Phytoplankton culture
- Thread starter Apetty32
- Start date
Darth Vedder
Sith Lord
I have 16 liters that I started from culture disks, and feed micro algea grow and I harvest half from each Erlenmyer flask every Friday. It's very dark by Friday and measures 20-22 million cells per ml with a density stick from Florida aqua farms
I bottle it and my LFS sells it, and I use or give away the rest
I bottle it and my LFS sells it, and I use or give away the rest
Last edited:
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There is a picture of my current set up. Do I have enough light? Also I rushed in and didn't sanitize my containers before use. I only rinsed them out very well with hot water. Do I need to boil the new salt water I mix for the two liters to sanitize it?
I apologize for all the questions, but I am excited about culturing rotifers and want to start raising my clown fry.
There is a picture of my current set up. Do I have enough light? Also I rushed in and didn't sanitize my containers before use. I only rinsed them out very well with hot water. Do I need to boil the new salt water I mix for the two liters to sanitize it?
I apologize for all the questions, but I am excited about culturing rotifers and want to start raising my clown fry.
Darth Vedder
Sith Lord
That is probably enough light.
Here is my setup, all 6500K bulbs
They are on 16 hours and off for 8
Here is my setup, all 6500K bulbs
They are on 16 hours and off for 8
Darth Vedder
Sith Lord
not probably necessary but I would get some rigid airline to keep the tube it he bottom center, and from that picture it looks very light so give it plenty of time to mature before you split it. When I split I harvest half that way it's ready every 7 days
Darth Vedder
Sith Lord
The tank below has dual rotifer cultures, and on a shelf below that is a 10 gallon split like the one you see for dual copepod cultures
I will be honest, initially I would sterilize the RODI water in the microwave and then mix with salt the day before I split them but I started using the water I have mixed in a 55 gallon drum and adding RODI to dilute it to 1.018 and have had no issues
I do clean out the flasks, airline tubing and little 3 W heaters that are in each flask every few weeks with dilute HCL and RODI solution. I then Tripp,e rinse in RODI and once with fresh saltwater before putting the cultures back in.
Only time I had a crash was when I cleaned with HcL solution and didn't rinse thinking it would be ok, the PH dropped and the next morning I had clear water with black dead phyto in the bottom. I just restarted it with what I had in the reridgerator and have had no problems since
I will be honest, initially I would sterilize the RODI water in the microwave and then mix with salt the day before I split them but I started using the water I have mixed in a 55 gallon drum and adding RODI to dilute it to 1.018 and have had no issues
I do clean out the flasks, airline tubing and little 3 W heaters that are in each flask every few weeks with dilute HCL and RODI solution. I then Tripp,e rinse in RODI and once with fresh saltwater before putting the cultures back in.
Only time I had a crash was when I cleaned with HcL solution and didn't rinse thinking it would be ok, the PH dropped and the next morning I had clear water with black dead phyto in the bottom. I just restarted it with what I had in the reridgerator and have had no problems since
Darth Vedder
Sith Lord
Here are the heaters I use
http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-ML-Shatterproof-Mini-Heater/dp/B005JPA1FU
It's in my basement which is around 60-65 degrees, and I found it grows faster and more consistent at closer to 78 degrees. It's not necessary because I've left them off before after cleaning but I just thought it would help
Also, HCL is hydrochloric acid, sold in hardware stores as muriatic acid. I dilute this (always acid INTO water)
I don't believe this would totally sterilize like bleach but it cleans any residue up really good
http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-ML-Shatterproof-Mini-Heater/dp/B005JPA1FU
It's in my basement which is around 60-65 degrees, and I found it grows faster and more consistent at closer to 78 degrees. It's not necessary because I've left them off before after cleaning but I just thought it would help
Also, HCL is hydrochloric acid, sold in hardware stores as muriatic acid. I dilute this (always acid INTO water)
I don't believe this would totally sterilize like bleach but it cleans any residue up really good
Darth Vedder
Sith Lord
I'm considering trying mysids, but what I'm reading it is a lot more involved and will require many 10 gallon tanks and much more work. Doesn't mean I won't try but my cycle is almost complete and I will probably be focussed on the DT for a while
Waggs
New member
I was thinking about maybe trying to raise some clown fish so your set up would be nice to have. I'd be on a smaller scale to start with. I have to focus on my DT since it was neglected for so long. I think it was easier setting it up new and trying to bring it back.
Darth Vedder
Sith Lord
I split them every Friday evening
When I split I harvest 50% sp when the new culture is fed with micro algea grow, it's already a light green, and by Wednesday it's already pretty dark. Usually it hits the max density Thursday and doesn't grow much more before I harvest on Friday
I put in 1.5 ml of micro algae grow per 2000 ml after I split on Friday and it seems like its mostly all used up by the time I harvest
When I split I harvest 50% sp when the new culture is fed with micro algea grow, it's already a light green, and by Wednesday it's already pretty dark. Usually it hits the max density Thursday and doesn't grow much more before I harvest on Friday
I put in 1.5 ml of micro algae grow per 2000 ml after I split on Friday and it seems like its mostly all used up by the time I harvest
Darth Vedder
Sith Lord
Right now most is given away as my new system is cycling
I do feed my rotifer cultures and copepod with it, and my plan is to eventually breed clowns.
The LfS feeds it to his clams, Feather dusters and soft corals with it.
I do feed my rotifer cultures and copepod with it, and my plan is to eventually breed clowns.
The LfS feeds it to his clams, Feather dusters and soft corals with it.
grimesalex
New member
I'm getting ready to start a culture too. I just got all of my supplies from FAF. Looking at the back of the f2, it reads; "Contents: nitrates, phosphate, sodium, iron, maganese, cobalt, zinc, molybdate, sulfates, copper, thiamine, biotin, cyanocobalamin, ascorbic acid and EDTA." I'm questioning weather or not I want to be putting g it in my tank even if it is tiny amounts at a time. Any input?
