Phytoplankton

Cory · Nov 14, 2016

I want to test if i can get phytoplankton to grow in my tank water in a separate container. It must be nutrient limited.

Apparently zinc, iron and maganese are essential micro nutrients. What forms should I buy? I already have iron gluconate, but dont have the others. Would maganese gluconate and zinc gluconate be good in saltwater?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 14, 2016

I might look to buy a full supplement intended for this purpose, or similar purposes.

Like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Guillards-Growth-Medium-Concentrate-Silica/dp/B00QJ4IXCS

Cory · Nov 14, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I might look to buy a full supplement intended for this purpose, or similar purposes.

Like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Guillards-Growth-Medium-Concentrate-Silica/dp/B00QJ4IXCS

That might work, but if I added this to my tank it would be bad right?

If i can find whats limiting it in my tanks water, I can dose my tank and make phyto consume no3/po4. Thats my reasoning.

I found this site that has a diy f/2 medium:

https://uwaterloo.ca/canadian-phycological-culture-centre/cultures/culture-media/f2

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 14, 2016

Cory said:
That might work, but if I added this to my tank it would be bad right?

If i can find whats limiting it in my tanks water, I can dose my tank and make phyto consume no3/po4. Thats my reasoning.

I found this site that has a diy f/2 medium:

https://uwaterloo.ca/canadian-phycological-culture-centre/cultures/culture-media/f2

I wouldn't add it to a tank, but I'm not sure what would happen. heavy metals like copper might be too high for corals and other inverts.

Cory · Nov 14, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I wouldn't add it to a tank, but I'm not sure what would happen. heavy metals like copper might be too high for corals and other inverts.

So would zinc gluconate, iron gluconate and maganese gluconate be decent forms for phyto growth?