Trying to grow photoplankton

[nuch]

So i'm kinda bored and have absolutely no $ for fish or coral. So I've decided to try and grow my own phytoplankton to keep me busy. The only thing I have to change is the light. This is what I had laying around. I'm going to go to the depot to upgrade that tomorrow. Lmk what you guys think, and feel free to chime in and tell me where I can improve. I've did a lot of research and watched youtube videos.

 

[STHILL]

I wish i had this much time on my hands lol...

 

[nuch]

You were gonna get the first batch after I split it, but now.... lol

 

[Reef Reaper]

Any cheap fluorescent light will do ,good air flow , food for the phytoplankton and a good starter culture

 

[nuch]

Any cheap fluorescent light will do

Oh, didn't know that. plan on running for 16 hrs then 8 hrs darkness.

 

[Dre]

I could be wrong but i don't think you can start a culture from the bottle sample.

 

[nuch]

Well I did order a starter culture on a disk too. But they had none left in stock. So in the meantime I heard some cases where they were successful with this DT brand

 

[reefs4life]

Nanno is the easiest stuff to grow and very hardy. Tried growing tetra and it's relentless, in terms that lighting, temperature, nutrition and salinity need to all be on the dot for it to grow.

Nanno on the other hand, is so simple, sometimes I would leave it for many extra days and not top off the bottles therefore raising the salinity but still maintained a good green color. Although, I would agree with the fact that I'm not sure if it will grow from that bottled stuff but maybe it will. The other thing is, are you sure that you trust that Miracle Grow stuff? I personally would just invest in the stuff that Florida Aqua Farms sells. As far as lighting, you're good to go, no need to upgrade, I used a single 300W fluorescent bulb for four bottles (2-2L bottes, 2-1L bottles) in a bucket, http://www.homedepot.com/p/TCP-68-Watt-300W-Soft-White-CFL-Light-Bulb-28968RP/100676712?N=12ky%2FNtk-All%2FNtt-fluorescent%252Bbulb%3FNtx%3Dmode%252Bmatchall%26NCNI-5%26rpp%3D96#.Umh98fmsim4

If anything I would upgrade your air with a small luft air pump with multiple outlets and valves for easy adjustment and if you want to add more bottles. Something like this would work, at least that's what I have http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089Y95EQ/?tag=reefs04-20


OH and I forgot to mention one big thing, if you use tap water, which is recommended due to the fact that its impurities may provide beneficial nutrients, make sure you use a dechlorinator or you'll be sure to get no growth.

 

[nuch]

I did order that kit from Florida Aqua farms that came with the starter disk and the f2 fertilizer. But while I wait, it's one of those things where I saw and heard this works. I had everything but the miracle grow. So let's see. And thanx on the pump info, I will upgrade when it's time to run multiple bottles.

 

[beerfish]

Light should be fine. I used to use an old PC light I had laying around. The culture disc is your best bet. Most of what you get in a bottle is dead, so you won't get a good culture from it. Even if you do, you can't be sure what's in it. If you start to see the water getting clear and sediment at the bottom, just ditch the culture.

Keep an extra couple of bottles and saltwater ready. Once it takes off, you'll need to make timely splits to keep the culture growing.

Good luck!

 

[ming]

My only tip is make sure you have multiple bottles growing, because you'll need a backup when/if one culture is crashing (turning clear).

Also, if you want different strains of phyto, you'll have to keep them separate and be very meticulous about sterilizing things because if a single cell of one gets in the other container, it might grow faster then the other and take over. This is actually the reason why DT's is not a good starter culture. Its actually a mix of a few different cultures which turns homogenius as time goes on.

 

[reefs4life]

My only tip is make sure you have multiple bottles growing, because you'll need a backup when/if one culture is crashing (turning clear).

+1

I would do at least 2-2L bottles just to be on the safe side or you can even do small 16oz bottles as a culture reserve.

Also, added an important thing to my last post

 

[nuch]

update

So I've started this on wed. and it hasn't got clear yet witch I know is good. If it wasn't a success, would it have started to clear up? It's def. greener then when I started. And if it goes well when should I split? From what I read 7-10 days.

 

[Reef Reaper]

I split mine twice a week

 

[bizzarro]

I went with a lower cost approach.

I put them in the window sill with direct sun, drilled a few hole for air to exchange and every few days I stir teh bottle. I have a culture in a larger gatorade for a few months now that I haven't added any ferts to it.

 

[Dre]

I can't get DT's phyto anywhere for the past several months. I heard they moved and the business is not keeping up with demand. I think i would give it a try. I didn't think it would work good work man.

 

[nuch]

Thanx dre, I got my DT from amazon.

 

[nuch]

split

So I successfully split it. Now I'm gonna put the original in 16oz bottles and split the other in 1/3. I'm gonna keep a couple and if anyone wants one and is passing through, hit me up and pick one up. Scott I got one aside for ya.

 

[Dre]

-Wow look very rich.

 

[STHILL]

Looks good bro thanks...