Culturing Phytoplankton

I would like to start culturing my own Phytoplankton. Can someone help me out with the process?? I have a 6g tank that I planned on using... is that good or would something else be better?? Also, where can I get the culturing kits?? I need to make enough to feed a 110g and a 55g twice a week. How much would be recommended for those sizes of tanks?? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

[Condiman]

Here is a link to what I used to start my setup. http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/phyto.shtml

Note that she used a 2 gallon tank you can use a larger tank and just add more light and an air strip for the water movement or you can use a small maxi pump for watermovement.

[Condiman]

If you want some to start out you can purchase an algae disk from aquaculturestore.com or get some from another hobbiest and use theres to start your culture.

[Condiman]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/breeder2.htm here is another link to help you out.

Thanks Condiman!!

So after you make one batch can you use some of that Phytoplankton to start your second batch and so on?? Can it go bad?? Say if I made 2 gallons and it took 4-weeks to use it all... will it stay good for that long??

Also, the article says you can start the culture with DTs. Has anyone tried that??

[Condiman]

So after you make one batch can you use some of that Phytoplankton to start your second batch and so on??
Yes you can do that with no problems

Can it go bad??
It can go bad if you let it sit and not shake it every day.

Say if I made 2 gallons and it took 4-weeks to use it all... will it stay good for that long??

What are you storeing your phyto in. As long as you shake it or stir it up once a day it should last.

What do you feed yours?? The article says merical grow but I have some Micro•Vert that I've has forever now... would that work??

[Condiman]

That will work just fine. The Miricle Grow is a cheaper alternative

[newtofish]

Listed on this link is a cheap step by step way to do it.

culturing phyto (http://www.melevsreef.com/phytoplankton.html)

Like always I would read as many links as you can and than go the way you are more comfortable with.

[Condiman]

I agree

Well here's my first attempt... got my fingers crossed!!

http://www.hostedimage.com/usr/335/3169Picture_047.jpg

http://www.hostedimage.com/usr/335/Picture_048.jpg

[Condiman]

Now theres an interesting container to use for culturing.

lol, all I could find that was small...

The article says to remove half of the water and replace with new... twice before using... do you do that?? I don't see why this is needed??

[Condiman]

I never have done that. I wonder why it says to do that.

Ok, IT"S NOT TURNING GREEN!!! What's up?? I started it with DT's... could that be the problem??

[Condiman]

How long have you had your culture going?

10 days... am I noy being patent enough??

[Condiman]

You may have to start over again.

:(

[Condiman]

I have herd that using DT is a bit difficult.