Phytoplankton culture - Page 6

Darth Vedder · 04/28/2012, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsiklauss

There is a picture of my current set up. Do I have enough light? Also I rushed in and didn't sanitize my containers before use. I only rinsed them out very well with hot water. Do I need to boil the new salt water I mix for the two liters to sanitize it?
I apologize for all the questions, but I am excited about culturing rotifers and want to start raising my clown fry.

not probably necessary but I would get some rigid airline to keep the tube it he bottom center, and from that picture it looks very light so give it plenty of time to mature before you split it. When I split I harvest half that way it's ready every 7 days

tsiklauss · 04/28/2012, 06:56 PM

Darth i really like your set up and looks like your having great success. What steps do you take in sanitizing your equipment and water?

Waggs · 04/28/2012, 07:05 PM

Nice set up there Darth. If I ever get to the point where I need a lot, I'll try to copy what you did. May I ask, what is the sump looking tank for?

Darth Vedder · 04/28/2012, 07:17 PM

The tank below has dual rotifer cultures, and on a shelf below that is a 10 gallon split like the one you see for dual copepod cultures

I will be honest, initially I would sterilize the RODI water in the microwave and then mix with salt the day before I split them but I started using the water I have mixed in a 55 gallon drum and adding RODI to dilute it to 1.018 and have had no issues

I do clean out the flasks, airline tubing and little 3 W heaters that are in each flask every few weeks with dilute HCL and RODI solution. I then Tripp,e rinse in RODI and once with fresh saltwater before putting the cultures back in.

Only time I had a crash was when I cleaned with HcL solution and didn't rinse thinking it would be ok, the PH dropped and the next morning I had clear water with black dead phyto in the bottom. I just restarted it with what I had in the reridgerator and have had no problems since

Waggs · 04/28/2012, 08:05 PM

That's cool. Have the rotifers and copepods going at the same time. Now just add a shrimp tank and you have everything pretty much covered. Where did you find the small heaters? Wouldn't the lights be enough heat?

tsiklauss · 04/28/2012, 08:21 PM

What is hcl?

Darth Vedder · 04/28/2012, 09:48 PM

Here are the heaters I use

http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-ML-.../dp/B005JPA1FU

It's in my basement which is around 60-65 degrees, and I found it grows faster and more consistent at closer to 78 degrees. It's not necessary because I've left them off before after cleaning but I just thought it would help

Also, HCL is hydrochloric acid, sold in hardware stores as muriatic acid. I dilute this (always acid INTO water)

I don't believe this would totally sterilize like bleach but it cleans any residue up really good

Darth Vedder · 04/28/2012, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waggs

That's cool. Have the rotifers and copepods going at the same time. Now just add a shrimp tank and you have everything pretty much covered. Where did you find the small heaters? Wouldn't the lights be enough heat?

I'm considering trying mysids, but what I'm reading it is a lot more involved and will require many 10 gallon tanks and much more work. Doesn't mean I won't try but my cycle is almost complete and I will probably be focussed on the DT for a while

Waggs · 04/29/2012, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Vedder

I'm considering trying mysids, but what I'm reading it is a lot more involved and will require many 10 gallon tanks and much more work. Doesn't mean I won't try but my cycle is almost complete and I will probably be focussed on the DT for a while

I was thinking about maybe trying to raise some clown fish so your set up would be nice to have. I'd be on a smaller scale to start with. I have to focus on my DT since it was neglected for so long. I think it was easier setting it up new and trying to bring it back.

tsiklauss · 04/29/2012, 06:52 AM

How many days on average does it take before your culture begins really turning green?

Darth Vedder · 04/29/2012, 04:05 PM

I split them every Friday evening

When I split I harvest 50% sp when the new culture is fed with micro algea grow, it's already a light green, and by Wednesday it's already pretty dark. Usually it hits the max density Thursday and doesn't grow much more before I harvest on Friday

I put in 1.5 ml of micro algae grow per 2000 ml after I split on Friday and it seems like its mostly all used up by the time I harvest

Waggs · 04/29/2012, 04:27 PM

Nice information. What are you feeding with this?

Darth Vedder · 04/29/2012, 07:15 PM

Right now most is given away as my new system is cycling

I do feed my rotifer cultures and copepod with it, and my plan is to eventually breed clowns.

The LfS feeds it to his clams, Feather dusters and soft corals with it.

grimesalex · 03/04/2015, 05:25 PM

I'm getting ready to start a culture too. I just got all of my supplies from FAF. Looking at the back of the f2, it reads; "Contents: nitrates, phosphate, sodium, iron, maganese, cobalt, zinc, molybdate, sulfates, copper, thiamine, biotin, cyanocobalamin, ascorbic acid and EDTA." I'm questioning weather or not I want to be putting g it in my tank even if it is tiny amounts at a time. Any input?

dartier · 03/04/2015, 08:32 PM

You only add the F2 to the phyto culture and then only use the phyto once it has depleted the nutrients from the F2 and stopped multiplying.

Dennis

grimesalex · 03/05/2015, 12:34 PM

What about the copper?

dartier · 03/05/2015, 07:57 PM

The copper in F2 will be in the trace element range. Meaning it poses no risk (unless of course you were adding F2 directly to your tank, which is NOT recommended). F2 has been used for 30 years to grow marine algae, so I would expect it is pretty safe.

Dennis

e55driver · 03/05/2015, 10:53 PM

Looks like I have something new to try. My wife will be thrilled.

w00dman · 05/02/2015, 06:25 PM

Hi,

I'm trying to start a culture of phyto but I don't have the access to your stuff because I live in Portugal.

With this stuff can I have success on culturing?

Phytoplancton batch - http://www.reefshotz.com/phytoexcel.html

For algae grow, I have this product from Bayer, Complesal 12-4-6 but it have 0,01% of copper.
Can this be safe to use in aquarium?

http://www.nufarm.com/assets/20859/1...sal_12_4_6.pdf

http://www.miraclegro.com/smg/produc...Plant_Food.pdf

Thanks for your attention

AL915 · 05/22/2015, 09:52 PM

Does the water ever evaporate within a weeks period? If so do you guys top it off?

03/04/2015, 08:32 PM	#140
dartier Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Brampton, ON, Canada Posts: 958	You only add the F2 to the phyto culture and then only use the phyto once it has depleted the nutrients from the F2 and stopped multiplying. Dennis __________________ 560G Miracles tank in process making a DIY DyMiCo style filter (for 560G) Current Tank Info: 560G Miracles tank in progress, 80Frag Temporary

03/05/2015, 07:57 PM	#142
dartier Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Brampton, ON, Canada Posts: 958	The copper in F2 will be in the trace element range. Meaning it poses no risk (unless of course you were adding F2 directly to your tank, which is NOT recommended). F2 has been used for 30 years to grow marine algae, so I would expect it is pretty safe. Dennis __________________ 560G Miracles tank in process making a DIY DyMiCo style filter (for 560G) Current Tank Info: 560G Miracles tank in progress, 80Frag Temporary

04/28/2012, 06:56 PM	#127
tsiklauss Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Louisville Posts: 248	Darth i really like your set up and looks like your having great success. What steps do you take in sanitizing your equipment and water?

04/28/2012, 07:05 PM	#128
Waggs Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA USA Posts: 238	Nice set up there Darth. If I ever get to the point where I need a lot, I'll try to copy what you did. May I ask, what is the sump looking tank for?

04/28/2012, 07:17 PM	#129
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	The tank below has dual rotifer cultures, and on a shelf below that is a 10 gallon split like the one you see for dual copepod cultures I will be honest, initially I would sterilize the RODI water in the microwave and then mix with salt the day before I split them but I started using the water I have mixed in a 55 gallon drum and adding RODI to dilute it to 1.018 and have had no issues I do clean out the flasks, airline tubing and little 3 W heaters that are in each flask every few weeks with dilute HCL and RODI solution. I then Tripp,e rinse in RODI and once with fresh saltwater before putting the cultures back in. Only time I had a crash was when I cleaned with HcL solution and didn't rinse thinking it would be ok, the PH dropped and the next morning I had clear water with black dead phyto in the bottom. I just restarted it with what I had in the reridgerator and have had no problems since

04/28/2012, 08:05 PM	#130
Waggs Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA USA Posts: 238	That's cool. Have the rotifers and copepods going at the same time. Now just add a shrimp tank and you have everything pretty much covered. Where did you find the small heaters? Wouldn't the lights be enough heat?

04/28/2012, 08:21 PM	#131
tsiklauss Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Louisville Posts: 248	What is hcl?

04/28/2012, 09:48 PM	#132
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	Here are the heaters I use http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-ML-.../dp/B005JPA1FU It's in my basement which is around 60-65 degrees, and I found it grows faster and more consistent at closer to 78 degrees. It's not necessary because I've left them off before after cleaning but I just thought it would help Also, HCL is hydrochloric acid, sold in hardware stores as muriatic acid. I dilute this (always acid INTO water) I don't believe this would totally sterilize like bleach but it cleans any residue up really good

04/29/2012, 06:52 AM	#135
tsiklauss Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Louisville Posts: 248	How many days on average does it take before your culture begins really turning green?

04/29/2012, 04:05 PM	#136
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	I split them every Friday evening When I split I harvest 50% sp when the new culture is fed with micro algea grow, it's already a light green, and by Wednesday it's already pretty dark. Usually it hits the max density Thursday and doesn't grow much more before I harvest on Friday I put in 1.5 ml of micro algae grow per 2000 ml after I split on Friday and it seems like its mostly all used up by the time I harvest

04/29/2012, 04:27 PM	#137
Waggs Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA USA Posts: 238	Nice information. What are you feeding with this?

04/29/2012, 07:15 PM	#138
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	Right now most is given away as my new system is cycling I do feed my rotifer cultures and copepod with it, and my plan is to eventually breed clowns. The LfS feeds it to his clams, Feather dusters and soft corals with it.

03/04/2015, 05:25 PM	#139
grimesalex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 2	I'm getting ready to start a culture too. I just got all of my supplies from FAF. Looking at the back of the f2, it reads; "Contents: nitrates, phosphate, sodium, iron, maganese, cobalt, zinc, molybdate, sulfates, copper, thiamine, biotin, cyanocobalamin, ascorbic acid and EDTA." I'm questioning weather or not I want to be putting g it in my tank even if it is tiny amounts at a time. Any input?

03/05/2015, 12:34 PM	#141
grimesalex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 2	What about the copper?

03/05/2015, 10:53 PM	#143
e55driver Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 305	Looks like I have something new to try. My wife will be thrilled.

05/02/2015, 06:25 PM	#144
w00dman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 12	Hi, I'm trying to start a culture of phyto but I don't have the access to your stuff because I live in Portugal. With this stuff can I have success on culturing? Phytoplancton batch - http://www.reefshotz.com/phytoexcel.html For algae grow, I have this product from Bayer, Complesal 12-4-6 but it have 0,01% of copper. Can this be safe to use in aquarium? http://www.nufarm.com/assets/20859/1...sal_12_4_6.pdf http://www.miraclegro.com/smg/produc...Plant_Food.pdf Thanks for your attention

05/22/2015, 09:52 PM	#145
AL915 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 105	Does the water ever evaporate within a weeks period? If so do you guys top it off?