Starting phytoplankton culture with small inoculating culture

Scott714

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Hi, I live in Australia and I'm looking to start a phytoplankton culture. We only seem to have Nanno that can be purchased in any bottle sized volumes (300ml, 500ml) at reasonable prices.

I'm looking to start a Tetraselmis culture as from what I've read it's a better choice for pods. The issue is that a starting amount of pure Tetraselmis is expensive and very small volume, looking at only about 5ml or 50ml (this can cost $100AUD or ~$65USD).

The only way I've read/watched about how to start a culture is to use a 1:1 ratio of culture to salt water with some F2. I've seen 1:3 phtyo to salt water recommended as the maximum. But in the case of 5ml this is going to be difficult to setup a 15ml container.

Would be preferential to start with at least 500ml or 1000ml container.

Are there any other ways to start a phyto culture with a very high ratio of culture to salt water? What are the risks with a very dilute inoculating culture of phyto? Would adding 5ml of dense phyto to a 1000ml container with the appropriate amount of F2 eventually grow into a dense culture - just taking a bit longer than the typical 7 day period?
 
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fryman

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Hi, I live in Australia and I'm looking to start a phytoplankton culture. We only seem to have Nanno that can be purchased in any bottle sized volumes (300ml, 500ml) at reasonable prices.

I'm looking to start a Tetraselmis culture as from what I've read it's a better choice for pods. The issue is that a starting amount of pure Tetraselmis is expensive and very small volume, looking at only about 5ml or 50ml (this can cost $100AUD or ~$65USD).

The only way I've read/watched about how to start a culture is to use a 1:1 ratio of culture to salt water with some F2. I've seen 1:3 phtyo to salt water recommended as the maximum. But in the case of 5ml this is going to be difficult to setup a 15ml container.

Would be preferential to start with at least 500ml or 1000ml container.

Are there any other ways to start a phyto culture with a very high ratio of culture to salt water? What are the risks with a very dilute inoculating culture of phyto? Would adding 5ml of dense phyto to a 1000ml container with the appropriate amount of F2 eventually grow into a dense culture - just taking a bit longer than the typical 7 day period?
Adding 5ml starter to a full 1000ml reactor is not a good idea. Unless your decontamination is flawless, diluting this much will likely lead to something else taking over.

You do not need to fill a bioreactor all the way. Just fill your reactor with 5ml starter and 50ml (max) sanitized media. AFTER it colors up, add another 100ml sanitized media, then 400ml, then topoff.
 

hsp

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Hi, I live in Australia and I'm looking to start a phytoplankton culture. We only seem to have Nanno that can be purchased in any bottle sized volumes (300ml, 500ml) at reasonable prices.

I'm looking to start a Tetraselmis culture as from what I've read it's a better choice for pods. The issue is that a starting amount of pure Tetraselmis is expensive and very small volume, looking at only about 5ml or 50ml (this can cost $100AUD or ~$65USD).

The only way I've read/watched about how to start a culture is to use a 1:1 ratio of culture to salt water with some F2. I've seen 1:3 phtyo to salt water recommended as the maximum. But in the case of 5ml this is going to be difficult to setup a 15ml container.

Would be preferential to start with at least 500ml or 1000ml container.

Are there any other ways to start a phyto culture with a very high ratio of culture to salt water? What are the risks with a very dilute inoculating culture of phyto? Would adding 5ml of dense phyto to a 1000ml container with the appropriate amount of F2 eventually grow into a dense culture - just taking a bit longer than the typical 7 day period?
I am in Sydney. I would like to get a small batch from you if you get it done. Maybe in exchange for Tigriopus Californicus?
 

Drowned in Salt

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I am in Sydney. I would like to get a small batch from you if you get it done. Maybe in exchange for Tigriopus Californicus?
Hey mate, got T.ISO if your interested Inna trade for some Tig pods. Also hook you up with some silicates as it a diatom.
 
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Scott714

Scott714

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Ended up getting 50ml of starter culture of tetraselmis chuii, added 40ml to ~180 ml of media. Also used the remaining 10ml with ~40ml of media as a back up. After 7 days have had success. Have now split all this out into 3x 500ml cultures.

IMG_1311.jpeg Looks like a fairly pure sample of tetraselmis imo IMG_1892 Tetr 40x.jpeg
 
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Drowned in Salt

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Ended up getting 50ml of starter culture of tetraselmis chuii, added 40ml to ~180 ml of media. Also used the remaining 10ml with ~40ml of media as a back up. After 7 days have had success. Have now split all this out into 3x 500ml cultures.

IMG_1311.jpeg Looks like a fairly pure sample of tetraselmis imo IMG_1892 Tetr 40x.jpeg
Your them man mate, well done
 

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