phytoplankton

[squirt_12]

ok...how would i make a batch of phytoplankton??? cause i will need to feed my bettas on it and if i decide to hatch my amano shrimp....i will have to feed them that too. Also i would need ALOT of it too. lol

Thanks in advance!!!!

[Dave66]

ok...how would i make a batch of phytoplankton??? cause i will need to feed my bettas on it and if i decide to hatch my amano shrimp....i will have to feed them that too. Also i would need ALOT of it too. lol

Thanks in advance!!!!

Phytoplankton is simply algae cells floating (aka green water). Easily done, Google Guillards F/2 formula for a thick batch.

Dave

[squirt_12]

so like there is no way that i can make this from ingrediants from around my house????

[squirt_12]

ok well i was surfing the net for ideas on how to make phytoplankton and well i came across this but...i don't want to have to buy anything becasue my LFS doesn't carry salt water stuff so i would have to drive a couple of hours or get it delivered to me but i really don't want to. so is there any way from the stuff in this link that i can make from my house with household ingridiants????(sp?)
http://www.melevsreef.com/phytoplankton.html

[Dave66]

Its dead easy to make green water. All you need is sunlight, water, and dried crumbled lettace (duckweed's better, though). Make sure the container gets four hours of sunlight a day.
It costs nothing to do this, save the lettace.

Dave

[squirt_12]

ok so if i want to make that into saltwater phytoplankton....all i do is add some marine salt to it???

[Dave66]

Yep. Marine water turns green MUCH faster than fresh.

Dave

[squirt_12]

ok...so i have a container (a miracle whip container) and well i don't have one of those things that measures out how much salt you havein there so....how much salt would i have to put into that??? Also the lettuce that i put in it.....does it have to be completly dried out?????

Thanks so much.
curtis (my real name)

[Dave66]

Curtis,
Just put the lettace on a sunny windowsill for a couple days. It'll be bone dry and easy to crumble. You need a clear container the algae to grow properly. Even a five-gallon tank would work. Any clear container.

Dave

[squirt_12]

ok well the margarine container is 950ml and it is clear. So would that work????? Also how much salt would be needed for that for it to be fully saltwater???? thanks, dave so much.

[Dave66]

You're talking to a math defective lol. I think a teaspoon of marine salt would do it.

Dave

[YaYgoldFish]

Dave, do you think you could feed this stuff to fry? This sounds pretty easy and cheap to make lol.

[Dave66]

Yep, P. Used it for years. The dried lettace (duckweed's better) causes infusoria to develop, mostly Euglena and Paramecium. They feed on the algae, but not enough to make a difference. I use a turkey baster to suck up the mix, and squirt it to the fry.

Dave

[squirt_12]

Thanks for everything Dave!!!!!!:22:

[squirt_12]

ok....well say that i have the green water in the jar.....well my question is....what do i put in with the greenwater to keep it alive??? and what conditions does it need to stay alive????

[squirt_12]

ok...well i am about to put the dried crumbled lettuce into the jar....now how much do i need for a jar that is 950ml???? Also will i need to keep i lid on it??? do i need to have an air tube in it?? and....how much sunlight does it need a day?? and how long will it take for it to mature?

Thanks

[YaYgoldFish]

Try pming Dave instead of making multiple post.

[Dave66]

ok...well i am about to put the dried crumbled lettuce into the jar....now how much do i need for a jar that is 950ml???? Also will i need to keep i lid on it??? do i need to have an air tube in it?? and....how much sunlight does it need a day?? and how long will it take for it to mature?

Thanks

'Bout a leaf for your container. Just cover the bottom with the crumbles.
Four to six hours a day in sunlight. The lettace will feed the algae.
Its kind of expensive, but Guillards F/2 formulae feeds the algae for a very rich culture. Its worth it if you produce a lot of green water, as I do.
Oh, and you don't need to cover it. Usually takes a week or so for a good crop.

Dave

[squirt_12]

ok....so if i got a really rich load of algae couldn't i just add more lettuce to it??? or no?

[Dave66]

Nah, it takes a LONG time for the lettace to be consumed. Just start other cultures so you'll always have green water available.

Dave

[squirt_12]

ok...well it still baffles me though..like how does the green water get created. lol.

[Dave66]

Algae spores float through the air; you're breathing them now. They settle where the environment suits them, like your culture.

Dave

[squirt_12]

so i shouldn't have a lid on the container?? right?

[Dave66]

No lid. Algae needs oxygen like we do.

Dave

[squirt_12]

ok well i am like harrasing (sp?) you with all of these questions but i swear they are almost done.

Do i need an air tube going into the tank? or no?

thanks SOOOOOO much dave

[Dave66]

I use a fine airstone with my cultures as they can get too 'thick' without one. Since you're not feeding the algae, there's no need to aireate.
I don't mind the questions; its why I'm here.

Dave

[squirt_12]

ok thanks so much. i think that i am now done asking questions for now at least but if something comes up i will ask. But i think that i am good to go. But the first batch of lettuce that i dried wasn't enough to make a batch of plankton so i have to dry some more lettuce and after that i will make me first batch of phytoplankton. Also....will i have to like stir the container everyday?? because somewhere i read that you have to do that for it to grow better. is this true?

P.S.
can i feed freshwater plankton to my swordtail fry?? will they eat it>??

P.P.S.
I am excited for my first batch. lol.

[Dave66]

If its copepod-sized, yes, you can feed it to your sword fry. BBS is easier, though.

Dave

[squirt_12]

ok...thanks Dave.