Culturing Phytoplankton Without F2 Fertilizer

[reefsaver]

I have decided to remake this thread because answers to this will help reefers all over the world: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/culturing-phytoplankton-without-fertilizer.767227/

Guillards F2 Fertilizer is American made. Which means anyone outside of America has to import it. I have been endlessly searching the internet for substitutes to F2 Fert, some say Liquid Plant Fert is the next best thing but can throw off your Reef Parameters [Apparently, I have seen no cases of this in forums]
I'm never going to pay $45 postage on top of the F2 Fert cost. Someone please help me, I want to grow Phyto but I am new to reefing and don't really know the possibilities.
My brain has just been totally affixed on creating a self sustaining Copepod Culture but Guillards F2 absolutely ruins it for it's unavailability and no real information on ANY other option..

Please Do Not Recommend Guillards F2 Fertilizer In This Thread. Not Everyone Lives In Your Country.

Amazon.com : guillards f2

@andrewkw , I'm located in the States, any sources up in Canada?

And no. It's not possible to culture phytoplankton without fertilizer. The phytoplankton we work with are not diazotrophs (take in atmospheric N2 nitrogen), and thus need nitrogen supplementation as well as phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and a couple of other things. You could try culturing with skimmate as a fertilizer, or better, miracle grow liquid fertilizer, but really Guillard's F/2 is highly recommended.

One of the best answers to this thread online I have found so far.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I’m in Canada. I got the guillards (I know you said you didn’t want to hear about it) from Amazon for $40 no extra shipping cost. And to be honest the bottle will probably last forever, such a small amount is needed to cultivate the phytoplankton. Which, if you figure the cost of phytoplankton from retail stores, for me a one time cost of $40 for lifetime of phytoplankton is not too bad. But I understand what your saying, a lot of things are just not available in Canada compared to U.S. and if it is then it cost way much more than it should.

I would also like to hear if there is another alternative besides F2

 

[JosephM]

I see a ton of people opt for miracle gro. I’ve never tried it myself but with the sheer amount of people that use it I’d have a hard time believing there’s any adverse affects when using the phyto or pods in a reef system.

 

[N.Sreefer]

I use miracle grow with no adverse effects. The only issue is it has a chelating ingredient added so its best to mix with a lil saltwater let it react then add it to the culture.

 

[SE7ƎN]

I have the same issue as well with not being able to get my hands on F2, since I am living abroad as an Expat.

I have been reading on people being wary of using anything else other than F2, however, I came across this article from Melev’s Reef and he uses Miracle Grow as well: https://melevsreef.com/articles/culture-your-own-phytoplankton

I’m going to give it a shot…

 

[reefsaver]

I really appreciate all the replies, super helpful to see at least some options.

 

[ThRoewer]

Biomass production and nutrient uptake by Isochrysis aff. galbana (Clone T-ISO) cultured with a low cost alternative to the f/2 medium

Biomass production and nutrient uptake by Isochrysis aff. galbana (Clone T-ISO) cultured with a low cost alternative to the f/2 medium

Biomass production and uptake of nitrate, phosphate and ammonium were determined in batch culture of the marine microalgae Isochrysis aff. galbana (Cl…

www.sciencedirect.com

Unfortunately the article isn't open access, so you either need to have access through a company or institution or purchase it.

Protein, carbohydrate, lipid and chlorophyll a content in Isochrysis aff. galbana (clone T-Iso) cultured with a low cost alternative to the f/2 medium

Protein, carbohydrate, lipid and chlorophyll a content in Isochrysis aff. galbana (clone T-Iso) cultured with a low cost alternative to the f/2 medium

Growth, proximate composition and chlorophyll a content was estimated in static cultures of Isochrysis aff. galbana (clone T-Iso) to compare the quali…

www.sciencedirect.com

Free PDF via Researchgate.net: Protein, carbohydrate, lipid and chlorophyll a content in Isochrysis aff. galbana (clone T-Iso) cultured with a low cost alternative to the f/2 medium

Alternatively you can also always mix your own F/2 solution as the recipe is public:

F/2 Culture Media – The Robertson Laboratory

f/2 Medium using filtered seawater or artificial seawater | Canadian Phycological Culture Centre

Guillard, R.R.L. and Ryther, J.H. 1962. Studies of marine planktonic diatoms. I. Cyclotella nana Hustedt and Detonula confervacea Cleve. Can. J. Microbiol.

uwaterloo.ca

http://www.leadingtec.cn/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/f_2_medium.pdf

 

[ThRoewer]

It is also flat out false that all Guillards F2 Fertilizer is American made. It's an open recipe and, if you do some research, you will find it to be available in many countries:

UK:

Phytoplankton Nutrient Guillards F/2 Medium

Enhance your phytoplankton culture with Guillard's F/2 Medium, a nutrient-rich formula designed for optimal growth

reefphyto.co.uk

Hong Kong / China / East Asia:

CONCENTRATED Guillard's F2 Phytoplankton Hong Kong | Ubuy

Shop the best deals on Concentrated Guillard's F2 Phytoplankton Fertilizer at Ubuy Hong Kong. Get the highest quality Nannochloropsis Tetra Fertilizer with fast shipping.

www.ubuy.hk

Germany/EU:

Phytoplankton-Dünger (F/2, für alle Phyto-Arten außer Isochrysis und Tetraselmis) – PlanktonWelt

plankton-welt.de

 

[SE7ƎN]

Still costs >$50 USD plus Customs for me…

 

[elysics]

If there is really no supplier of F/2 in your country or your surrounding countries (kinda doubtful), then why not buy all of the ingredients, mix it up yourself, and become that supplier as a side thing for a little extra money? It's not that expensive to buy those vitamins, and the rest is just cheap salts

 

[ThRoewer]

Still costs >$50 USD plus Customs for me…

Thailand has a massive ornamental aquaculture industry. Also lots of shrimp farming for human consumption. Those farms definitely culture algae and need fertilizers in decent amounts. I would bet a university with an aquaculture department or a fish or shrimp farm can point you to local sources.

 

[chema]

Guillards F2 fertilizer is a general formula which can be reproduced or modified. There is no patent related to it, therefore I do not see the problem in using a fertilizer based on F2 in any part of the world. For example, in Spain the company EasyReefs sells its own modified recipe, known as EasyPhyt.

 

[ThRoewer]

I see a ton of people opt for miracle gro. I’ve never tried it myself but with the sheer amount of people that use it I’d have a hard time believing there’s any adverse affects when using the phyto or pods in a reef system.

Now, Miracle-Gro is truly a U.S. product.
And whether it is suitable depends on the microalgae you intend to grow and what you want to use that microalgae for.
For aquaculture purpose it wouldn't be my first or even second choice.

And, once you dive a little deeper into culturing microalgae, you will find that even the standard f/2 formula isn't a one size fits all solution. It's a decent compromise but ultimately, each microalgae has a slightly different nutritional profile, and some even vastly different.
People who grow microalgae for a living usually make adjustments to the f/2 formula for different species or use a different base formula.
There simply isn't an ideal one size fits all solution.

 

[Boogieman]

I’m in Canada. I got the guillards (I know you said you didn’t want to hear about it) from Amazon for $40 no extra shipping cost. And to be honest the bottle will probably last forever, such a small amount is needed to cultivate the phytoplankton. Which, if you figure the cost of phytoplankton from retail stores, for me a one time cost of $40 for lifetime of phytoplankton is not too bad. But I understand what your saying, a lot of things are just not available in Canada compared to U.S. and if it is then it cost way much more than it should.

I would also like to hear if there is another alternative besides F2

Can you please provide a link I can not seem to find it on Amazon.ca when I search. Thank you

 

[Boogieman]

I’m in Canada. I got the guillards (I know you said you didn’t want to hear about it) from Amazon for $40 no extra shipping cost. And to be honest the bottle will probably last forever, such a small amount is needed to cultivate the phytoplankton. Which, if you figure the cost of phytoplankton from retail stores, for me a one time cost of $40 for lifetime of phytoplankton is not too bad. But I understand what your saying, a lot of things are just not available in Canada compared to U.S. and if it is then it cost way much more than it should.

I would also like to hear if there is another alternative besides F2

It seems my question disappeared So I will try ask again .. could you please provide a link to the amazon.ca product I can not seem to find a link thank you

 

[Karen00]

It seems my question disappeared So I will try ask again .. could you please provide a link to the amazon.ca product I can not seem to find a link thank you

It's showing as unavailable on Amazon Canada and I think it has been for awhile. You can find it on eBay Canada but the listings I saw are coming from the US so shipping is quite high however I didn't go through all of the listings. You can contact Mercer of Montana (the maker) and see if they sell/ship or if they know of sellers in Canada. If not then I'm sure that alternatives listed would be an option.

 

[Boogieman]

It's showing as unavailable on Amazon Canada and I think it has been for awhile. You can find it on eBay Canada but the listings I saw are coming from the US so shipping is quite high however I didn't go through all of the listings. You can contact Mercer of Montana (the maker) and see if they sell/ship or if they know of sellers in Canada. If not then I'm sure that alternatives listed would be an option.

Ok cool thank you for your help.

 

[Karen00]

Ok cool thank you for your help.

No problem. I'm actually a bit surprised to still see it unavailable on Amazon. I think it was late last year I was looking for it with the intent of doing my own phyto and it was unavailable then. I never did start culturing phyto so I haven't looked since last year. It's possible they're no longer selling in Canada or maybe not through Amazon. I figured I would just try some of the other options if needed.

 

[Boogieman]

So I have added Miracle Grow today . It seemed over the last week and a bit with out it the phytoplankton is not getting darker. I have also tried adding it to my chaeto that I have in pails ... see if it helps.

 

[Boogieman]

So I have added Miracle Grow today . It seemed over the last week and a bit with out it the phytoplankton is not getting darker. I have also tried adding it to my chaeto that I have in pails ... see if it helps.

So a little update .. it's about 2 weeks after adding miracle grow and heat to the phyto.. it is substantial darker .. going to leave it for another week and a bit and I will check it again.. so far I am sold on the miracle grow. And a 1 us gallon mix would last me a year I am sure