Culturing Phytoplankton

[FragOutpost]

I started culturing phytoplankton about 2 weeks ago. Took some photos earlier today. I've been culturing in empty 2 liter soda bottles in an empty salt bucket being lit by a 13 watt compact fluorescent bulb. I split the original culture into 2 after one week.


For complete detailed instructions -

http://www.melevsreef.com/phytoplankton.html

http://www.sjwilson.net/reef/phytosteps.html


For supplies and starter culture disks-

http://www.florida-aqua-farms.com/


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[FragOutpost]

Here is a pic of the second culture after a week. I used 20 drops of fertilizer in this bottle.

This culture is extremely dense.

Here is a pic with a mag-lite shining through the bottle to show the density.

I'm going to split my 2 bottles into 4 very soon.

[D12monkey]

Great tread I will be starting my soon.

[rembranty]

I am meeting with the head of the Biology labs at FSU next week for reef aquarium purposes and I am going to see if I can get some phytoplankton starters from her. They grow a lot of different species. Maybe I can get access to a centrifuge to separate off the fertilizer from the cells.

[FragOutpost]

You'll have to post your results.
I can send you a starter culture if you want. You are not that far from me so priority mail should arrive the next day. Same for you D12Monkey.

[rembranty]

THat would be great but don't worry about it. I am going to see maybe if DT's work first because it is supposed to and I think it would be neat to find out. After that I'll go to regular cultures if it doesn't work.

[FragOutpost]

I've heard that you can start a culture from DT's but have never tried it. Let me know how it works out.