knockout
Active Member
DIY Phytoplankton Project
I was looking for ways to increase food availability to corals and microfauna, and increase the current level of phosphates (0.03) and nitrates (3.8), I have used Phytoplankton in the past sparingly and without thought other than is good for the reef system, this time I want to be more methodical and test along the way and see if the dosage of microalgae will increase the available phosphates and nitrates in my Peninsula tank. Also want to see if I notice any added polyp extension and coloration of Acropora, both these I feel are lacking.
Information I gathered from forums and blogs along the way
Here is my entire process
My supplies:
Vessels: 64 oz glass containers
Hard Airline Tubing
Airline accessories
LED Lights
Round Clear Acrylic Plexiglass Disks
Air pump
Flex Airline Tubing
Tools:
Drill
Drill Bits
Hot Glue Gun
Put it together:
Drill Pilot Hole on Lid
Drilled Hole for LED Lights
Drilled a 2nd ¼ hole for Hard Airline and Secured with Hot Glue
Hot Glued the Acrylic Disk to the Lid to prevent moisture from hitting the LED light
Hot Glued the LED to the LID
Connected Flex airline to the vessels using airline check valve to prevent water from siphoning back to the air pump
Air Bubble Test
Mixing fresh Saltware at 1.020sg
Add 1 part Phytoplankton, 1 part Saltwater
Add Fertilizer 1 ml for each liter of phyto/saltwater
Day 1 - Culture looks good
Day 2 - Looks less dense
Day 3 - Continues to look light - I have read this is normal so no changes are made
Day 4 - Starting to look good - at this point, I started to see some settle at the bottom of the vessel so I gave it a swirl every time I could, also ordered a new air pump with more power
Day 5 - Looking better, got the new pump, no settling and you can see how turbulent it is in there now
Day 6 - So far so good
Day 7 - Still good
Day 8 - Harvest Day
Very happy with my first batch, harvested 250 ml from each vessel so I can restart with 750 ml in each new batch
Restarted by adding new saltwater and fertilizer
Begin feeding tank with my DIY Phyto, 50 ml on Peninsula tank, 20 ml on Cube.
I was looking for ways to increase food availability to corals and microfauna, and increase the current level of phosphates (0.03) and nitrates (3.8), I have used Phytoplankton in the past sparingly and without thought other than is good for the reef system, this time I want to be more methodical and test along the way and see if the dosage of microalgae will increase the available phosphates and nitrates in my Peninsula tank. Also want to see if I notice any added polyp extension and coloration of Acropora, both these I feel are lacking.
Information I gathered from forums and blogs along the way
- Must Sterilize Vessels frequently (Boil)
- Must Sterilize Hands each time handling the cultures (Hand Sanitizer)
- Use 1part (500ml) of Saltwater @ 1.019sg
- For 1 part (500ml) of Cultured Phytoplankton
- Use Algal Fertilizer (rate of 1.0ml per liter)
- Lighting should be on for 12-16 hours a day
- In 7-8 days, it is time to split the culture.
- Refrigerated phytoplankton should last at least one month
Here is my entire process
My supplies:
Vessels: 64 oz glass containers
Hard Airline Tubing
Airline accessories
LED Lights
Round Clear Acrylic Plexiglass Disks
Air pump
Flex Airline Tubing
Tools:
Drill
Drill Bits
Hot Glue Gun
Put it together:
Drill Pilot Hole on Lid
Drilled Hole for LED Lights
Drilled a 2nd ¼ hole for Hard Airline and Secured with Hot Glue
Hot Glued the Acrylic Disk to the Lid to prevent moisture from hitting the LED light
Hot Glued the LED to the LID
Connected Flex airline to the vessels using airline check valve to prevent water from siphoning back to the air pump
Air Bubble Test
Mixing fresh Saltware at 1.020sg
Add 1 part Phytoplankton, 1 part Saltwater
Add Fertilizer 1 ml for each liter of phyto/saltwater
Day 1 - Culture looks good
Day 2 - Looks less dense
Day 3 - Continues to look light - I have read this is normal so no changes are made
Day 4 - Starting to look good - at this point, I started to see some settle at the bottom of the vessel so I gave it a swirl every time I could, also ordered a new air pump with more power
Day 5 - Looking better, got the new pump, no settling and you can see how turbulent it is in there now
Day 6 - So far so good
Day 7 - Still good
Day 8 - Harvest Day
Very happy with my first batch, harvested 250 ml from each vessel so I can restart with 750 ml in each new batch
Restarted by adding new saltwater and fertilizer
Begin feeding tank with my DIY Phyto, 50 ml on Peninsula tank, 20 ml on Cube.
