Phytoplankton culture vessel question

[helwrj28]

I'm about to start culturing my own phytoplankton and from what I have gathered, from my research, is the recommendation to use beverage containers from bottled water or soft drinks as a vessel...

Can anyone weigh in on this or provide other recommendations?

The reason I have pause is that from what I can see, most of these are made with #1 plastics which are considered the least stable.. I'm concerned about the long-term use of these items..

See this link for more information about the different types of plastic:

Aquarium Safe Plastics

A plastic that is aquarium safe will also be food safe; the best containers to safely store foods are the best to use for your aquarium maintenance needs.

spec-tanks.com

 

[Subsea]

I don’t think that it matters very much either way. I have used both glass & plastic containers. Over several years plastics will degrade under UV lights.

The use of flimsy soda pop containers was also coupled with using a window as a source of light and shaking container several times a day. I have never tried that, but I know it works.

I use wide mouth containers with light above and an air bubbler. I harvest half every 7 days.

Good fortune on phytoplankton culture.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I use 2 litre pop bottles, I have for years, I find it convenient.
Anything food grade that's clear for light to penetrate will work.

 

[dmsc2fs]

you have multiple different options and I can give you advice from my own experience with multiple phyto cultures. Use liners unless you enjoy, more than anything else in life, trying to clean the vessels of various algae that grow on them.

Poseidon Reef has a full kit for this with a jar wrapped in LEDs and liners etc. You don't need to buy into their ecosystem if you don't want to. But you should consider the liners. Or discarding the vessiles if you are using something like soda bottles.

 

[helwrj28]

Thanks for the responses! Glad to hear that neither of you have had any issues with disposable plastic.

How long do the pop bottles last before you end up changing them out?

 

[Doctorgori]

they can last a lil while, cleanliness/sterilization being the main thing

 

[hollback]

I have used 2ltr bottles for 20 years. I just rinse with diluted muriatic acid between cultures and they are sterile and ready to go. Never had any issues. Super easy.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Thanks for the responses! Glad to hear that neither of you have had any issues with disposable plastic.

How long do the pop bottles last before you end up changing them out?

Sometimes I clean them out with vinegar in between uses, but usually I will just toss em when done. I drink lots of coke.

 

[helwrj28]

Thanks for the help guys!

Also curious what would be the best setup for airline tubing with tees, in order to have more than one line coming from the air pump.. anyone have any pictures of their setup?

 

[helwrj28]

Also what do people recommend for the rigid tubing inside the phyto? I was thinking of threading the flexible airline tubing through a larger PVC conduit but is this not ideal?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

My set up is below, I just run a line from the airpump to the bottom of the bottle. Pop one hole in the cap for the airline, and another hole to let air out.

Normally I have 2 bottles going from the double pump. Its been going about 2 days now, and just starting to green up, in 2 or 3 more days it will be dark and ready.

 

[helwrj28]

My set up is below, I just run a line from the airpump to the bottom of the bottle. Pop one hole in the cap for the airline, and another hole to let air out.

Normally I have 2 bottles going from the double pump. Its been going about 2 days now, and just starting to green up, in 2 or 3 more days it will be dark and ready.

Thank you! Do you use anything to anchor the airline inside the pop bottle?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Thank you! Do you use anything to anchor the airline inside the pop bottle?

no, the hole I made is just big enough, so its in their pretty tight and holds the line.
Otherwise, I do see your challenge to hold the line down in to the bottom, I don't know how other's do it..... good luck

 

[helwrj28]

Thanks again for the assistance! Just received my phyto and I used about 1/2 (8 oz) for the first batch. How long can I store the other 1/2 in the fridge before I use for culturing?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

anywhere from 3 to 5 months, when it starts to smell sour then its going bad.
But remember to shake it every couple of days, phyto cells will sink to the bottom and die, so the bottle needs to be shook sometimes to keep the cells suspended.

 

[Levinson]

I use 2 litre pop bottles, I have for years, I find it convenient.
Anything food grade that's clear for light to penetrate will work.

Do you switch to a new container when you harvest? Do you clean and reuse the bottles?