Phyto Culture Stations

[Js.Aqua.Project]

So I am looking to upgrade my phyto Culture station. I am currently culturing 4 gallons of phyto, 3 of Isochrysis Galbana and 1 of Nannochloropsis Oculata but it just isn't enough to keep up with my pod and brine shrimp cultures.

What all are you guys using for your culture station set up?

Here is mine currently.

I am using old 1 gallon Gatorade bottles that have been cleaned and bleached to sanitize them, a 4 line air pump, and 2 LED light bars from Lowe's. I find myself currently cutting my Nannochloropsis by 1/4 and my Iso in 1/2 on a weekly basis.

 

[Windy]

I buy mine from Read Mariculture

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I buy mine from Read Mariculture

The problem is can they sell it to me faster and cheaper than I can culture it?

I have done the math:
The LEDs I run for light cost me an average of $1.50/Mo
I use 32 ml of FAF Micro Grow which runs me about $.50/Mo
I produce on average 8 gallons/month
That is an average cost of $.25/gallon.

Now I did have the initial set up costs. I didn't include the price of the Gatorade bottles because, well, I am going to drink it any way.

Between my wife using the nanno for her green water seahorse fry tanks and her brine shrimp culture she uses a gallon of nanno a week on her stuff alone. She is about to have three tanks going not just the one, that will add a huge demand. That still doesn't dose my tank or her softie/NPS tank. I am about to start pod cultures and need a lot of pods for my future broods.

I just can't justify buying phyto like that.

I am looking for an answer to my small container issue. Before I go commerical size, I need a clear sided container, with a secure lid that is larger than one gallon.

 

[Pruett-nc]

Try checking youtube for culturing phytoplankton. I just used several 2 liter bottles when I was making mine . Seems like I saw a video on YouTube of someone having some kind of large clear container.

 

[rjl45]

I won't say if my method is better or worse... Just the way I culture to keep my system going. I run 5x 2 liter bottles, 2 air pumps (heavy air circulation) and harvest/50% water change every 5 days, performing a WC on 1 bottle every day.

All nano-c... Don't really feel inclined to culture multiple strains. Yes, I would have a more balanced diet for my pods, but I have to draw the line somewhere [emoji6]

I find that my phyto reaches maturity in 5-6 days and heads downhill if I let it continue past that. Turns brown, and ultimately crashes. Also found that I was having a lot of my cultures crash because I didn't have enough airflow. Once I added a 2nd pump, haven't had a problem. So I run 2 bottles of 1 pump, and 3 bottles off a 2nd pump.

I then take my daily harvest and feed the phyto to my pods or my DT. I run 3 buckets if Tisbe copepod cultures and harvest about 1000 pods daily from one of the buckets, to feed my Mandarin in my DT.

For all our friends that say "just buy it", my daily harvest equates to $50 worth of phyto and pods from Algae Barn. Repeat... Daily harvest.
Cheers!

 

[rjl45]

I am looking for an answer to my small container issue. Before I go commerical size, I need a clear sided container, with a secure lid that is larger than one gallon.

I understand this problem. I started with 5x 1 liter bottles and was not enough to sustain my needs. That's why I doubled up to 2 liter bottles.

Your situation... I think you might need to double up on the gallon containers. Not sure where to get clear 2 gallon containers... Maybe run 8 containers in lieu of 4.

Doubling output really did not cause any more work for me. Adding 4 more containers may be a hassle, but your already working for your cultures. What's a few more? Lol

 

[Windy]

The problem is can they sell it to me faster and cheaper than I can culture it?

I have done the math:
The LEDs I run for light cost me an average of $1.50/Mo
I use 32 ml of FAF Micro Grow which runs me about $.50/Mo
I produce on average 8 gallons/month
That is an average cost of $.25/gallon.

Now I did have the initial set up costs. I didn't include the price of the Gatorade bottles because, well, I am going to drink it any way.

Between my wife using the nanno for her green water seahorse fry tanks and her brine shrimp culture she uses a gallon of nanno a week on her stuff alone. She is about to have three tanks going not just the one, that will add a huge demand. That still doesn't dose my tank or her softie/NPS tank. I am about to start pod cultures and need a lot of pods for my future broods.

I just can't justify buying phyto like that.

I am looking for an answer to my small container issue. Before I go commerical size, I need a clear sided container, with a secure lid that is larger than one gallon.

You can buy enough for a year for $71.00. You can keep it frozen and then just use what you need. It is very concentrated. For instance, I used to use 1/2 bottle of green water for each of my cultures twice a day. Now I count out 10-12 drops of the concentrate and I am done. I don't think you can raise it that cheaply and the is no space or time required. I have done it both ways and now buy both my rotifer feed and green water from Reeds.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

You can buy enough for a year for $71.00. You can keep it frozen and then just use what you need. It is very concentrated. For instance, I used to use 1/2 bottle of green water for each of my cultures twice a day. Now I count out 10-12 drops of the concentrate and I am done. I don't think you can raise it that cheaply and the is no space or time required. I have done it both ways and now buy both my rotifer feed and green water from Reeds.

What product are you purchasing?

 

[Windy]

What product are you purchasing?

Rotigrow Plus for rotifers and Rotigreen Omega for green water or tinting rearing tanks.

 

[djd3mon]

Have you set anything up yet...Im sure you have just interested to see what you came up with.

This is my setup still in progress. Right now I have Tiger pods and Tisbe pods. Still need to setup 2 phyto cultures and Im thinking about starting a brine shrimp mini vessel to feed my fish. I know theres no real value in brine shrimp but kinda fun watching them chase pods in my tank when I purge the vessels.

Ive got 2 empty vessels on the other side. These are 3 gallons each.

 

[Windy]

Grow it if you want, it not worth the time and energy.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

Grow it if you want, it not worth the time and energy.

I disagree Windy, I find that my small-scale cultures require very little of my time. I spend less than 15 minutes a week on my cultures. I have the benefit of feeding live so it is still highest in its nutritional value and it long term has saved me a significant amount of money. I feed from my containers Tues-Fri and expand on Saturdays which only requires adding more salt water and the nutrients.

@djd3mon I do not have a larger culture set up and running yet but I have purchased two new 5 gallon water jugs to use. I plan on doing one as Nannachloropsis and one Isochrysis. My current phyto station is going to be turned into a pod/rotifer culture station instead as I am still interested in learning how to breed.

 

[Windy]

I spend $71.00 a year and I don't have to worry about electricity, salt water, or being home to feed and tend the culture. What are you using for fertilizer? For the $71 I get both a rotifer feed and a separate green water product. The rotifer feed has ammonia neutralizers in it. Both products are used in large quantity in the fish breeding industry.
When I need either rotifer feed or green water, I simply thaw out a small amount and mix it with a small amount of RO water and I have several weeks of food. Its not an argument of good or bad, more like do you want to make your own fish food or buy frozen? I prefer to buy mine, for the convenience and savings.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I spend $71.00 a year and I don't have to worry about electricity, salt water, or being home to feed and tend the culture. What are you using for fertilizer? For the $71 I get both a rotifer feed and a separate green water product. The rotifer feed has ammonia neutralizers in it. Both products are used in large quantity in the fish breeding industry.
When I need either rotifer feed or green water, I simply thaw out a small amount and mix it with a small amount of RO water and I have several weeks of food. Its not an argument of good or bad, more like do you want to make your own fish food or buy frozen? I prefer to buy mine, for the convenience and savings.

I use Florida Aqua Farms MicroAlgae Grow, runs me about $15 and has lasted me about 5 months so far, I would guess I am about halfway through the bottle.

I am getting into making my own food so I can tailer my fish's diet towards breeding in the future. I have actually made food a couple times with the owner of our LFS and we make enough food to last her store 4 months for about $30. She has been nice enough to let me take some home for helping. [emoji4]

For me learning to keep phyto cultures stable is part of the process of learning how to breed. Working my way up from the bottom of the food chain, next step pods (already have proven successful at rotifers and artemia).

 

[djd3mon]

Got them all going finally.
2 vessels of Tiger pods, 1 vessel Tisbe pods & 1 vessel Phyto.

 

[Maddlesrain]

@djd3mon where do you get tubs like that? I like that they have a way to dispense water built in. Looks nice! [emoji1360]

 

[djd3mon]

@djd3mon where do you get tubs like that? I like that they have a way to dispense water built in. Looks nice! [emoji1360]

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Creative-Bath-3-Gallon-Beverage-Dispenser-with-Ice-Core/21130892

I bought them for $19.99 - $24.99. Got them at 2 different stores.
Now online they show to be $44.27
Not sure why the price increase.....

 

[Maddlesrain]

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Creative-Bath-3-Gallon-Beverage-Dispenser-with-Ice-Core/21130892

I bought them for $19.99 - $24.99. Got them at 2 different stores.
Now online they show to be $44.27
Not sure why the price increase.....

Thank you! I'll shop around!

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

Thank you! I'll shop around!

Same here, I may decide to get a couple for pod cultures

 

[djd3mon]

Thank you! I'll shop around!

I would check your local walmart. Im sure they are roughly $19-$24...Im not sure why it shows $42 on my side.