Economics
Economics
The science of recycling nutrients has been in place for longer than man has existed on earth. Through dynamic equilibrium involving nitrogen & carbon dioxide gas the concentrations are moved back and fourth. In one of the articles which I read after a Randy link, through the process of phosynthesis with phytoplankton, it is approximated that 100 billion tons or CO2 are processed each day by phytoplankton. Unlike trees and grass which store the sugars from photosynthesis, there are large areas of the ocean that pump this form of carbon dioxide into the deep abyss. Not much is known about this part of the cycle. With phytoplankton as the bottom of the food chain, it is integral in the ocean to have a source of CO2.
Microalgae is a very inefficient process to produce methan gas. It cost more money than other processes. The Kentucky study was funded by grants from the government.
A more cost effective method to use the phytoplankton, would be to use it as a food source and grow fish. In my case, amphipods have made there entrance. While I still grow Red Ogo in tanks with tumble culture, I have many more tanks with other invasive macros like Ulva and a red moss that provides a matrix for amphipods & copepods. To date, I have not had to feed them anything but CO2 and sunshine. When I notice the Red Ogo rate of growth slowing down, I add a gallon of ammonia. At present, I am juggling iron & dipotassium phosphate dosing. The seaweed is a sponge. Yesterday, I upped the intensity of photosynthesis on 1/3 of the greenhouse. This section is over eight 150G Rubbermaid tanks. Their rate of growth was much slower than the original system which consisted of three Rubbermaid tanks in direct sunshine buried in the ground for geothermal cooling and heating.
Heat removal & temperature control was my biggest concern this summer. Previous, the greenhouse was not enclosed. It was set up with a shaded roof and passive air circulation. This summer, I completed all enclosures and installed two exhaust fans that move 10,000 CFM. To reduce the heat gain, the plastic film reduces light transmission by 65%. On top of that, I also have a nylon knit shade cloth that reduces light transmission by 50%. Yesterday, I pulled back 12' of this shade cloth on the west side of greenhouse. Initial heat gain observations are encouraging with no observed water temperature gain. With low humidities, that was easy to do yesterday.
I now wait for accelerated growth in these tanks as I dose more carbon and sunshine.
Patrick
Economics
The science of recycling nutrients has been in place for longer than man has existed on earth. Through dynamic equilibrium involving nitrogen & carbon dioxide gas the concentrations are moved back and fourth. In one of the articles which I read after a Randy link, through the process of phosynthesis with phytoplankton, it is approximated that 100 billion tons or CO2 are processed each day by phytoplankton. Unlike trees and grass which store the sugars from photosynthesis, there are large areas of the ocean that pump this form of carbon dioxide into the deep abyss. Not much is known about this part of the cycle. With phytoplankton as the bottom of the food chain, it is integral in the ocean to have a source of CO2.
Microalgae is a very inefficient process to produce methan gas. It cost more money than other processes. The Kentucky study was funded by grants from the government.
A more cost effective method to use the phytoplankton, would be to use it as a food source and grow fish. In my case, amphipods have made there entrance. While I still grow Red Ogo in tanks with tumble culture, I have many more tanks with other invasive macros like Ulva and a red moss that provides a matrix for amphipods & copepods. To date, I have not had to feed them anything but CO2 and sunshine. When I notice the Red Ogo rate of growth slowing down, I add a gallon of ammonia. At present, I am juggling iron & dipotassium phosphate dosing. The seaweed is a sponge. Yesterday, I upped the intensity of photosynthesis on 1/3 of the greenhouse. This section is over eight 150G Rubbermaid tanks. Their rate of growth was much slower than the original system which consisted of three Rubbermaid tanks in direct sunshine buried in the ground for geothermal cooling and heating.
Heat removal & temperature control was my biggest concern this summer. Previous, the greenhouse was not enclosed. It was set up with a shaded roof and passive air circulation. This summer, I completed all enclosures and installed two exhaust fans that move 10,000 CFM. To reduce the heat gain, the plastic film reduces light transmission by 65%. On top of that, I also have a nylon knit shade cloth that reduces light transmission by 50%. Yesterday, I pulled back 12' of this shade cloth on the west side of greenhouse. Initial heat gain observations are encouraging with no observed water temperature gain. With low humidities, that was easy to do yesterday.
I now wait for accelerated growth in these tanks as I dose more carbon and sunshine.
Patrick
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