Best Phyto for Tigriopus californicus?

Lt Nos · Sep 7, 2011

Nanochloropsus, Nannochloris, Tetraselmis and Isocrysis? I am going to start a a phyto culture via florida-aqua-farms with the resulting phyto being for my tank and also for a Tigriopus californicus "tigger pod" aquaculture. I find this to be an interesting challenge, and If I fail then I'll just go get some Phyto Feast and dose a 5 gallon tank of tigger's. Ultimately this is for raising food for Mandarin's for myself and my friends.

roshi719 · Sep 7, 2011

Why do live phyto, you could buy phyto paste and mix up a solution to dose the tank with. that way you only have one culture that can crash instead of two. it is also pretty cheap!

CJO · Sep 7, 2011

I would say none of those. The best would be some sort of diatom. I culture Thalassiosira weissflogi for my californicus culture. You can get it at seahorse source.

CJ

Lt Nos · Sep 7, 2011

Phyto paste may be the way to go, any brands to lead me to water? Paste vs. Phyto feast?

CJO · Sep 8, 2011

Just look for a good combination that also includes diatoms. Also, make sure it is live phyto if you can. Dead phyto can foul the water quickly.

CJ

Reef Breeders · Sep 8, 2011

Tetraselmis, I feed them that, it goes a pretty long way too.

Reef Breeders · Sep 8, 2011

A little tip on culturing tetra, when it gets pretty dark, and then starts to lighten, re dose the fertilizer, and it will be THICK, or harvest it before it lightens and dies off.

CJO · Sep 9, 2011

anemonekeeper said:
A little tip on culturing tetra, when it gets pretty dark, and then starts to lighten, re dose the fertilizer, and it will be THICK, or harvest it before it lightens and dies off.

Works well for most other types of phyto too. However, T. Iso doesn't give you a very big window, it crashes pretty quickly. Also, when it starts to lighten, it is in its dieing phase and is much less nutritious than when it's in its exponential growth phase.

CJ