Phyto Culturing Setups

[Reef By Steele Verified Sponsor]

Sterilization, sterilization and more sterilizations is IMO very key. We sterilize every vessel, we label pitchers and use them only for that specific strain after sterilizing each time. We run our culture water through a 120 Watt Lifegard UV running around 7-800 gallons per hour. Then once added to the vessels we add bleach and later neutralize it prior to adding the culture. We sterilize any additions including Fertilizer and Silicate, and again if we feel we need to add more.

We use a heavy duty industrial air pump, inlet filtered through a HIPA furnace filer and then use inline air filters as well. Water air gaps allow us to avoid airborne contaminants.

 

[Reef Rhino]

Question on the red light you're using. Is that a refugium light?

No, not a red light. I am not sure why it is a bit deceiving with red in that picture. It's a Home Depot grow strip light, LED, and originally had red, white and blue. Blue died, but it still has good white and red.

 

[Reefer1978]

Is anyone culturing ISO successfully? I tried a few times, but mine keeps turning green.

 

[EnterName]

Is anyone culturing ISO successfully? I tried a few times, but mine keeps turning green.

Do you happen to have a microscope? Might be worth a look. Some microalgae change color depending on light and other environmental factors, so it doesn't have to be a problem (no idea if that applies to Iso though), but it's also quite possible that a contaminant took over simply because it grows better. If you culture something like Isochrysis sp. (the typical T-iso used in aquaculture was reclassified as Tisochrysis lutea btw.) and there are a few Nannochloropsis cells or something similar in there, I can imagine Nannochloropsis taking over in the end.

 

[Reef Rhino]

Had that happen on my first try with T-Iso, but so far so good on the second.
Wondered if it was contamination from the Tetraselmis, or through an airline.

Like Reef-by-Steele said, I also try and keep vessels designated to a particular strain even when and after sterilized.

 

[Reefer1978]

Is anyone culturing ISO successfully? I tried a few times, but mine keeps turning green.

Do you happen to have a microscope? Might be worth a look. Some microalgae change color depending on light and other environmental factors, so it doesn't have to be a problem (no idea if that applies to Iso though), but it's also quite possible that a contaminant took over simply because it grows better. If you culture something like Isochrysis sp. (the typical T-iso used in aquaculture was reclassified as Tisochrysis lutea btw.) and there are a few Nannochloropsis cells or something similar in there, I can imagine Nannochloropsis taking over in the end.

I am going to try under the microscope

 

[EnterName]

I am going to try under the microscope

Isochrysis/Tisochrysis is very small so I hope you have access to decent magnification or it will be difficult to differentiate organisms. It should move on its own it's flagellated after all.