Anyone culture phytoplankton? got a few questions

[m0nkie]

Hi guys. I picked up a phyto dispenser at the store so I'm going to try culture some phyto. First timer. I have seen enough videos to make the setup. However, still got some questions. Thanks in advance.

Nano Phyto.
Salinity 1.01
Guillard f/2 fertilizer
rusalty nano culture
mercer nano culture

Questions:
1) How much lighting is really needed?
as you can see in pictures, I have a 3 tanks on a 3ft stand. I have 2 2ft T5s. Should I vertically mount one T5 per culture tank? or mount the 2 horizontal.
are reflectors needed?

2) These tanks have a sponge at the bottom. Are phytos small enough to pass through the sponge filter? or shall I rip them out? It'll be one 1/2" opening.

3) anything to watch out for? beside making sure everything is clean. Seems like a fairly easy job?

thanks

 

[Nick Shades]

Hi guys. I picked up a phyto dispenser at the store so I'm going to try culture some phyto. First timer. I have seen enough videos to make the setup. However, still got some questions. Thanks in advance.

Nano Phyto.
Salinity 1.01
Guillard f/2 fertilizer
rusalty nano culture
mercer nano culture

Questions:
1) How much lighting is really needed?
as you can see in pictures, I have a 3 tanks on a 3ft stand. I have 2 2ft T5s. Should I vertically mount one T5 per culture tank? or mount the 2 horizontal.
are reflectors needed?

2) These tanks have a sponge at the bottom. Are phytos small enough to pass through the sponge filter? or shall I rip them out? It'll be one 1/2" opening.

3) anything to watch out for? beside making sure everything is clean. Seems like a fairly easy job?

thanks

I did 1 liter containers and used puck lights and rigid line tubing and aerwtion, no sponges. Worked pretty well for about 6 months doin nano, iso, tetra and thal all in the same batches,

 

[solitude127]

Hi guys. I picked up a phyto dispenser at the store so I'm going to try culture some phyto. First timer. I have seen enough videos to make the setup. However, still got some questions. Thanks in advance.

Nano Phyto.
Salinity 1.01
Guillard f/2 fertilizer
rusalty nano culture
mercer nano culture

Questions:
1) How much lighting is really needed?
as you can see in pictures, I have a 3 tanks on a 3ft stand. I have 2 2ft T5s. Should I vertically mount one T5 per culture tank? or mount the 2 horizontal.
are reflectors needed?

2) These tanks have a sponge at the bottom. Are phytos small enough to pass through the sponge filter? or shall I rip them out? It'll be one 1/2" opening.

3) anything to watch out for? beside making sure everything is clean. Seems like a fairly easy job?

thanks

1) mounting them horizontal will be ok. Reflectors are not needed but will help provide more light.
2) IMO, the sponge isn't needed. Just something that will clog.
3) Even though I had good amount of bubbles going though my containers, I still had to shake them once in a while. If there's not enough movement in the water, the phyto will clump up.

 

[orbela]

No sponge will clog eventually, no reflectors, do you have access to put them in the window? It will grow your phyto much quicker. Remember sterilize everything every time you move things even when going from tank to the phyto or placing them near each other. I had contaminated phyto by the dumbest mistakes. Wear gloves and switch them out every time you finish maintaining one type of phyto. I know it seems excessive but its will lay longer. Also if you can get a hemocytometer it will make this easier. And youll know when it is best to harvest.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[erictorres0311]

Any updates ?