phyto culturing

[dadonoflaw]

i want to attempt to culture phyto for my mandarin that i intend to get and i want to get a brief synopsis of what is required in case i missed something. i know i need a light a container of some sort airline tubing and an air pump. am i missing anything? can i use the 20 gal high tank to culture the phyto or would there be problems with this?

 

[jpitts101]

you can use a 20 high to culture but you have to make sure you have enough air moving the cells around so they stay suspended. why not do it in a 2 liter bottle? i do four 2 liter bottles at the same time and feed my 105, 180, and still have enough to give to fellow reefers. why are you culturing phyto for your mandrin? you mandrin eats pods? ohh by the way you need a fertlizeer and a starter of live phyto.

 

[dadonoflaw]

i am culturing the phyto to feed the pods so that they will reproduce more vigorously so that when i get the mandarin he will be fat and happy

 

[dadonoflaw]

also how do u clean the 2 liter bottles as i have heard that this is difficult.

 

[jpitts101]

nah, i just put some hot water in and shake them up for a bit. just make sure you cant smell anything and your good to go. melev has a great site about phyto, you should check it out. what strain are you planning on culturing? i do nanno and tetra, i really need to cut the tetra and start iso.

 

[dadonoflaw]

which ever is the healthiest. on talkingreef there is a podcast about the different kinds of phyto and which are best to use. i believe it was iso but i cant remember. so you cut a hole in the top of the bottle or how do you set that up?

 

[jpitts101]

just about all phyto you get is going to be good. myself i prefer nanno, its easy to culture and nutricious.

a easy way to set it up
5 gallon bucket with shop light sitting over it
2 liter bottles filled with saltwater and starter of phyto with 5 ml of f2 ( some pople use miracle grow)
insert your airlines into the lids of the 2 liter
let it bubble for 7 to 10 days then split!
you have phyto!!

 

[jpitts101]

i know it may sound hard or complicated to do but its really easy. if you just see a set up you can do it no prob. its hard to decribe how to do it without overwhelming you. if you have any questions let me know. you can even call and i will walk you through it all step by step. there are people on here that will sell you a starter of phyto cheap or you can go to florida aqua farms web site and get it there.

 

[dadonoflaw]

thanx for your help. i have an idea of how to do it. i know i get the fertilizer salt RO water a container for the culture medium a starter culture an air pump and airline tubing i mix the fertilizer with the salt and ro water and then put some water in the 2 liter with enough of the starter culture to tint the water green. if i left anything out please let me know

 

[jpitts101]

sounds good to me , thats how i did it!