mwp
In Memoriam
OK, this was another one I've been thinking about. I utilize TONS of new saltwater. A conservative estimate would be 30 gallons per week. A fair amount of that is for water changes solely to control nitrates and for the larval tanks. The other place I use new water is in my phytoplankton cultures.
So, considering that I'm mostly doing water changes for nitrate reduction, what do you all think about reusing the broodstock tank water for micro-algae culture. For the most part I don't remove sediments etc, but rather just siphon out 5 gallons of tank water and pour it down the drain. It seems that if this water were sterilized, it would be a fine "base" for phytoplankton culture - probably all I'd have to add would be the micro algae grow to supply the full spread of nutrients required. Would a phyto culture be able to absorb all the nitrate in the water? Would I reduce the amount of microalgae grow I need
I figure this could easily save 5-10 gallons worth of salt per week. I already try to limit my use of "new" water on my zooplankton cultures, instead relying on feedings of phytoplankton in to make up for water removed in harvesting.
If no one's tried this, I may do a small test run, trying this out on 1 out of 4 cultures I run for each algae type. I would want to test levels of nutrients such as nitrates in "old" water, after fertilizer addition, and at the time of culture harvest. However, I worry about testing...I've read that tests for items like phosphates won't really work on a phyto culture because the test will "force" the release of the chemicals stored in the phyto back into the water (basically, falsely high readings).
Has anyone tried this? Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? I welcome anything this talented and knowledgeable group of breeders offers up!
Thanks!
Matt
So, considering that I'm mostly doing water changes for nitrate reduction, what do you all think about reusing the broodstock tank water for micro-algae culture. For the most part I don't remove sediments etc, but rather just siphon out 5 gallons of tank water and pour it down the drain. It seems that if this water were sterilized, it would be a fine "base" for phytoplankton culture - probably all I'd have to add would be the micro algae grow to supply the full spread of nutrients required. Would a phyto culture be able to absorb all the nitrate in the water? Would I reduce the amount of microalgae grow I need
I figure this could easily save 5-10 gallons worth of salt per week. I already try to limit my use of "new" water on my zooplankton cultures, instead relying on feedings of phytoplankton in to make up for water removed in harvesting.
If no one's tried this, I may do a small test run, trying this out on 1 out of 4 cultures I run for each algae type. I would want to test levels of nutrients such as nitrates in "old" water, after fertilizer addition, and at the time of culture harvest. However, I worry about testing...I've read that tests for items like phosphates won't really work on a phyto culture because the test will "force" the release of the chemicals stored in the phyto back into the water (basically, falsely high readings).
Has anyone tried this? Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? I welcome anything this talented and knowledgeable group of breeders offers up!
Thanks!
Matt
We of course have all of the filtration so ours is pathogen free...I just can't imagine making that much water but I'm spoiled!
Should fix it.
