anyone grow their own phyto?
- Thread starter DrDNA
- Start date
The method I used was a two liter soda bottle of saltwater made up to 1.019 using tap water (not RODI) and 5 cc's of liquid Miracle Grow fertilizer. I used some DT's as a starter, added enough to turn the water light greenish. Sometimes this works great, other times it seems to be progressing and then crashes.
Just wondering what else people use...
Just wondering what else people use...
What species are contained in phyto-feast? One thing about using DT's as a starter is that I am not sure which of its several species of algae are actually growing since it is a mixture. It seems like it would make more sense to grow each species separately and then mix them later, but that would also be a lot more work!
www.reefnutrition.com
Iso, Oav, TW, Tet, Nanno and synechococcus
Nanno will typically pretty much win any phyto growth battle.
In DT's I have heard a few people getting the Phaeodactylum to culture out of the Premium blend. You'll have a heck of a time with chlorella which is the second if the three contained in the Premium blend (Nanno is the third).
Iso, Oav, TW, Tet, Nanno and synechococcus
Nanno will typically pretty much win any phyto growth battle.
In DT's I have heard a few people getting the Phaeodactylum to culture out of the Premium blend. You'll have a heck of a time with chlorella which is the second if the three contained in the Premium blend (Nanno is the third).
Hi Gresham,
If I remember right (a very big if), when I was in college we used to culture nanno and also a mixture called T-iso (maybe Tet and Iso?) for feeding juvenile clams, and then mixed it together for actual feeding. I am only trying to grow my own phyto because adding DT's to a 300gal tank in the recommended dosage gets expensive!
Do you know what the dosage of phyto-feast is per gallon?
Jeff
If I remember right (a very big if), when I was in college we used to culture nanno and also a mixture called T-iso (maybe Tet and Iso?) for feeding juvenile clams, and then mixed it together for actual feeding. I am only trying to grow my own phyto because adding DT's to a 300gal tank in the recommended dosage gets expensive!
Do you know what the dosage of phyto-feast is per gallon?
Jeff
1 drop a gallon is the recommended dosage (daily). At that rate, you'll go thru a 32oz in a month and it'll run you like a $1 a day to feed. Honestly, if you don't have a heavily stocked tank, you can get away with 1/2 dosage daily. I definitly suggest daily feedings though to keep up the tanks over all metabolism.
T Iso is an Iso strain from Tahiti. Tet is different.
Nanno isn't a good bivalve feed really. In our commercial shellfish feed (Shellfish Diet) we barely use any nanno:
T Iso is an Iso strain from Tahiti. Tet is different.
Nanno isn't a good bivalve feed really. In our commercial shellfish feed (Shellfish Diet) we barely use any nanno:
JeffReef
New member
Re: Re: Re: anyone grow their own phyto?
Re: Re: Re: anyone grow their own phyto?
I don't think I've used enough phyto for my culture to work. I don't remember having a hint of green on the water when I started the experiment. I'll try using more phyto next time.
Why does it matter if someone use more or less phyto starter when all we're doing is to grow them?
Re: Re: Re: anyone grow their own phyto?
I don't think I've used enough phyto for my culture to work. I don't remember having a hint of green on the water when I started the experiment. I'll try using more phyto next time.
Why does it matter if someone use more or less phyto starter when all we're doing is to grow them?
ChurchBoy
Premium Member
I tried growing phyto in order to grow my own rotifers since they are voracious feeders and started with Live Phyto Feast since I had that handy, but no matter how many times I tried it wasn't successful and would crash. Crash meaning the culture would not color up and just lighten. After purchasing some Nannochloropsis from Florida Aqua Farms (disk starter culture) I finally was successful. I now have grown successfully nano & tetra for months without crashes. My method is one cup of salt to 3 gallons of tap water. I fill up 2/3 of a 2 litter with water and then put in 2 millimeters of fertilizer that I purchased from Florida Aqua Farms and 1 millimeter Kent Essentials. I fill the remaining 2 litter bottle with phyto that has been brewing for the past 7 days. I put in a rigid air tubing connected to an air hose and wait 7 days and there you have it fresh live phyto.
ChurchBoy
Premium Member
You can and actually should just in case it crashes. I forget what site it was, but it recommended using the whole disk to speed up the process, but I wouldn't unless I have two of the disks. You should just ask a local reefer if he/she wouldn't mind sparing some. It works just as fine. If I were back in Sac I'd surely give you some of mine I have 2 two litters just sitting in my fridge and 4 2 litters brewing constantly.
JeffReef
New member
For my gigantous reef tank, a 16 oz bottle of Phyto feast would probably last me a year. 
So, I guess, trying to culture phyto is really not worth the trouble. I did it because I wanted to know if I could do it.
I'll try culturing again when I upgrade to a much larger tank- much larger than my 20g.
So, I guess, trying to culture phyto is really not worth the trouble. I did it because I wanted to know if I could do it.I'll try culturing again when I upgrade to a much larger tank- much larger than my 20g.
robertloop
Member
Hey guys. I grow my own phyto. Been doing it for years. You cannot use DT's or phyto pheast. They contain many different algae types. You must grow one type in each culture bottle. I get my algae from florida aqua farms. Nanochloropsus oculata. (green water) You can use that algae to grow rotifers. I have done this as well. I've got two liters in the fridge as I type. Your cultures should get very dark green in a matter of days. In 9 to 14 days the culture will be at maximum density. I will speak with MARS and see if they would like me to do a phyto growing presentation. I tried a couple years back but the leaders of MARS at the time never got back to me. I'll start a new thread on this topic and see if there is any interest.
Robert
Robert
robertloop
Member
BTW. Some of the above posts are correct. Clams and such feed better on brown algae types. (at least that's what I have read)
Nannochloropsus oculata= japanese chlorella. This is the algae type that I grow. DT's used to use only this algae type in their product. Now they include a few other types that benefit a broader range of animals. (clams and such)
Also. Once you have a finished culture in the fridge, you can just start more cultures from it. You will not need to keep purchasing algae disks if you keep a live culture in the fridge. The cultures last for months and months. I use the miro algae grow from florida aqau farms with R.O. water mixed to 1.023. Instant ocean salt..... Works every time.
Nannochloropsus oculata= japanese chlorella. This is the algae type that I grow. DT's used to use only this algae type in their product. Now they include a few other types that benefit a broader range of animals. (clams and such)
Also. Once you have a finished culture in the fridge, you can just start more cultures from it. You will not need to keep purchasing algae disks if you keep a live culture in the fridge. The cultures last for months and months. I use the miro algae grow from florida aqau farms with R.O. water mixed to 1.023. Instant ocean salt..... Works every time.
