Posledni Czar
New member
What you will need:
Growing phyto isnt hard at all. you just need to meet its needs: Light, food, and environment. Take a 1l plastic bottle and fill it with water. I use a SG of 1.014 because i've found it works best [though I am still experimenting with this] and about 10ml of fertilizer [again the amount is up to you, whatever gets best growth]. Which fertilizer you use is also up to you, just need to make sure there isn't any significant amount of copper. I use a liquid plant fertilizer.
To prepare the bottle I make a hole in the cap, large enough to snugly fit an air line, and another smaller hole [to allow air to go out]. I run a length of airline all the way to the bottom [if you have a rigid tube that is better] and enough to go to your airpump or splitter. I fill the bottle 3/4 of the way with water and 1/8 with fertilizer and 1/8 of the phyto.
Put the cap on and turn on the air pump. For the light I use my sump light [a 23w CF energy saver screw-in type on a clip on fixture] and run it for about 16hrs or so a day. You can set up the culture anywhere as long as you have the light, I have it set up in my sump since its convenient, there is a light already and its out of the way.
The culture is ready when its reaches a good colour. You can test to see if its done by checking for phosphates and nitrates. When the tests read low your culture will no longer have enough nutrients to continue to multiply [I use the colour method myself]. At this point, I filter the culture to remove any large particles [I use a coffee filter or paper towel]. Now you are ready to use it to dose the tank or start a new culture. The Phyto should be stored in the refrigerator, and shaken periodically to prevent it from settling.
Pictures will be up shortly. I wasn't sure wether this was the correct forum, I was debating between this one and the DIY one. mods feel free to move it
I'd also like to put a disclaimer here, I use this method to raise phytoplankton for my tank and my brine culture and i'll use it for my copepods. I am not responsible for anything that may occur or not occur to your tank or livestock from using or not using this method.
To be updated...
- Clear plastic bottles with labels removed
- Airline tubing
- Rigid tubing [optional]
- Air pump
- Light fixture
- Fertilizer
- Salt water
- Phytoplankton for starting culture
Growing phyto isnt hard at all. you just need to meet its needs: Light, food, and environment. Take a 1l plastic bottle and fill it with water. I use a SG of 1.014 because i've found it works best [though I am still experimenting with this] and about 10ml of fertilizer [again the amount is up to you, whatever gets best growth]. Which fertilizer you use is also up to you, just need to make sure there isn't any significant amount of copper. I use a liquid plant fertilizer.
To prepare the bottle I make a hole in the cap, large enough to snugly fit an air line, and another smaller hole [to allow air to go out]. I run a length of airline all the way to the bottom [if you have a rigid tube that is better] and enough to go to your airpump or splitter. I fill the bottle 3/4 of the way with water and 1/8 with fertilizer and 1/8 of the phyto.
Put the cap on and turn on the air pump. For the light I use my sump light [a 23w CF energy saver screw-in type on a clip on fixture] and run it for about 16hrs or so a day. You can set up the culture anywhere as long as you have the light, I have it set up in my sump since its convenient, there is a light already and its out of the way.
The culture is ready when its reaches a good colour. You can test to see if its done by checking for phosphates and nitrates. When the tests read low your culture will no longer have enough nutrients to continue to multiply [I use the colour method myself]. At this point, I filter the culture to remove any large particles [I use a coffee filter or paper towel]. Now you are ready to use it to dose the tank or start a new culture. The Phyto should be stored in the refrigerator, and shaken periodically to prevent it from settling.
Pictures will be up shortly. I wasn't sure wether this was the correct forum, I was debating between this one and the DIY one. mods feel free to move it
I'd also like to put a disclaimer here, I use this method to raise phytoplankton for my tank and my brine culture and i'll use it for my copepods. I am not responsible for anything that may occur or not occur to your tank or livestock from using or not using this method.
To be updated...
Besides, as Gresh pointed out, it doesn't actually save money compared to using Guillards.
