Phytoplankton culture water

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Thalia

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I have a bin of mixed salt water that's a bit old. I checked it today and it has 2ppm nitrite and 20 ppm nitrate, 0 ammonia. Clearly some sort of biofilm has occurred. It is heated and has a powerhead in it. Can I use this to culture phyto or does it have to be fresh Ro/salt mix?
 
It should be fresh rodi saltwater mix and all tools should be sterilized. its important to keep the culture free from any contaminants.
This was my thinking, but I wasn't really sure. The nitrates and nitrites aren't a problem, but something is living in the water, and who knows if that will be incompatible with the phyto culture. Maybe not, but it is definitely a risk.
 

WHAT KIND OF SUBSTRATE ARE YOU RUNNING ON YOUR TANK?

  • Bare bottom

    Votes: 6 23.1%
  • A shallow bed of fine sand

    Votes: 6 23.1%
  • A shallow bed of coarser sand

    Votes: 5 19.2%
  • A deep sand bed

    Votes: 3 11.5%
  • Mixed substrate or varying sand depth

    Votes: 6 23.1%
  • Some other substrate (posted in the comments)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • I don’t have a reef tank yet

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