculating? I have a similar sized tank.

That decision was based on the recommendations of someone I really respect (Chris at Reef Shac, Powder Springs , Georgia.) That guy knows his stuff. After being in Hawaii for 18 years, where reef tanks were only by State-issued permits, I had a lot of catching up to do when I returned to the mainland.

 

[Blakjax]

That decision was based on the recommendations of someone I really respect (Chris at Reef Shac, Powder Springs , Georgia.) That guy knows his stuff. After being in Hawaii for 18 years, where reef tanks were only by State-issued permits, I had a lot of catching up to do when I returned to the mainland.

So basically 1ml per gallon?

 

[Dana Riddle]

So basically 1ml per gallon?

More like 1.5 ml per gallon. I overdosed the culture with f/2 and it's really green. I need to find my hemocytometer and get a cell count. That dose will turn the entire tank slightly green.

 

[Blakjax]

Nothing fancy. Aquaria from Petco for $1 per gallon, an air pump, and a couple of LED lights. Guillard's f/2 algae nutrients really gets the cultures growing. I feed algae to the display tank at least daily. Copepods are abundant there, so the corals get algae and pods.

Can you talk me through your harvesting procedure? I am using a 2.5 gallon glass jug with spout. I was hoping to use the spout to harvest weekly and then just add fresh water and f2. I’m wondering if the jug needs to be cleaned weekly or if I can just add water and go? I assume you’re not cleaning your tank each week right?

 

[Jen1978]

Hope you all don't mind if I tag along. I was about to start a 10gal tank to breed copepods for hopes of a future green mandarin and was leaning towards culturing my own phyto to feed the pod breeder tank