What causes phyto to fall out?

[Sean Fitz]

Hi all, In the past I bred a paid of clownfish a few times and had the phyto, rotifer, naupli cycle down pact. Now im trying to grow pods and my phyto keeps doing this. It starts well, darkens, but within a week it clears up and solidifies and drops to the bottom

. Thoughts?

 

[chris85]

Do you have any air on it? Or just the phyto in the bottle?

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Usually its aeration (or lack of) or contamination

 

[Sean Fitz]

Rigid air tubing with slow large bubbles, with cotton to block the opening (not that the air pump isnt pumping air from the same room straight into it)

 

[Sean Fitz]

I read and recall like 6 bubbles a second was what you wanted, and no air stone, is that accurate?

 

[Alexreefer]

Yes, just enough to move the phyto around. nothing to crazy

 

[chris85]

Enough to keep it off the bottom... How are you cleaning your bottles?

Are you using nutrients?

What kind of lighting?

 

[Sean Fitz]

It was growing nicely for 5 days anyway, got really dense. I did shortcut and used a plant fertilizer, like 1ml for the 2 liter...but it was working. For lighting I used 2 old led refugium lights that have grown chaeto in the past. I only had one bottle going - was then going to split it into 2.

Funny the phyto in my pod bottles is outpacing what the pods eat, but I have those in a window and the pods are still multiplying. Hoping that continues until I can get another phyto culture going.

I guess if im ordering a culture from florida aqua farm I can grab a bottle of the ol F2. Thought about using an old t5 fixture on its side as well. But still, never seen it clump and die like that

 

[Sean Fitz]

Could they have run out of fertilizer?

 

[chris85]

Possible... could be contamination.

How are you sterilizing the bottles and what kind of water do you start with?

 

[Sean Fitz]

I have been using water that is the same sg as my display, just premixed salt water at 1.024. Read that its best to match across phyto, pods, dt? What do you use?

Bottles are just coke 2 liters emptied, rinsed, rinsed with rodi, rinsed with salt water, then filled. I do have starsan for home brewing but its a no rinse sterilizer and that will prob drastically lower the Ph. How do you do it?

 

[Sean Fitz]

I see you can get in line air filters, might have to invest in that..

 

[chris85]

Try rinsing with a little rubbing alcohol.

You may be getting contamination of bacteria.

Everything else I would say you are good to go.

Maybe @AlgaeBarn can confirm?

 

[chris85]

I am lucky I just get a bucket of nsw and put it in the backyard!! Then poof a few weeks later pods and phyto.

 

[AlgaeBarn]

I have been using water that is the same sg as my display, just premixed salt water at 1.024. Read that its best to match across phyto, pods, dt? What do you use?

Bottles are just coke 2 liters emptied, rinsed, rinsed with rodi, rinsed with salt water, then filled. I do have starsan for home brewing but its a no rinse sterilizer and that will prob drastically lower the Ph. How do you do it?

I would expect that this is contamination then. Even premixed salt will get contaminated. You will need to sanitize the water and the container (bleach will do both, but you need to dechlorinate). If you are just doing the bottle, rubbing alcohol can help. You will also want to purify the air going into the phyto, but this is not 100% necessary for DIY cultures.

 

[Sean Fitz]

Thanks all!! How do you sanitize saltwater in a way thats safe to ultimately feed pods and pour into a display tank? I cant see bleach going into the tank as a good thing... I use RODI water and premix it in a rubbermaid can with a powerhead- my waterchange supply.

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Thanks all!! How do you sanitize saltwater in a way thats safe to ultimately feed pods and pour into a display tank? I cant see bleach going into the tank as a good thing... I use RODI water and premix it in a rubbermaid can with a powerhead- my waterchange supply.

You can use prime or sodium thiosulfate. You will need to research the procedure.

 

[chris85]

Boil the saltwater and alcohol for the bottle.

 

[Sean Fitz]

Sounds like a plan, thank you both for your help!!

 

[chris85]

Your welcome.... keep us updated please.