What container to use for my plant?

[ScienceGirl]

I am a student working on a science project relating to ocean acidity and how it affects marine plants. I have decided to use chaeto because it is accessible, fairly small, and seems fairly easy to grow. However, I need to grow many plants in a short span of time. I can not just grow them in two separate tanks because if there is a problem with one system, the whole group will be affected. The solution would be to grow about 5-10 plants per group all in small, separate containers. However, it is not feasible for me to buy 10-20 aquariums, and I am having trouble finding what containers I can use to grow these plants. Does anyone have any idea what containers I can use, or just tips to keep in mind when growing these plants? I have no experience with aquariums whatsoever.
Thank you!

 

[Astroreefer]

You can use anything that is food safe, I haven't seen any problems using any container that is made from plastic, just wash it with plain tap water before use. You could try using a bucket

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[ScienceGirl]

Would it be a problem is the bucket is opaque? I'm worried about the chaeto not having enough light because it will only be receiving light from above. Also, do you know exactly how big chaeto gets? I havent been able to find a definite size?

 

[Astroreefer]

What will you be using for flow? Im not sure how well/it it would grow in stagnant water. You would want to set up the water flow so that the chaeto is spinning and so all sides receive light. I usually thin my chaeto out before it gets too big, but I have heard several times that people have had basket ball sized balls of chaeto

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[Astroreefer]

I imagine the size of the chaeto will be determined by how large it can get before lighting and water flow through to the center is reduced significantly

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[ScienceGirl]

Would using a bubbler work?

 

[SFish]

Probably wouldn't get good tumbling action with one. Buy a cheap power head $6. Clean it and go from bucket to bucket. Give each one the same amount of time.

 

[ScienceGirl]

That's a good idea, thank you!

 

[reef thief]

Ha ha ha ha ha! Welcome to the hobby. Right now you think you're just going to grow a plant in a bucket then you're all done. Feed the cheato Thanksgiving leftovers.

 

[SFish]

 

[ScienceGirl]

Are there any specific filtration systems that I should get?

 

[reef thief]

For cheato not so much. It's resilient. Just make sure that the water stays 1.025. This will affect your results if it swings to 1.024 or 1.026. The pH will be variable if you don't make the specific gravity constant. You can use a hydrometer(cheap plastic thingy) or a refractometer(not as cheap) to measure.

 

[SFish]

Good luck and have fun!

 

[ericarenee]

this is the same as culturing plankton ..

get some 2 liter bottles or milk jugs for the number of samples you wish to grow .

get a air pump and hair line tubing and a gang valve to control the air into each the containers with a air stone to help weight the tube down to the bottom of the jugs.. drill a hole into the cap of each jug . and connect to the gang valve then the valve to the jug..


your science lab is ready.. with the cheato you can easily put it into the small hole at the top... and the air will circulate the water enough to keep it tumbling..

ohh you need some light behind the bottles ..

Good Luck....