How to determine quality of phytoplankton

[Grayston]

When buying phytoplankton what do you look for. It’s hard to say or see what you are buying.
All kinds of claims…
I hesitate to just add it to my tank. I have noted… things happen after some kind of addition
Any thoughts to share on how to go about this?

 

[joseserrano]

You would have to microscope it to really distinguish health, density,…. I’d trust the big brands. It’s how they make their living, so I don’t think they would make false claims.

if you are using said brand sand having bad results, you may be overdosing, or already at the edge of what your system can handle, so adding more pushes it over.

 

[Grayston]

You would have to microscope it to really distinguish health, density,…. I’d trust the big brands. It’s how they make their living, so I don’t think they would make false claims.

if you are using said brand sand having bad results, you may be overdosing, or already at the edge of what your system can handle, so adding more pushes it over.

Like the idea of the microscope. Anyone with experience to share how to and anything to look for?
Thanks Jose

 

[BST310]

Generally the darker the phyto the more dense it's going to be, that does not necessarily speak to the quality but at least you're not paying for water. As Jose mentioned without a microscope there is no way to tell the quality and what it's made up of.

Check out OG Phyto, @OGFrenchHorn , he brews a pretty mean home phyto batch with plenty of diversity and lots of references to back him up.

 

[OGFrenchHorn]

Color and smell. The darker the better. Quality live phyto doesn’t smell. It should almost have a sweet smell if anything. The only strain that smells is isochrysis but even then it smells like low tide algae. If it smells like sulfur or rotten eggs, I wouldn’t use it.

Best way is under a microscope. You should see movement and different shape cells. Not all phyto is motile so you won’t see them all move.


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