Starting phytoplankton culture with small inoculating culture

[Scott714]

Hi, I live in Australia and I'm looking to start a phytoplankton culture. We only seem to have Nanno that can be purchased in any bottle sized volumes (300ml, 500ml) at reasonable prices.

I'm looking to start a Tetraselmis culture as from what I've read it's a better choice for pods. The issue is that a starting amount of pure Tetraselmis is expensive and very small volume, looking at only about 5ml or 50ml (this can cost $100AUD or ~$65USD).

The only way I've read/watched about how to start a culture is to use a 1:1 ratio of culture to salt water with some F2. I've seen 1:3 phtyo to salt water recommended as the maximum. But in the case of 5ml this is going to be difficult to setup a 15ml container.

Would be preferential to start with at least 500ml or 1000ml container.

Are there any other ways to start a phyto culture with a very high ratio of culture to salt water? What are the risks with a very dilute inoculating culture of phyto? Would adding 5ml of dense phyto to a 1000ml container with the appropriate amount of F2 eventually grow into a dense culture - just taking a bit longer than the typical 7 day period?

 

[Timfish]

Only downside I see is it will take longer.

 

[fryman]

Hi, I live in Australia and I'm looking to start a phytoplankton culture. We only seem to have Nanno that can be purchased in any bottle sized volumes (300ml, 500ml) at reasonable prices.

I'm looking to start a Tetraselmis culture as from what I've read it's a better choice for pods. The issue is that a starting amount of pure Tetraselmis is expensive and very small volume, looking at only about 5ml or 50ml (this can cost $100AUD or ~$65USD).

The only way I've read/watched about how to start a culture is to use a 1:1 ratio of culture to salt water with some F2. I've seen 1:3 phtyo to salt water recommended as the maximum. But in the case of 5ml this is going to be difficult to setup a 15ml container.

Would be preferential to start with at least 500ml or 1000ml container.

Are there any other ways to start a phyto culture with a very high ratio of culture to salt water? What are the risks with a very dilute inoculating culture of phyto? Would adding 5ml of dense phyto to a 1000ml container with the appropriate amount of F2 eventually grow into a dense culture - just taking a bit longer than the typical 7 day period?

Adding 5ml starter to a full 1000ml reactor is not a good idea. Unless your decontamination is flawless, diluting this much will likely lead to something else taking over.

You do not need to fill a bioreactor all the way. Just fill your reactor with 5ml starter and 50ml (max) sanitized media. AFTER it colors up, add another 100ml sanitized media, then 400ml, then topoff.