ok a few last questions, how do you know the culture is finished, and in the video when rob does the split of existing phyto he didnt mention putting micro algae grow into the split. do you need to use algae grow when you split or just when you start the culture?
the micro algae grow is in the culture medium..
that is, its premixed in the saltwater that i had in the water jug i used to refill the phyto bottles..
i use 1 tsp of micro algae grow per gallon of water (when premixing my culture medium)
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I've been using Miracle-Gro Liquid All Purpose Plant Food. Mine is in a yellow, one-quart bottle and cost me about $5-$6. I found it at either Target or Wal-mart. For my split, I make the medium the night before by mixing salt into RO water to 1.019 SG and adding 5ml of the Miracle-Gro to each two-quarts of medium prior to splitting.
Yeah, I don't use Miricle grow. Algagen warned against using it for Phytoplankton as there may be trace metals in it. Erik at algagen COD'd me some F/2 free of charge ( I paid for the shipping) it is what he uses to feed cultures. Since then I was told by Dan at Seahorsesource.com that he now sells the F/2 product.
If you go to all the trouble to use RODI water, why put trace metals back in in the form of phyto?
I am not sure how much is in Miricale grow, but for the cost of the F/2 I wouldn't risk it. It is $5.99 for the F/2 from seahorse source for about 250ml. I use 1ml of F/2 per liter of culture. I also add 1/2ml per liter on the 3rd day and harvest on the 4th. So that $5.99 feeds 166 liters of culture is my math is right. And since I am only doing 1 liter a week that is a lot of phyto!
i dont know if this will help or not, but some of the culture you gave me duane i kept seperate and i just finished a batch of Miracle Grow culture. i am going to try and go to the university tomorrow and see if a buddy of mine will let me use the digital microscope. if i can in fact do that i will post the pictures and maybe that will tell us how they are compared..
Cool, I don't know if that will tell us anything or not, but it will be cool to see it! I don't think the iron or trace metals will hurt the culture, but I think over time it may effect the other specimins further up the chain.....I think it is time to ring Eriks bell at Algagen and ask him. I will wake him up!
Thanks for the wake-up. I am falling asleep in many different positons these days most recently on my feet. The scientist who developed the f-media did so specifically for use with microalgae..phytoplankton. Aquatic "plants" have different needs from terrestrial plants. Both miracle gro and F-media have iron, trace metals,
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