Help with copepod and phyto cultures

[tableforglasses]

I am having a hard time getting a copepod culture started. I bought the Posiedon Reef Phytotank and I know you can make your own but I wanted something turnkey and easy. I have tried twice to culture copepods and thus far have had no luck. I bought copepods from top shelf and bought reef genetics phyto for my first culture and then bought copepods from Dinkins for the second culture and thus far i have not pulled any copepods from either culture and I am not sure my phytoplankton is the right consistency.
Here are the things I am doing:
1. I cleaned everything really well and wiped everything down with alcohol, including my hands
2. I have used a fresh bag every time
3. I added the right amount of fresh ro saltwater
4. I have the lights set to stay off for 8 hrs each day
5. I am running a a 6 watt air pump and have a couple of bubbles per second in the copepod jar and constant air bubbles in the phyto jar
6. I have added the fertilizer to the phyto tank and phyto to the copepod tank
7. I have run the setup for more than 7 days before checking on it

What are some common mistakes that people make that keep them from making strong phyto and good culture of copepods that I might be missing? I feel like the phytoplankton that I just pulled isn't dark enough, what do you think? (attaching a pic)
Thanks for the help!
Sean

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Is that Tet? That is about the right color... What fertilizer are you using? Also which pods are you trying to grow?
Are you changing your water about one a week?
@ReefLegends has great pods and phyto...

 

[tableforglasses]

Yep it's Tet, I used the fertilizer that came with poseidon setup. I tried Tisbe first and the Apocyclops on the second one.
I have tried to harvest around a week on the first one and changed the water out after that and then waited two weeks on the second and was going to change the water out on that one but there was no pods to harvest.
Thanks for the thoughts.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Yep it's Tet, I used the fertilizer that came with poseidon setup. I tried Tisbe first and the Apocyclops on the second one.
I have tried to harvest around a week on the first one and changed the water out after that and then waited two weeks on the second and was going to change the water out on that one but there was no pods to harvest.
Thanks for the thoughts.

Is the Phyto in the pod jar clearing out? Does it stay the same color green?
Maybe a bit more aeration. In my swamp tank, which I raise pods and rotifers, it is a steady stream of bubbles, not boiling but steady

 

[tableforglasses]

The color is clearing out over the week+ so I thought there would be some on this harvest, but there wasn't anything when I strained it. I will try a little more aeration on the next batch, because it definitely is not that steady.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

The color is clearing out over the week+ so I thought there would be some on this harvest, but there wasn't anything when I strained it. I will try a little more aeration on the next batch, because it definitely is not that steady.

It may seem a bit confusing when you hear about ppl growing pods in buckets or trays in their back yards with just a banana peel and you are having difficulty. Remember their is much more surface area for gas exchange and plenty of ambient light to grow food. Ordering new pods this week and next may be difficult because of RAP next weekend.. Just a heads up...

 

[N8]

What is the SG of your cultures? What kind of pods?

I typically run a 2.5 gallon aquarium for my pod culture. Within this are 2 air stones in 2 opposing far corners, pod hotels, and a heater, it's been running constantly at this point for months and is always full of pods. I barely touch is aside from harvesting, feeding and top offs.

 

[N8]

For reference, my pods are running at 1.022, lights 12 hours. I harvest about once a week.

For my phyto, I run my SG slightly higher at 1.026. I harvest once a week and only fertilize when I start or restart a culture.

I've also moved my phyto cultures to use these: https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/brine-shrimp-hatchery-kit-san-francisco-bay-brand/

I think they're great and multipurpose

 

[tableforglasses]

That might be an issue too because i have been keeping my RO salt storage container at 1.025 so is it possible that the salinity is too high? I also have been running my lights 16 hrs on and 8 hrs off.
Also have you found a difference between brands of pods? My LFS sells Reef Nutrition pods so i can easily get them but I know a lot of people online recommend different brands like Reef Legends

 

[N8]

That might be an issue too because i have been keeping my RO salt storage container at 1.025 so is it possible that the salinity is too high? I also have been running my lights 16 hrs on and 8 hrs off.
Also have you found a difference between brands of pods? My LFS sells Reef Nutrition pods so i can easily get them but I know a lot of people online recommend different brands like Reef Legends

Hmmm, my first thought is to decrease the lighting. My pod culture was started from 2 bottles of Reef Nutrition tig pods, for the same reason (only brand LFS carries).