Culturing Phytoplankton by Sunlight

Jski90 · 05/27/2016, 04:42 PM

I have started a phytoplankton culture. Does anyone have any experience doing this by sunlight? What I did was four liters of 1.014 saltwater, 2ml fertilizer, about a pint of phyto, airline and placed in sunlight in my window. Currently it is in direct sunlight because of the time of day. What do you think?

conjuay · 05/28/2016, 06:53 AM

I'm about a week ahead of you, I started my culture last week. Because of the longer daylight hours this time of year, and an east facing window in the garage, I'm showing good growth. Of course winter with it's shorter days might present a problem. But if anything, growth would be slower, perhaps double the time a batch ripen. You can always run daylight, and later in the year supplement with artificial light. There are people who grow phyto on their patios.

Jski90 · 05/28/2016, 05:29 PM

It looks good so far. Its a lot greener then yesterday, so I think its doing fine. I think using sunlight is a better way to go. You can save energy. How is yours doing so far? This is your first batch ever of phyto?

gogo7 · 05/28/2016, 11:28 PM

culturing phyto on your window sill is easier than most think.
i use two litre pop bottles without air. a daily swirl and weekly fertilizing.
i've been doing it this way for quite a while, i'm in southern ontario canada. keeping a few cultures going helps when one crashes.
i culture dunaliella tetra and nanno.
one drop ferts to 100mls saltwater. i've converted my nanno to freshwater a few times for daphnia cultures for my fw breeds. all on the window sill.
good to hear other people are doing this.
have you guys tried culturing without air?

ThRoewer · 06/10/2016, 08:24 PM

I have it in my tigger pod cultures, and even indirect sunlight will kick off an algae bloom until the water is dark green.

05/27/2016, 04:42 PM	#1
Jski90 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Santa Clarita, California Posts: 30	Culturing Phytoplankton by Sunlight I have started a phytoplankton culture. Does anyone have any experience doing this by sunlight? What I did was four liters of 1.014 saltwater, 2ml fertilizer, about a pint of phyto, airline and placed in sunlight in my window. Currently it is in direct sunlight because of the time of day. What do you think?

06/10/2016, 08:24 PM	#5
ThRoewer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 9,555	I have it in my tigger pod cultures, and even indirect sunlight will kick off an algae bloom until the water is dark green. __________________ Pairs: 4 percula, 3 P. kauderni, 3 D. excisus, 1 ea of P. diacanthus, S. splendidus, C. altivelis O. rosenblatti, D. janssi, S. yasha & a Gramma loreto trio 3 P. diacanthus. 2 C. starcki Current Tank Info: 200 gal 4 tank system (40x28x24 + 40B + 40B sump tank + 20g refugium) + 30x18x18 mixed reef + 20g East Pacific biotop + 20g FW +...

05/28/2016, 06:53 AM	#2
conjuay Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Baja Georgia (Florida) Posts: 200	I'm about a week ahead of you, I started my culture last week. Because of the longer daylight hours this time of year, and an east facing window in the garage, I'm showing good growth. Of course winter with it's shorter days might present a problem. But if anything, growth would be slower, perhaps double the time a batch ripen. You can always run daylight, and later in the year supplement with artificial light. There are people who grow phyto on their patios.

05/28/2016, 05:29 PM	#3
Jski90 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Santa Clarita, California Posts: 30	It looks good so far. Its a lot greener then yesterday, so I think its doing fine. I think using sunlight is a better way to go. You can save energy. How is yours doing so far? This is your first batch ever of phyto?

05/28/2016, 11:28 PM	#4
gogo7 pico reefer Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: ontario canada Posts: 435	culturing phyto on your window sill is easier than most think. i use two litre pop bottles without air. a daily swirl and weekly fertilizing. i've been doing it this way for quite a while, i'm in southern ontario canada. keeping a few cultures going helps when one crashes. i culture dunaliella tetra and nanno. one drop ferts to 100mls saltwater. i've converted my nanno to freshwater a few times for daphnia cultures for my fw breeds. all on the window sill. good to hear other people are doing this. have you guys tried culturing without air?