Anyone culture phytoplankton? got a few questions

[m0nkie]

Hi guys. I picked up a phyto dispenser at the store so I'm going to try culture some phyto. First timer. I have seen enough videos to make the setup. However, still got some questions. Thanks in advance.

Nano Phyto.
Salinity 1.01
Guillard f/2 fertilizer
rusalty nano culture
mercer nano culture

Questions:
1) How much lighting is really needed?
as you can see in pictures, I have a 3 tanks on a 3ft stand. I have 2 2ft T5s. Should I vertically mount one T5 per culture tank? or mount the 2 horizontal.
are reflectors needed?

2) These tanks have a sponge at the bottom. Are phytos small enough to pass through the sponge filter? or shall I rip them out? It'll be one 1/2" opening.

3) anything to watch out for? beside making sure everything is clean. Seems like a fairly easy job?

thanks

 

[dodgerblew]

My question is why?

 

[m0nkie]

Im thinking about dosing phyto. See if it improves coral health. Maybe grow some brines to dose into tank too

 

[m0nkie]

Bored too lol. Learn to culture live food

 

[thirst]

Lol, phyto party!!


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[m0nkie]

Lol, phyto party!!


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lol your tanks will need way more

 

[Rakie]

FWIW -- I've seen a few people say when they had a phyto culture going their tank had never looked better. They also all agreed they'd never do it again once they stopped.

Start looking into phytodosing in Italy. Italy is BIG on phytoplankton and seem more into it than reefers anywhere.

 

[five.five-six]

Phyto is good for your coral. I was planning on starting to culture it and rofters and pods but then my leg exploded caught fire.

 

[THEUNION1]

Phyto is good for your coral. I was planning on starting to culture it and rofters and pods but then my leg exploded caught fire.

I tried all that and failed miserably. Now i'm afraid to try again.

 

[Rakie]

I tried all that and failed miserably. Now i'm afraid to try again.

"If at first you don't succeed... ah f*** it"

 

[XeniaMania]

You don't need much light. You'll know when it's too much light cuz your culture will die. I have a cheap LED panel 24" away from my bottles. Not sure what the sponge is for, you're better off w/ bare bottom so all the phytos tumble. I keep my rotifers/pods in a separate cabinet. Seems like whenever they're in the same cabinet as phytos, I inevitably get rotifers in my phyto.