Phytoplankton culturing tips

[dlemonz]

This is my diy limited space phyto culture. Would love to see if anyone had any tips for me. I normally can keep the cultures alive for 6 months because I culture, refrigerate, and then culture more when I need. After a while it seems to eventually die.

 

[Harpo]

 

[Subsea]

Depends on how strict you want to get with lab cultivation. What’s wrong with a 6 month culture that is simply renewed with backup refrigerated cultures.

I have found that getting cultures too dense is not good.

 

[dlemonz]

I’m saying the culture that i refrigerate and then regrow eventually do poorly

 

[dlemonz]

Maybe I culture it too dense

 

[Subsea]

I’m saying the culture that i refrigerate and then regrow eventually do poorly

Do you stir refrigerated phyto? The culture in your picture is not dense.

 

[dlemonz]

I do I shake daily. And that just started today

 

[Subsea]

I do I shake daily. And that just started today

OK. Looks good to me. Your lights don’t look super bright, plus any film on glass jar will block light. When I grew phyto I used PAR 38 bulb at 15W over 2 liter culture. Because light generates much heat, the top of culture jar is open with eggcrate spacer to support light and allow air to evaporative cool.

 

[topjimmy]

They should be ok in the fridge for a little bit. I wouldn't let them sit in there for more than a month though.