Phytoplankton under microscope

lv_reefer

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 25, 2023
Messages
10
Reaction score
3
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My culture can never achieve dark green. After 5 days, it always turns yellowish.
I am using Guillian's F/2 formula, 6500k LED light.
I have taken videos of it under a microscope. Does it look healthy to you experts?

Thank you
IMG_4091.jpg


2000x


4000x
 

taricha

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
May 22, 2016
Messages
6,547
Reaction score
10,108
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
nannochloropsis doesn't move like that.
Looks like tetraselmis. Nice!
 

taricha

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
May 22, 2016
Messages
6,547
Reaction score
10,108
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
What about the color? OK, or not enough nitrogen or too much light?
I haven't grown tetraselmis specifically, but I don't like that color. The light doesn't look obviously too much, so I'd look closer at the nutrients as you say, if it were mine.
 

salty joe

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 14, 2015
Messages
826
Reaction score
508
Location
Medina, Oh
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I've cultured tetra and it was deep green like nanno. And I knew tetra was motile but I had no idea they cruise around like that!
You can get a secci stick to measure the density of your culture.
I agree, the color looks way off.

IDK how many watts your light is but I'm guessing you could use more light. Something that's worked well for me is a 12.5W 2700K light bulb inside a white 5 gallon bucket with four 2L bottles of nanno. The bulb touches the bottles and I leave it on 24/7. Artificial light drops off in a hurry so having the bottles up against the light bulb means a lot. I run two buckets like that and harvest 1 1/2 liter daily on an 8 day schedule.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
L

lv_reefer

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 25, 2023
Messages
10
Reaction score
3
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
the dosing instruction my F/2 is 4ml per gallon. I assume it means add F/2 on day 1 and left it run its course for the entire 10-day period until dark green. Or does it mean to add daily 4ml per gallon?
Anyone of you also add nitrate and phosphate in addition to F/2?
thank you
 

salty joe

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 14, 2015
Messages
826
Reaction score
508
Location
Medina, Oh
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Yes, dose one time and let the phyto grow.

I don't dose anything else.

I've had cultures that got contaminated stay yellowish instead of turning deep green. Washing my hands and using a spray bottle with isopropyl alcohol to disinfect my funnel, surfaces, etc., helped.
 
Last edited:

JGT

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 6, 2020
Messages
5,442
Reaction score
6,102
Location
Northeast
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Not enough F2. Put it all in at once.Lighting is fine. I have a 40w incandescent bulb on mine and no issues.
 

martinsp

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
40
Reaction score
32
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My culture can never achieve dark green. After 5 days, it always turns yellowish.
I am using Guillian's F/2 formula, 6500k LED light.
I have taken videos of it under a microscope. Does it look healthy to you experts?

Thank you
IMG_4091.jpg


2000x


4000x


My culture can never achieve dark green. After 5 days, it always turns yellowish.
I am using Guillian's F/2 formula, 6500k LED light.
I have taken videos of it under a microscope. Does it look healthy to you experts?

Thank you
IMG_4091.jpg


2000x


4000x

Just sent you a private message.
Call me when you get it.
Thanks!
 

Reefing threads: Do you wear gear from reef brands?

  • I wear reef gear everywhere.

    Votes: 37 15.9%
  • I wear reef gear primarily at fish events and my LFS.

    Votes: 13 5.6%
  • I wear reef gear primarily for water changes and tank maintenance.

    Votes: 1 0.4%
  • I wear reef gear primarily to relax where I live.

    Votes: 30 12.9%
  • I don’t wear gear from reef brands.

    Votes: 135 58.2%
  • Other.

    Votes: 16 6.9%
Back
Top