Phyto Culture - Learn About Growing Phytoplankton For Your Reef Tank

Please visit us at www.hackersreef.com and don't forget to click the subscribe button if this was helpful. In this information packed video I will teach you my techniques to successfully culture unlimited phytoplankton for your reef tank, aquaculture or fish breeding needs.
How?
First I’ll begin by showing you how to quickly and easily acquire your first batch of live phyto. We will be using this to start the process. I will focus on the Nannochloropsis strain of phytoplankton in this video as it is extremely versatile and easy to culture.
Next, I will explain how to setup your phytoplankton culture equipment using low-cost items that you may already have around the house. You will learn how to correctly feed your phyto culture with the correct fuel for success.
Finally I will share my years of research and knowledge with you. I will help you avoid pitfalls that cause cultures to crash and make people give up. I’ll dispel some common myths that have been repeated over the years all over the internet, but really do not make a lot of sense...
After finishing this video, you will have the skills to culture an unlimited supply of fresh Nannochloropsis (nanno) phyto for all your reef keeping needs. It doesn’t matter if you want to feed coral, rotifers or pod, this video has you covered. Leave a comment below to let us know what you plan to feed with your freshly cultured phytoplankton. It is always great to hear from you!
Make sure you subscribe to the channel and ring that bell, you don’t want to miss out on any helpful videos, right?
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Supplies
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Starter Phyto Culture kit (with Guillard’s f/2 fertilizer)
Link: amzn.to/2LrtBQa
Measuring Syringes
Link: amzn.to/2R6aq3T
Rigid Airline
Link: amzn.to/2Sb5F6c
Flexible Airline
Link: amzn.to/2LtWAmp
Air Control Valve
Link: amzn.to/2Sdi6P7
Salt Mix
Link: amzn.to/2Sc6kEr
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Hackers' Reef is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
#Phyto #Phytoplankton #ReefTank

[@WasimAmirudin]

Great work mate

[@achengster4]

Great video. Still relevant!

[@patterdalezipsuzilil]

I liked using the brick through my neibours car screen for keeping up with his music then I hit him with a lamp 😂😂😂 cool vid

[@DerfOrNuffin]

Used to work at UPS theyre rough on packages. Small packages hit the same box pushers that 200lb packages hit with out adjustment. Good vid

[@Asquad]

Good tips

[@emmieshouseofcacti840]

Love the brick 🤣🤣

[@rolisreefranch]

Thanks for the 411!

[@johnandritchellemartin5568]

I really found your video good and to the point and most of all informative. Thanks for making this and i just hit that Sub Button! Looking forward to more of your content!

[@HackersReef]

Thank you for the kind words and subbing! Any suggestions on what I should do a video on next?

[@johnandritchellemartin5568]

@@HackersReef Maybe what your setup is like Tanks, Lighting, feeding schedule, Equipment used, or your recommendations on what someone needs to dive into this deeper etc for the Clowns and Fry. Or a basic walk through guide starting from the very ground up what equipment we would need, even picking your clowns and the different types etc.

[@Cjx0r]

>spends 1st 2mins on his amazon experience buying the product "I found your video helpful and to the point" ahahahahahahah

[@GearItFirst]

Great video! So how do you harvest? Do you literally take some out, put in the tank (or refugium for the copepods) and then add more CLEAN saltwater and fertilizer?

[@chrismontesione2402]

Awesome video! You mention your culture sg is at 1.020. Typical reef tanks are at 1.025 do we need to do anything to acclimate (sg or temp) the phyto before placing in the reef tank?

[@KreefAquariumhobby]

Nice. New on the channel

[@HackersReef]

Welcome! Im going to posting an update to this video soon, so stay tuned.

[@mariachristina9029]

Pls make another excellent video on harvesting marine phytoplankton from the water

[@mariachristina9029]

❤

[@Gabesafish]

I use stir plates for beer brewing yeast cultures. Would that work in place of the air pump? I would think that if the goal here is primarily movement/particle suspension, that a stir plate would work just as well and have the added benefit of being sterile with the addition of a cheap airlock. The part I’m unsure of, is how important (if at all) is gas exchange in this process? If an airlock is utilized, I would assume that the air initially sealed into the vessel headspace would eventually be purged through the positive pressure created from the off gassing of oxygen via photosynthesis. How long it would take for this to happen is beyond my ability to calculate. It would be interesting to learn what the CO2 requirements are of these cultures. I wonder if the sea water used for the culture was sufficiently aerated at the start, if that would hold enough dissolved CO2 for the duration of the culture?

[@audio1484]

First off great video. I have a question about the air bubbles. How long do I run the air pump for? Do I turn off the air pump at night like I do for the lights? Please help!

[@user-cb3eo7ql3b]

Air stays running for 7 days lights run for 18 hours a day

[@ryanf4485]

Question! I plan of breeding Copepods and phyto. The phyto that I purchased is at 1.019 salinity, however, I ideally would like the salinity to match the water of my Copepod tank and main tank. Do I need to gradually raise the salinity or can I do it rapidly?

[@shuwukong]

I died when you come to that awesome tool kit... a brick

[@rizendell]

thats one dark starter culture. Anyways, you should pour the fertilizer out of the bottle into a measuring cup instead of sticking anything into it. Most of the issues with crashes I've seen have been from fungus getting into the fertilizer and taking root there and that experience has been taken from running hydroponics systems for plants.

[@coochieman7880]

i’d like to see you measure out 2ml by cup

[@coochieman7880]

best way would be a blank/empty dropper bottle you could use to dose it out by drops

[@SwarmJAG1]

What do you clean the container with before you start or if a culture fails

[@rajgill7576]

Do they need fertilizer is there anytbing else i can add?

[@stephenrothman6058]

I have a phytoplankton bottle that is 2-3 months old. It has been in the frig. Could it kill the pods if I add it or is the worst thing likely to happen that they just don’t want to eat the photo?

[@gauradas108]

Hello, thank you for this interesting video. I have never heard of culturing Phytoplankton. I use spirulina and chlorella everyday. I also started to use a phtyoplankton by the name of Nannochloropsis Gaditana. All of these are expensive for me. Do you mean that I could start with any of these and expand my quantity of them by culturing them?

[@chriswidener5554]

Absolutely it's nature's Gatorade there's a few guides online

[@anandh9508]

Informative bro...❤❤❤ Is it suitable for fresh water ornamental fish? Plz answer me bro

[@lolo101long]

This 15 minute video could have been 5 min. Benjamin Franklin, "If I had more time I would have written a shorter letter."

[@Cjx0r]

thank you!

[@cgsgcagolfleague2676]

Can I use a container with an open lid?

[@joem6170]

Do u think it will work with filtered seawater??

[@WatchTLCCRMOFFICIAL]

I heard how the Gaditana strain is superior in health benefits to micro-algaes like asthaxanthin, chlorella etc. How do we harvest for human consumption?

[@EIY_Kumar]

any ideal temp ? or whatever the room temp is

[@AlternativeGamer00]

One more question. I started my culture almost 8 days ago, and at the bottom of the container some moldy-like structures have been built up the last days. Is it something natural or we have a problem?

[@HackersReef]

Ts Arsn that's very common and I will need cover it in future videos. It's just clumps of phyto that are settling at the bottom. It could be an indication that your culture needs more bubbles for water movement or it may be very close to finishing. It should be very dark at 8 days assuming enough F/2 fertilizer was used.

[@nickbombeo724]

hello sir.can I feed it to my new hatch clownfish? for there first good.

[@whel-auxnavigatesthedystop8709]

My first culture crashed and when I looked under the microscope I saw it was full of protists grazing on it. Since then I've made a bioreactor with two tanks, one of which has CO2 added from a yeast fermentation, and after a week both tanks are looking good but the tank with the CO2 has a higher density of cells, seen under the microscope, but a yellowish appearance overall. Why do you think it's turned yellow, the cells look healthy? Also, how often do you add more F/2?

[@iant419]

Another user said ameoba invasion caused theirs to turn yellow.

[@brianfinch2597]

So I'm about 6 Days Inn I've used a starter culture and 1.020 water with f2 some lights and a rigid Airline I'm starting to see a buildup on the bottom of some white stuff floating around if I move the airline to that area of the one liter bottle it will float away and just circulate but eventually it will settle in another dimple of the bottle is this white stuff normal or is it a sign of something that I am doing wrong

[@HackersReef]

Brian, that is a pretty common thing to see. You can turn your air up a little or stir it back into the mix as you were doing. Some phyto will settle at the bottom if there isn't enough flow or the culture is getting really dense. I'll be doing an update for this guide on the website, www.hackersreef.com to address that and few other common questions.

[@brianfinch2597]

@@HackersReef ok great...thank you sir

[@whel-auxnavigatesthedystop8709]

My algal culture crashed after it was invaded by amoebas! I took a look under my microscope and the chlorella had been replaced by almost identical looking single cells that I would have mistaken for Chlorella except that they moved around with amoeboid movement. The whole bottle turned yellow, with foam and scum at the top. Nasty! The whole thing went wrong after I topped up with tap-water. I wasn't expecting amoebas in my tap water so where did the contamination come from? Have you had any similar experiences?

[@chriswidener5554]

You have to use distilled or ro water

[@brianfinch2597]

I know you said you could use a cheap light source and not go extravagant but what's the wattage that you would recommend using

[@HackersReef]

Good question! You can use a huge range of wattage depending on your setup. I had a 60watt equivalent LED bulb from the dollar store in that video. I have also had success with the standard shop light bulbs from the home improvement store. Those are around 40watts each and I like the 4 bulb fixtures. Be more worried about heat than wattage, because too much heat will cook your culture.

[@brianfinch2597]

@@HackersReef ah ok makes sense...thank you..i appreciate it sir

[@HackersReef]

Brian Finch always happy to help! Let me know how your culture turns out.

[@CannonsRvRepair]

I literally bought a 9.99 bottle threw it in and have been getting phyto for years from it

[@joem6170]

i hve limited resource for a phytoplankton starter kit ... ive travel few hundred kms just to get seachem phytoplankton but i need a culture media or f2 fertilizer... can i use just the normal granules-type fertilizer?

[@HackersReef]

Some people have had success with various fertilizers, such as miracle grow. However, these fertilizers may also contain elements that are safe for plants but poisonous to fish. So, it MIGHT work but there is always a risk when using products that weren't specifically intend for aquarium use. Sorry about the late reply, but I hope this helps.

[@joem6170]

@@HackersReef thanks mate

[@HackersReef]

Always happy to help 👍 (even if my replies are a bit slow these days)

[@rrrreefer9721]

So how do you know when it's "done"? What's it mean by splitting? Is there a more in depth video?

[@HackersReef]

Sorry for the late reply. You will know when it's ready by the shade of green, it takes a little practice and there is no harm in harvesting early. It starts out looking like a pale green and gets really dark after 6-14 days. The speed depends on the room temperature, fertilizer amount and how much phyto was used to start the culture. Splitting is when you use some of your current culture to start a new one. Just follow the directions from the video and use your own culture to start it. Bottle the rest and store it in a fridge.

[@frederickhart3229]

Why after 3 days does my phyto culture get black bits in it THANKS

[@kueyang6109]

Will this feed daphnia

[@prorilducusin8988]

Is it required that the container is Transparent?

[@Ubya_]

they are literally like plants, so they need light

[@HackersReef]

Just as Ubya commented above. Yes, you will need to use a clear container for the culture.

[@dalewhitmore143]

Hi. If i have a friend that if growing phytoplankton can i take say 50ml of him and start it in a 500ml bottle with the fertilizer because they want $40 here in Australia for 1.7ml of starter culture which i find a bit steep.

[@HackersReef]

Thanks for the question! You can definitely take some of your friend's healthy culture to start your own. Just make sure they are not using any strange chemicals or fertilizers and you should be fine. Be sure to leave a comment and let us know how your culture turns out after you start.

[@dalewhitmore143]

@@HackersReef Thanks very much.

[@dalewhitmore143]

@@HackersReef How many watt energy saver light should I use

[@michaelrib3061]

Good video but you need to expand on lighting options. You barely mention lights and did not even give an example. Spectrum, placement etc.

[@Joseph_Jackets]

The brick, that one I dont have.

[@HackersReef]

Never underestimate the DIY utility potential of a good brick!

[@xclusivereef5805]

Guillards F2 is recommended at 1.5 - 2 ML per 4L of water. So you just wasting F2 by adding 5 ML.

[@HackersReef]

Thanks for the comment. As I said in the video, not all F/2 is created equally. I have tested the smaller 2 ml dosage and always ended up with slow growing cultures that struggled to darken. That lower dosage is a good starting point that may work for some, but I always advise a little experimentation.

[@xclusivereef5805]

Do you dose 1 time when you start culture only or do you add half way more f2?. I have the same photo and f2 as you, I am going to do 4 ml and see if I can see a difference in color.

[@AB-dy2ll]

Üdzgör, you didn't want to talk about Phytoplankton ... you pump....😱😱😱😱

[@charlesgilliland532]

The Brick

[@AlternativeGamer00]

How many days will our culture be produced?

[@HackersReef]

John Arsenakis that depends on a few factors, such as culture size, temperature, fertilizer amount, light and flow. Generally it takes 4-6 days for the container in the video to become very dark and ready. Remember, more fertilizer may not make it darken faster. It takes a little practice and experience to learn what works best for your setup.

[@affectedbeard]

How do you sterilize your containers?

[@HackersReef]

Lab grade sterilization has not been required for most cultures in my experience. I wash the containers with vinegar and then rinse VERY well with tap water. Once the vinegar is gone, I do a final rinse of RO water before using them. I just shake them dry for the most part.

[@affectedbeard]

@@HackersReef thank you for the reply. I'm starting my culture tonight when I get home. Your video was helpful. I bought this product in your video.

[@HackersReef]

I appreciate the support and be sure to post about any questions. I am still able to make gallons upon gallons of fresh phyto based on my guide, so you won’t be disappointed. Thanks again

[@affectedbeard]

@@HackersReef thank you and no problem. Enjoyed the video. So since I started the culture it looks like something is growing on the side of the jar. Almost like algea, is that normal?

[@HackersReef]

Sorry about the late reply. How is the culture going? You can normally adjust the air flow or use the rigid airline to stir up anything that settles.

[@VP-dx8xk]

Newbie video..

[@reconnaissance7372]

I clicked on this praying not to see or hear about F2. I wish there was a substitute just as good. Not buying Guillards F2.