First time growing phytoplankton questions

[Slcwinder]

This is my first batch of phyto, I’m using poseidons system. I started this nano culture exactly 7 days ago. It looks healthy but I thought it would be darker green? When is the best time to harvest?? My plan was to harvest on Sunday

 

[tbrown]

When it gets to the strength you want is the best time to harvest. Darker means stronger but if it gets too dark it can also crash.

 

[Slcwinder]

When it gets to the strength you want is the best time to harvest. Darker means stronger but if it gets too dark it can also crash.

I guess I don’t know what strength I want, let me ask a different question, when the communities preferred time to harvest nano phyto

 

[tbrown]

I guess I don’t know what strength I want, let me ask a different question, when the communities preferred time to harvest nano phyto

When I was culturing mine, I'd wait for it to get about as dark as it was when I first received it. It should double every week if you're providing adequate lighting and food.

If you got a half gallon and added a half gallon of fresh saltwater, it's likely ready to cut.

If you started with 16 oz or 32 oz, it will take anywhere from 3-8 weeks to be ready to cut.

Are you planning on using half of it or smaller portions? If smaller portions throughout the week, you might consider pulling half and refrigerating the rest and using throughout the week.

Also, you might consider starting a second smaller culture in case the first one crashes - it makes it easier to restart.

 

[Slcwinder]

It came with a 250 ml starter culture and I think I added 3 liters of salt water to it