All about Phyto!

[@TheLandSharks]

Very eye opening, all the way from NA west coast

[@captivebredcanada]

Good video, better than most that show how to culture phytoplankton. The way you do it is interesting to me. I would suspect it's the chlorine in your tap water that is the important additive. Of course everyone's tap water is different. I use RO/DI and freshly mixed instant ocean BUT I then bleach it for 12hrs then dechlorinate for 12hrs then use it. That's how I ensure sterile water. Before I started bleaching it I had crashes. The other thing I would recommend is to periodically check your culture under a microscope. You do a good job of mentioning how important it is to culture what you want to vs a bacterial soup which a lot of people end up with if they are sloppy.

[@joshua_w]

Great info Cam. Might have to give this a try.

[@sunnygoold9449]

Incredible!

[@gabesreef]

I have been using reefroids to up my phosphates exclusively. It's definitely the easiest way for me

[@TuanTran-ur8nj]

Great informative video

[@JeepinReefer406]

Holy smokes that was a lot of Phyto dosed. Makes me feel like I'm not dosing enough with 15ml to a Red Sea 170.

[@martijnvanbeek4387]

Agree!

[@fitchaj]

That got me as well

[@NgocTran-rk9qc]

The dosage stated on those bottles sold at GA is no where near how much was dosed in this tank. This will be very confusing for people who just started dosing phytoplankton.

[@JeepinReefer406]

@@NgocTran-rk9qc I totally agree. I know dosing can be a very tank specific thing, but this dose was 200 times more than anything I've seen 🤔

[@Lutharthegreat]

Awesome episode Cam. Growing my own Phyto was a huge change in my reef tanks. I will have to try some with tap water VS RODI and might try to add a little nitrate also. I started out slow and now I add 8oz to 10oz per day 7 days a week to my Reefer 300 and 425. Oh and reef roids I never thought about that but that makes sense to get the polyps out and get them a good feeding.

[@madaboutmarine6290]

Hey Josh,
Ive been bugging Ania with some questions for you and she suggested I add them here. What salinity do you use for your phyto culture (and do you use different salinity for different species?)
Also back to adding the nitrate, if I do decide to start adding it, how much do you normally add to the 5ltrs of medium when you make it up?
And a question for both you and Cam, is there a follow up video with tips and tricks for raising copepods? I have a few more questions there as well, especially when it comes time to split the culture and using mesh to seperate babies from adults etc, im more than a little confused there.
Cheers, Melinda

[@ArrickthaRed]

Very helpful video. Who would have thought to use tap water

[@rolisreefranch]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try dechlorinated tap water. Only tried growing phyto once, and had no luck using rodi. Def want to try it again!

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

let us know how you go!

[@crazybear8138]

I mean, what sort of tds is he getting out of he’s tap? Mine is on the 300’s. Won’t that leach bad elements into the water in the tank? Thanks

[@alexturner7674]

What about temp of phyto for culturing? No one ever mentions it

[@A.R.C.77]

😁🤘

[@grouchy9354]

Hey Cam, I failed my first culture and I believe it was due to it being to diluted to start with. It lost all colour in day 2 and didn't change until day 5 which was when I tipped it. What is your opinion on starting ratios? phyto to medium wise.. (example.. 1 part phyto to 3 parts medium) ect...

[@lucrisp77]

Is RODI water not recommended? I’d think that would be better then tap water

[@RSFryman]

RODI is better practice than tap water. The phyto likely won't care but if you are dosing this into your reef, tap water will add silicates and unknown bacteria and viruses at a minimum. Possibly could also add excess nitrate/phosphate, copper, aluminum, heavy metals, and even traces of pesticide/herbicide/pharmaceutical waste (depending on your source).

[@clarkernucci]

Hi Josh,
Could you please explain what you mean at 4m30s when you say you leave it for 24/48hrs to stand?
What does that do?
I’ve just tried to culture my own batch following your instructions and using your phytoplankton.
Unfortunately my culture crashed 🤦‍♂️

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Hi, thanks for watching. We are Assuming there was no contaminants (ie. you used sterile clean vessels), because that is the leading cause of a crash. Adding nutrients to the medium and standing for 24 hours has helped in some cases as it prevents fertiliser / nitrogen burn.
Cheers! Hope that helps

[@neptunes_pot]

I have tried phytoplankton a couple of times. Anyway, I am not sure how much the corals benefits of the dosing.
Have anybody performed a test with a control tank to see how good this dosing works?

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

I’ve never done a test with a control, so it’s true to say we only have anecdotal evidence it helps. Cam

[@seanrafferty6752]

How do I go about setting up a self-sustaining, no-input, freshwater system?

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Freshwater phyto?

[@seanrafferty6752]

@@GalleryAquaticaTV Yes. Doesn't algae grow in fresh water? I want a miniature ecosystem in my tanks.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Phytoplankton makes the water green and requires nutrient input. I’d stick to plants to create a self sustaining freshwater ecosystem. Cam

[@seanrafferty6752]

​@@GalleryAquaticaTV Do you mean that there are two styles of aquarium that are incompatible? I hear you on that, but who else do I need to create a closed loop? I want to create a system that requires as few continuous inputs as possible. Plants require nutrients as well and I have the stratum aqua-soil. The plants being macroscopic means that to support larger animals I must be missing a few key 'actors' in a cyclical system. I have rotifers and other microfauna, but I'm wondering if there's anything smaller, I can grow that they'll feed on. I just thought an autotroph like Chlorella vulgaris would work.
Thank you for your time.

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

@seanrafferty6752 I think you’ll find phytoplankton requires just as much nutrient input at macroscopic plants, but I think I have a better idea of what you’re looking to achieve. It will be a challenge, but certainly an intriguing project. Cam

[@deaniselin4756]

How is tap water sterile ?
I’ve always used Ro water and it works fine

[@siggyincr7447]

The chlorine in most residential water supplies leaves it close enough to sterile for the algae culture. The minerals and other impurities can be beneficial to the algae. All this is very dependent on your municipal water supply. Giving it a try has a minimal cost and if it works better great. If not, stick to the RO water.

[@adnailsupply]

And I'm trying to bring down my phos. It's at .47

[@TrentonCook-tj6uj]

i may have missed it but what salinity does he run his cultures at?

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

I just asked him, 29 PPT. Cam

[@TrentonCook-tj6uj]

@@GalleryAquaticaTV Thanks for the quick response!

[@DEXTER-TV-series]

Why not to use aquarium water for the Culturing instead of all these artificial products ??

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Aquarium water is far from sterile and you’d likely end up with a bacterial infection that ruins the phytoplankton culture. Cam

[@desjardin5786]

What phyto does he culture?

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

Nanochloropsis and another I can never remember the name… I’ll ask him next time I see him. Cam

[@NgocTran-rk9qc]

Says he likes to raise nutrients organically and not chemically but ads in Coral Essentials Nitrate Up (Sodium Nitrate) to the phyto???

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

He’s referring to his reef tank when he says organically raise nutrients. The CE nitrate is used in the phytoplankton cultures. Cam