Phytoplankton Culture Guide
Instruction sheet for home culture live
phytoplankton
A culture can be defined as an artificial environment in which the algae grow. In theory, culture
conditions should resemble the alga’s natural environment as far as possible.
Physical parameters
Temperature
An intermediate value of 15
-
20°C is most often employed cycling. In temperate regions ambient room
temperature is generally acceptable for culturing purposes.
Light
Natural light is usually sufficient to maintain cultures in the laboratory. Cultures should never be exposed to
direct sunlight (which may cause photo pigment damage), Fluorescent tubes bulb types marine white work
well. Lighting hours should range from 14 - 16 hrs light a day
Mixing
Mixing of micro algae cultures may be necessary under certain circumstances: when cells must be kept in
suspension in order to grow mixing should be gentle. The following methods may be used: bubbling with air,
but
when possible gentle manual swirling (once each day) is recommended.
Types of culture vessel
Culture vessels should have the following properties: non toxic &
reasonably transparent coca cola bottle with
rounded bottom is an ideal vessel making sure very clean and sterilized.
Cleaning/sterilization of culture materials
Cleanliness is foremost
Scrub (abrasive brushes not appropriate for most plastics) and soak with warm detergent (not domestic
detergents, which leave a residual film on culture ware
–
use laboratory detergent
If using a coca cola bottle or similar vessel with screw
Tops drill a small hole in the top for airline (rigid) tubing
.
Image A
1.
Use clean sterile container/bucket of sterile r/o water (for best results.) Then adding salt
water (mixed well) It should be saltwater that is 1.015sg
-
using a refractometer. (fresh
water can be used with our dish cultures)
If you wish to make 1 litre culture water use 0.5ml of fertilizer per 1000ml
Sterile water can be obtained by microwaving 1 liter of water for 7 minutes on high power, then allowing to cool to room temperature.
f/2. (0.5ml) - (1ml) for 1 litre, (1000ml) using syringe supplied. Of half Strength Sea water
@ (1.015sg) if using other brand fertilizers see manufactures recommendations.
3.
Using a coca cola bottle or other types of vessel pour 1 litre of ready made mixture i
nto
the bottle. Do not screw top tight two turns just so it locks and air can escape
4.
Connect airline up so it’s gently bubbling leave for 10 12 hours so proper mixing
Of air and carbon dioxide and a stabilized ph (
usually around 7.5
-
8 is good).
Air stones are not required in micro algae cultures because algae cells get
trapped in the bubbles acting like a protein skimmer collecting at the top of
culture vess
els killing the algae.
. If using fluorescent tubes as a light source leave at least 6”
-
7” gap between
vessel and light source as fluorescent tubes can quickly over heat your
phytoplankton culture.
5.
Now you’re ready to add your live algae
pour the whole 100ml bottle into your
mixture.
6.
if using our culture dish flood the dish with sterile water
Leave for 10
-
12 hrs (room temp) gently rub off the cell with cotton swab and pour
into mixture.
Twist top so it locks (couple turns) but n
ot tight.
7.
Here comes the hard part be
patient!!
The micro algae will require a few
days to adjust too there new environment, this is typically known as lag phase or
introductory
phase
DON’T FORGET EACH DAY GIVE
THE BOTTLE A QUICK SWIRL!
8.
After 3
-
4 days you should now notice slight colour change, this is known as
exponential growth phase.
Splitting your culture for further use
9.
On
the 8th day of culturing split 1/3 of your culture to restart a new 2 litre bottle.
Repeating steps above.
The objective of splitting culture is to maintain a growth phase so you have
continuous use and supply of phytoplankton.
Culture vessels can be used 2
-
3 times of re
-
blooming before cleaning or renewing
vessel.
IMPORTANT PLEASE READ
F/2 NUTRIANTS Be Warned adding more fertilizer will not produce a darker
culture and may slow culture growth. Dosage of 0.5ml /1ltr
-
1ml/1ltr a fairly dense
culture will grow and survive 10
-
12 days.
Equipment check list
Air pump
Culture vessel
Fluorescent lights (white & actinic work well)
Starter culture
Fertilizer
f/2