Growing Phytoplankton

[Lovesfish]

I was wondering if there was anyway to grow phyto plankton outside the fish tank to feed your corals to eliminate having to keep buying it over and over again. dave

 

[bunjiweb]

You basically want a refugium with lots of macro algae and some good chunks of live rock. The Phytoplankton micro algaes that drift about in the water as they cannot propell themselves, but you will also find that you get zooplankton and other planktons build up which are basically the young forms of other inverts such as copeopods and amphiopods, jellyfish, lobsters etc.

Ben

 

[Lovesfish]

is there any non refugium way to grow it.

 

[steelhealr]

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

Let us all know how you make out if you do this. SH

 

[pleder]

It's not really that hard to do. I would recommend getting a pure culture to start your farm. When I was doing it I used 2 liter coke bottles with air lines. I didn't use a light just a window. A better light will get more growth.

Seahorsesource.com sells pure cultures. Do yourself a favor if it's just going to corals and such get a phyto species that doesn't require F2's and silicates. Just easier IME.

Good Luck

 

[Opcn]

Keep them in light 24/7, otherwise they will use up there O2 at night.

Also, for reference a fuge is not a reliable way to grow phyto

 

[Lovesfish]

will they grow in a coke bottle in sunlight with an airstone?