Phyto culture question

[JamisonSmith]

Hello all,

I am trying to start another nanno culture with a different type of culturing vessel (one of the converted 5 gallon carboys) and I used one of the pure cultures from FAF. I added the layer of algae cells from the culture disk and added some phyto fertilizer and then I have added a little more once since then. It has been about 5 days and with the lights on continuous there is a slight green tint to the water.

In such a big culture vessel, how often should I feed the fertilizer? And any ideas how long it might take before it turns a dark green?

Thanks,

Jamison

 

[mwp]

How much water did you start with when you added the disk? I.e. I've heard it's best if you start only 1L of water when you start off these discs. I would simply bring up the water volume with new sterile water + fertilizer for the new water volume once it starts greening up....

Matt

 

[Kathy55g]

One way would be to feed the fertilizer when you add the water. In other words, make up a container of sterile water and add fertilizer to the final concentration. As you harvest your culture, use this water to dilute your growing phyto stock culture.

 

[JamisonSmith]

Thank you for the great info so far!
Without having to order more phyto discs, and, having already filled the container with about 4 gallons of sterile water, do you think there is any way to kick-start the culture? Should I leave the mixture to grow for a while before scraping it? Continue to add fertilizer every couple of days?

 

[Kathy55g]

If your fertilizer concentration is the recommended level, do not add more until the phyto is dark green. Too much fertilizer inhibits growth. How long have you waited? It takes mine a week to triple. In other words, I dilute my ripe phyto 1/3 and bubble it for a week with light before it is ready to be harvested. Given that you have put one disk into 4 gallons, I would wait a month to see some growth before scrapping it.

 

[JamisonSmith]

Thanks Kathy!

 

[Kathy55g]

To answer your question more fully, when I grow phyto, I set up the water, fertilizer and culture all at once. I never add just fertilizer. When it is dark green, I take it off line, and start a new bottle. I have never tried to get it darker by adding more fertilizer.

 

[ediaz]

When you star with a disc use a small bottle to grow it, a flask with floss works great, then start moving it up to bigger sizes as the culture matures.

Only hatcheries use 5 gal. JUGS, but they grow the disc in the lab then tranfer to 5 gal then to a 100gal. cilinder or bag.

that container will take long to develop and the culture might get contaminated and crash. Hope is a clear one and not blue.

Ed