Phytoplankton help......

[KyleO]

I have an interesting dilemma with my Phytoplankton culturing efforts. I have good luck with the initial culture, and can split twice with beautiful deep green water.

Upon the third split I run into a strange clumping situation. I try to keep it stirred every day and keep the bubbles raging but it seems bound and determined to clump up on the sides and bottom and the water eventually goes clear with green phyto colonies everywhere.

I have seen cultures crash and I don't think these are but something funky is going on.

Anybody have any ideas or experience this???

 

[jpitts101]

what strain are you cultureing? im assumeing its a non motile strain? I culture nano and it does that a little. Im not a pro a pro at it but it could be dead cells clumping together. I also culture tetraselmis and have not had any clumping at all.

 

[KyleO]

Nanochloropsus...........

 

[jpitts101]

I wouldnt worry about the clumping in the nano. However you dont want to put them in your aquarium so use a good filter sock or even coffee filter as a strainer to get rid of all the clumps and everything should be okay. If you dont want any clumping at all I would personally try a new strain like tetraselmis. Just my 2 cents.

 

[KyleO]

After thinking about it some more I think I know what the problem is....tell me what you think of this.

I usually mix up a big batch of 1.019 saltwater with the necessary nutrients (from Florida AquaFarms) when I start a new culture. I have really good luck with the first few splits but by the third split I experience this problem. I am thinking that even though I aerate the medium before using it for a split.....the mixture has a shelf life (of about a month).

I think I will be mixing up medium more often and not storing so much at a time.

 

[Paintbug]

how often, and what are you using to clean your culture containers?

 

[KyleO]

I clean my containers every time I do a split.........and only clean with water but make sure and wipe down well.