[combs44]

Hey guys,

FYI, I just finished setting up my own phytoplankton culturing station. I have a mandarin that eats only pods, so I need phyto to help sustain my pod population.

Since there's nowhere to buy live phyto locally, I figured this would be a good cheap alternative to ordering DT's every month or so.

If the culture takes, and I can sustain it, I plan to trade/sell some to local folks. Hopefully I'll be able to offer a cheaper alternative for everyone else as well.

Let me know if you're interested, and I'll keep you all posted on my first attempts at growing the stuff.

[Lowej82]

Ive read a few threads on DIY whole reef foods, never tried any keep us updated how it goes.

[combs44]

Will do. I've also done a bit of a catch all frozen food for pretty cheap. I just bought mysis, brine, rotifiers, daphnia, krill, plankton, nori and cyclopeeze and took a chunk of each and blended it. I flattened it out in a zip lock bag and refroze it. My reef seems to appreciate it.

I bought a package of all the frozen stuff at Fish Man for under $40 or so, and that will last me months.

The phyto looked to have gotten darker over night, so I think it's off to a good start.

[panaboy95]

i would be intereased in buying some i do not know much about it but have been thinking about it latley. i belive there is a calc on rc that tels you how much to dose. i have ben thinking about getting a clam so i will need something.

[combs44]

Sounds good. I'll keep you informed. I figure all it costs me to culture was a bucket, a shop light, a bulb, some miracle grow, kent's essential elements, a starter culture (DT's), water, and a bit of salt.

Most of the cost is up front and will last a while. I figure depending on how well it does, I'd sell a pretty big bottle for $5-$10 or a frag. I don't wanna make money off of it neccessarily, just pay for the time and money I've put into it.

I have heard some intriguing facts about possible phosphate problems caused by phyto. I'm going to run some tests to confirm or deny those rumors, as well as ask around with some folks that know more about it.

Again, I'll keep you posted.

[Lowej82]

So hows this going?

[combs44]

Going good so far except the ballast that I bought to fire my bulb for my setup doesn't fire the bulb well without jiggling it a bit. I am out of town for three days, and the phyto will be under constant light during that time which may cause it to crash. I may have to start over once I get the ballast fixed.

[theaquaticlife]

A good way to keep moving mature pods to the main aquarium is to simply keep a ball of filter floss material in the back of a power filter or in the refugium. When you are ready to "feed" the main tank simply pull the floss out and pick the little mature buggers out and toss them into the tank. Even on regular filter pads I am sure you have noticed them all squirming around fish seem to go gonzo when I change pads as I usually take time to pick them off for them. This is a cheap method for getting a pod colony started in another tank as well just put the floss in a zip lock baggy and go.

As far as live phyto culture I am very interested to see how this goes for you! I have tried other varieties of live food culturing in the past and it always seems like such a daily hassel! My schedule is too crazy to give the attention such an endeavor always seems to turn into! Best of luck with it, hope phyto goes well and I too would be interested in buying some off of you if it takes off!

[Lowej82]

I will be starting a new sump/fuge here shortly anyone have any good pod filled cheato?

[thelastmucci]

Hey Michael...quick question. Do you put holes in the ziplock bags and is that where your supposed to put filter floss...I always thought it went in a micron bag and used it as one of the layers.

[Lowej82]

Originally Posted by thelastmucci

Hey Michael...quick question. Do you put holes in the ziplock bags and is that where your supposed to put filter floss...I always thought it went in a micron bag and used it as one of the layers.

i think the zip lock is to transport the pods & filter floss to another tank

[thelastmucci]

ohhh yea...I see..duh I feel stupid.

[theaquaticlife]

Sorry, first time getting back on cp with the holidays and all! Using a micron bag full of floss is a great idea for keeping unwanted floss from clogging up pumps. Or getting loose and having that unsightly string hanging off live rock.

[combs44]

Update: The culture is at the 2 week mark, and I believe it's ready for it's first split. I'll have 1 liter for personal use, and I'll keep the other half to continue the culture. I'll take some pics this evening of how dark the culture has gotten.

It's a very easy process. Very little maintenance other than shaking the bottle a bit every day. Other than that, a little leg work once every couple of weeks and you're golden.

[combs44]

Here's a picture of my first batch. Hopefully the first attempt at a split goes well, and we'll continue on.

[thelastmucci]

Hey Darren when I get my tank up and running would you be willing to ship some of your frozen fish stuff and/or photoplankton to Rhode Island....I have no idea what to feed salt water fish or invertabraes or corals for that matter....but if your reef seems to like it then you must be doing something right.

[combs44]

Honestly, the food would be cheaper to make yourself.

Most all LFS will have all the items I use in stock almost all the time.

I just buy a bit of everything and blend it up. I can give a list of ingredients, but I assure you it's easy and pretty cheap for a whole bunch of the stuff.

I'd have to look into shipping prices for the phytoplankton and find the best practices for shipping it and get back to you.

[combs44]

Recipe: All bought frozen from LFS.

Mysis Shrimp
Brine Shrimp
Plankton
Krill
Spirulina
Rotifiers
Daphnia
Nori (dried green seaweed)
Cyclopeze

I really just cut off a chunk of each and blend it up for each batch.

You could also use raw frozen table shrimp, bloodworms, golden pearls, oysters, mussels, clams, octopus, squid, as well as other things.

I personally feel that the best thing is variety, so that's what I'm attempting to make.

[thelastmucci]

wow....thats quite a recipe...tell me do you just get all the stuff and throw it in a blender and then baggie it in the freezer. I had no idea there was that much variety for marine life.

[combs44]

Yep. I just buy it all separate, blend it up, and smash it flat in a zip lock bag and refreeze it.

[Lady G]

Is it ok to refreeze foods???

[Lowej82]

The fish dont mind, I wouldnt let it get hot or sit unthawled to long. I also made some food like this.

[Lady G]

Originally Posted by Lowej82

The fish dont mind, I wouldnt let it get hot or sit unthawled to long. I also made some food like this.

Wow, I didn't realize it was ok to do that...guess I just figured it wasn't good to do that with our food, so it wasn't for them either. This sure changes a few things for me...cause I thought about doing it a few times...now I know I can....it will be much easier for me!!!!

[thelastmucci]

Hey combs quick question if you don't mind. The recipe you gave me (which I don't think I ever thanked you for.) seems pretty easy to make..just blend and freeze. But does this feed all the livestock in your tank (ie corals spot feeding corals etc) I just don't want to make the stuff and end up having to pay more for spot feeding corals. Also how long does a bad of that stuff last. Finally if you feed them that what is the photoplankton for..I mean their already fed right...wow I guess that was more than one question.

[combs44]

Yes. I spot feed my corals with the same mix. I've had one batch going for a couple of months now, and I've only used about 1/3 of the orginal packages of the food. I'd say the $40 worth of food that I bought could last over a year provided it doesn't get too freezer burned.

I dose phytoplankton for one reason in particular. I have a mandarin goby which is strictly a pod eater. It has been suggested that pods benefit from phytoplankton, so the main reason for the phyto is to feed my mandarin's food

I've also read that anemones can benefit from phytoplankton on top of regular spot feedings. The thing with phyto is that with it comes phosphates, so you must dose sparingly when dosing.

To be honest, I think the jury is still out on the overall benefit vs. detriment of dosing it.