phyto help...

[floridascape]

Someone recently gave me 5 gallons of his fresh cultured phyto, i have been keeping it in the fridge and shaking them daily. Would like to know if I can still use this phyto to start my own cultures? Haven't read much on phyto culturing but would like to start some small cultures so that I may also culture rotifers and pods. some advise from the veterans would be greatly appreciated.

 

[johanasu]

By phyto do you mean Nannochloropsis or some other microalgae? It should still be viable out of the fridge for 2-4 weeks. Just put some in a 2L bottle about 1/3 of the bottle. Add fresh mixed saltwater, almost any salinity will work. Then add an air hose (preferably rigid tubing that goes to the bottom) and put it in front of a light. Shake occasionally to get the algae at the bottom to enter the water column. In 1-2 weeks it should be ready to split.