Silicate Fertilizer for phyto culture?

[SaltyB24]

What is a safe, inexpensive, option for dosing silicates on the phyto diatom strains that you culture?

 

[kvansloo]

Guillard's F2 Formula​

 

[SaltyB24]

Guillard's F2 Formula​

From my understanding some strains need silicates in addition to the F2 formulas?

 

[kvansloo]

F2 is what I have seen many using, my guess would be it depends on what Phyto you are cultivating. Check out https://reefbysteele.com/ he has lots of information on his website. Even has cultivating equipment.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I recommend ordinary water glass for reef tank dosing of silicate, and I expect it is also ok for diatom culturing.

 

[DaJMasta]

Standard Guillard's F/2 formula does not contain sillicate, so if you are raising diatoms that require it, it is needed in addition. I've been using Florida Aqua Farm's liquid mixture (they also sell dry) for culturing Chaetoceros gracilis, but I don't know if there's anything special about it. Brightwell's Spongexcel is a silicate solution and KZ's Sponge Power doesn't list it but likely contains some too.

 

[Pistondog]

What is a safe, inexpensive, option for dosing silicates on the phyto diatom strains that you culture?

Water glass is safe, you just need to find the correct dilution.
I dose 1ml of this, diluted in 500ml rodi weekly into 125 gallons total.
Sodium Silicate / 4 Fluid Ounce Bottle / 99.9% Pure Reagent Grade / 41% Solution https://a.co/d/52GKlNy