Phytoplankton

[DYIguy]

I started culturing my own and have a few questions. I see conflicting posts about the air flow in the culture- from a bubble a second to almost a boil.. When harvesting, how long is the phyto live/ good for, how should it be stored? Fridge? When feeding a tank, what is the proper amount and how often- I've read 1ml per gallon per day- too much? Too often?
When re-seeding the culture- take half out and replace with new salt mix ( .019/20) and 1.5 ml of fertilizer per liter?

 

[Foxchase]

I started culturing my own and have a few questions. I see conflicting posts about the air flow in the culture- from a bubble a second to almost a boil.. When harvesting, how long is the phyto live/ good for, how should it be stored? Fridge? When feeding a tank, what is the proper amount and how often- I've read 1ml per gallon per day- too much? Too often?
When re-seeding the culture- take half out and replace with new salt mix ( .019/20) and 1.5 ml of fertilizer per liter?

Should be stored in the fridge if it's for long periods of time. I followed a small rolling boil type bubbles. You just don't want it to be too rough. You feed your tank however much you'd like. I used to do 5-7 ml in my 40B when I used to culture. And yes. Depending on the size of your jar.

 

[erics210]

You just want some turn over so light Bubbling. As far as storage. Fridge is fine, but you need to shake.it up.daily or it settles and smothers and dies off. Still phytoplankton, just not LIVE.
Eric Rodriguez gave me a gallon about a year ago. He thought it was bad. It would settle out each day. If it is settling complete and smells bad, not like the ocean, then it has died. Some people say a few months. I say try not to store for more than 2 months with the daily shaking.

And yes. About half splits. I tend to do a little less than half. Get super dense batches.

 

[erics210]

Rotifers are doing awesome....if anyone wants to trade pods for rotifers. Lmk

 

[NJTaxMan]

My phyto is not getting as dark and dense as I have seen on youtube and it has been 9 days. Just keeping brewing or just accept lower density phyto?

 

[Hallowhead]

My phyto is not getting as dark and dense as I have seen on youtube and it has been 9 days. Just keeping brewing or just accept lower density phyto?

I've heard to add another shot of F/2 roughly halfway through the culture depending on the size. Really helps to produce a more dense look. It also depends on how light you started your initial culture.

I started culturing my own and have a few questions. I see conflicting posts about the air flow in the culture- from a bubble a second to almost a boil.. When harvesting, how long is the phyto live/ good for, how should it be stored? Fridge? When feeding a tank, what is the proper amount and how often- I've read 1ml per gallon per day- too much? Too often?
When re-seeding the culture- take half out and replace with new salt mix ( .019/20) and 1.5 ml of fertilizer per liter?

I have read and had success with the more of a boil method. You want the water to turn over pretty consistently. I would say using the smell method is the best, if it smells like something nasty it's bad - it will also start to lose the green tint. I would say phyto shaken daily in the fridge is good for ~ 3 weeks. As for re-culture I've seen and have had success with leaving some of the previous culture and adding fresh salt water to bring you back to the culture size you use and adding the recommended amount of F/2 on the bottle.

 

[DYIguy]

My phyto is not getting as dark and dense as I have seen on youtube and it has been 9 days. Just keeping brewing or just accept lower density phyto?

I experienced the same thing but went and harvested anyway. I still have some of what I bought in the fridge and did a side by side comparison and it isn't that much lighter- maybe it's the lighting or amount of light- I'm using a 11w led grow light

 

[DYIguy]

How often does everyone feed/dose their tanks with phyto- and how much do you feed?

 

[Hallowhead]

I feed daily to both of my tanks. I don't measure it just spill some into each tank. I'm am not sure if too much is bad other than adding excessive nutrients to water

 

[erics210]

Once you get a few good deep green color harvests place a couple in the fridge as BACKUPS!
If someone in your family sprays lysol or something and you crash your current batches at least you have some to reboot.

I have started doing this and as I harvest new batches I replace the oldest bottles and dose the newest.
I do 50ml but thats 150 gallons worth of heavily coral stocked tanks.
Also dose rotifers daily as well.

 

[Yates273]

How often does everyone feed/dose their tanks with phyto- and how much do you feed?

I feed my 120 100 ml a night. Just monitor parameters after feeding. I used to worry about how much but now I have so
Much I dump whatever in each tank usually between 40 ml and 100 ml