ISO and Tetra Phyto

m8298 · 09-11-2006, 10:23 PM

What would be involved in starting a culture of Isochrysis and/or Tetraselmis? Would it be done the same way as Nano?

I found them here, from a link on the Algagen site:

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/.../5944/cid/1708

***Rob*** · 09-11-2006, 11:58 PM

yes they are started the same AFAIK
my understanding is they are just a bit more temperamental to changes and less hardy.

i will leave further comments to the experts..

**AlgaGen** · 09-12-2006, 08:52 AM

Most people consider Nannochloropsis to be a weed. With that in mind T. Iso and Tetraselmis (Tet) are not, but they are not really that difficult to culture. They all use the same media. Tet likes it a bit cooler(18-25C) than T. Iso(18-26/27C). They are both swimmers. With Tet one can leave the aeration off for the first day. It seems that when an inoc goes into fresh media the cells drop out of suspension...but still divide. After day1 -2 turn on the air and the culture should be set to go. With T. Iso, we drop the cultures back about 4-5 inches from the light and then bring them up to the light after day1 or 2 depending on how dense the inoc was. I feel that both these microalgae are worth the effort.

Since these guys are swimmers, healthy cells will be in the water column and so performing a transfer could be as simple as pouring off the top of a select culture into the next culture vessel.

m8298 · 09-12-2006, 09:40 PM

Ok, can you mix culture of the different phytos, while growing them?

And I read that they are motile.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlgaGen

Since these guys are swimmers, healthy cells will be in the water column and so performing a transfer could be as simple as pouring off the top of a select culture into the next culture vessel.

How does something that is technically a plant swim?

***Rob*** · 09-13-2006, 12:37 AM

as far as mixing, yes you "can" but the dominant of the two will eventually win out leaving you with only a single strain

as for the mobility part, i will leave that one to Erik..

**AlgaGen** · 09-13-2006, 09:29 AM

Rob is right. In addition the cultures won't grow as dense as if they are a mono-culture.

Ok...this is not my strong point but it is great to think about. Algae span several Kingdoms; Monera, Protista, Plantae . Below is a definition I took from the referenced site for anyone who wants to check it out further

(Any of various chiefly aquatic, eukaryotic, photosynthetic organisms, ranging in size from single-celled forms to the giant kelp. Algae were once considered to be plants but are now classified separately because they lack true roots, stems, leaves, and embryos...http://www.answers.com/topic/alga) under Protista

Anyway both tetraselmis and T. Iso have flagella and have very distinct swimming behaviour. If size and color were not enough by watching them swim you could tell them apart.

m8298 · 09-13-2006, 11:41 AM

Cool, so I probably wouldn't need to shake the cultures ever? Thanks Erik.