phyto culture from dt's

[sneeyatch]

has anyone started a culture using dt's?

i want to try it, but i don't know what proportion to use of the dt's.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mwp]

Problem with DT's is that it's a mixed culture, so if you establish a culture, you won't necessarily know what species of phyto you're culturing!

Better off starting with pure cultures or disks..Florida Aqua Farms, Seahorse Source are two good places to start.

Matt

 

[FMarini]

Matt hit it right on the head. DT phyto plankton is now a tri mix of phytos, and if you use standard culture media and conditions, you most likely will get the nanno to grow out, problem is- it might be something else.
Do consider a monoculture from a starter disc.

 

[sneeyatch]

i appreciate the help. i'm not trying to breed fish, just want to feed the reef, clams, dusters and pods that are in there now.

i'm really not really trying to target a particular species of micro although i've read that they will compete for each other and you'll end up with a more dominant strain / culture. i would try to keep it more consistent to dt's by adding more dt's to the split cultures.

 

[mwp]

Still, regardless of the ultimate destination, would' you rather know exactly what you're putting into the reef tank? Basically, certain algae species are needed for different organisms (i.e. I think T-Iso or Pavona (spelling) is the preferred feed for juvenile tridacnas)...

FWIW,

Matt

 

[ryano]

I agree with not using dts as a starter. I tried it and ended up with some brown diatom. I cant remember the name of it. I would much rather know what algae I have for sure.

If you are thinking of using dts for the variety of algaes I would get two types of algae such as T. Iso and Nanochloropsis and you could mix them together when ready to feed.

To answer your original question if you are set on using dts for a starter you could use whatever amount you wanted to start. It would just vary on the time for it to reach a dense amount. I would probably start with 1/4 of your culture as dts.

 

[Ooulophilia]

For an experiment, I tried to culture both DT's and Phyto Feast live, the dts I ended up with Nanochloropsis, the Phyto Feast live I ended up with a stinky tub

 

[Dman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8960177#post8960177 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ooulophilia
Phyto Feast live I ended up with a stinky tub

LMAO

 

[papagimp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8958142#post8958142 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ryano
I tried it and ended up with some brown diatom.

If you cultured the brown phyto from DT's, that's actually quite a good phyto to have. Regardless of which phyto dominates the initial culture, you'll have something decent for feeding the tank. There is one species in DT's reefblend, I forget which exactly but I think it's the Chlorella that is unsuitable for raising and/or feeding artemia due to the density and undigestability of the cell membranes. But other than that, it is better than dosing nothing. I agree with the others that i prefer to know which species I have, and prefer using sterile starter cultures myself, but if you just want a simple phyto to culture with minimal expense, just stick a capful of DT's in there. I have started cultures of my nannochloris, using nothing more than 5ml of live phyto. This is with a cell density of approximatly 50million per ML, and DT's is far more concentrated, so one capful would be more than enough to start a culture. As long as the DT's is fresh and not half dead already. Give it a try and if the phyto is culturing brown in color instead of green (don't confuse the brown phyto with a crashed culture though) don't throw it out, it's not bad to have.

 

[sneeyatch]

thanks for all the replies guys. i started the culture the night of the 10th after i got home from work and added fertilizer (a 2 part from a local club member). i basically used the proportions you gave me considering that it is a concentrated blend. last night, i shook the bottle some and it appears to be getting slightly murky looking, so i'm hopeful. i'll give it a week to 10 days and if it doesn't work out, i'll order the nanna kit from faf.

question about that though - is the right kit from them the "u-grow" kit for like $14?

thanks again.