Phytoplankton culturing question

[mikebusc]

So I am doing very well right now with my phytoplankton culturing. Within seven days or so I’m getting a really dark green batch. But my question is how do I slow down the process? Because I’m definitely making more than I can use. Do I just make smaller batches? Because I’m thinking I have to keep the cycle going in order to keep my culture going. And also if I bottle and refrigerate them, can I use one of the refrigerated bottles at some point to start a new culture? If so, I guess I wouldn’t have to worry so much about keeping a culture going continuously.

 

[Octopud]

So I am doing very well right now with my phytoplankton culturing. Within seven days or so I’m getting a really dark green batch. But my question is how do I slow down the process? Because I’m definitely making more than I can use. Do I just make smaller batches? Because I’m thinking I have to keep the cycle going in order to keep my culture going. And also if I bottle and refrigerate them, can I use one of the refrigerated bottles at some point to start a new culture? If so, I guess I wouldn’t have to worry so much about keeping a culture going continuously.

When I was culturing phyto (3 varieties) I would bottle them individually for the fridge and create a blend for dosing. Once I get close to running out I'd restart my cultures with the individual bottles. I've restarted cultures successfully from 1.5mo refrigerated cultures though the longer you go the more likely of a crash you get. Just make sure to shake / open the bottles every couple days at least to aerate and redistribute the phyto so they don't die off at the bottom of the bottles :)

 

[slingfox]

If you reduce the light exposure the culture should slow down. If I was would I would just increase the dodge of phyto to your tank. You can’t really overdose phyto. I’ve poured in an entire gallon of phyto into my 140 gallon system and the tank looked phenomenal the next day!

 

[mikebusc]

When I was culturing phyto (3 varieties) I would bottle them individually for the fridge and create a blend for dosing. Once I get close to running out I'd restart my cultures with the individual bottles. I've restarted cultures successfully from 1.5mo refrigerated cultures though the longer you go the more likely of a crash you get. Just make sure to shake / open the bottles every couple days at least to aerate and redistribute the phyto so they don't die off at the bottom of the bottles :)

That’s very interesting about the blending. I’ve never thought to do that. I think I’ll try it. It’s good to know I can restart with the refrigerated containers. And yes I either shake or invert them daily.

 

[mikebusc]

If you reduce the light exposure the culture should slow down. If I was would I would just increase the dodge of phyto to your tank. You can’t really overdose phyto. I’ve poured in an entire gallon of phyto into my 140 gallon system and the tank looked phenomenal the next day!

I’m dosing about 120 ml per day in a 120 DT with a 30 gallon fuge. And I know what you mean about the light. My last batch I didn’t realize the timer wasn’t on my lighting so it was in 24/7 and it got to be a very dark culture in about 3-4 days.

 

[Skywater]

Tetraselmis culture here has been going strong for 18 months. Was refreshing with half new saltwater every 2 weeks at the beginning. I had several batches going at once. I noticed a "neglected" batch of over one month old was just as bright or even darker green. Now I just keep one gallon jug bubbling away and add a dose of Guillards formula every 3 weeks or month" Half it out and refresh every two months. Works for me. Very healthy dark green. The lighting is LED strip light from Harbor freight. Opening the South window for sunlight, makes this culture grow way to quickly. I may give it a little late afternoon sunlight occasionally. I don't have any need to refrigerate a backup. If it ever crashed, Mercer of Montana is very reasonably priced. I have read people do store their backups in refrigeration for up to 8 months though.

 

[mikebusc]

Tetraselmis culture here has been going strong for 18 months. Was refreshing with half new saltwater every 2 weeks at the beginning. I had several batches going at once. I noticed a "neglected" batch of over one month old was just as bright or even darker green. Now I just keep one gallon jug bubbling away and add a dose of Guillards formula every 3 weeks or month" Half it out and refresh every two months. Works for me. Very healthy dark green. The lighting is LED strip light from Harbor freight. Opening the South window for sunlight, makes this culture grow way to quickly. I may give it a little late afternoon sunlight occasionally. I don't have any need to refrigerate a backup. If it ever crashed, Mercer of Montana is very reasonably priced. I have read people do store their backups in refrigeration for up to 8 months though.

 

[mikebusc]

Sounds like a good system. I'm actually using the same strain and purchased from Mercer of Montana as well.
Do you find any problems with letting the culture continue bubbling without harvesting? In other words can you just let it go for weeks at a time (with just topping of for evaporation)?

 

[Skywater]

Sounds like a good system. I'm actually using the same strain and purchased from Mercer of Montana as well.
Do you find any problems with letting the culture continue bubbling without harvesting? In other words can you just let it go for weeks at a time (with just topping of for evaporation)?

Only two small holes in cap of gallon jug for air to escape. These holes were drilled the same size as the entry hole for the air line. Jar is tilted and a piece of ridgid airline reaches the very bottom corner so nothing settles. A sharpie marker line to keep track of evaporated water amt. to add back. Today after about a month since last 'half-change out,' I took 16 oz off it to feed to my copepod cultures and simply added back 16 oz of fresh, sterile saltwater with 2 ml of Guillards fertilizer, also from Mercers. In about three more weeks I will take half the culture out and put that in a fresh clear gallon jug with 1/2 g of fresh saltwater and 2 ml fertilizer. I will reuse the same cap that is already drilled and wipe the very bottom of the rigid tube with isopropyl alcohol, let tube dry a minute or two then everything will run like that for another 7-8 weeks.