Growing Algae...

[petar113507]

Savy, great thread.

Have you come any further with these plans? If yes, do you want to swap trade bio-reactor plans? I'm working with my room mate (used to be a marine bio major) -- but I sure could use some critiques, and it seems you're as interested in this as I am. I've plans for making either an acryllic-tube reactor, or a 2-liter soda bottle + PVC prototype reactor.

I am not going the "pond" route, as in the region I am in, I do not have a regular suitable background temperature.

As a side note, have you considered doping the water with ORME's?
to boost growth rate, and to make the ORME's suitable for human consumption through the plant.

Also, have you contacted any warehouses/wholesale stores for the minerals nescessary to feed the spirulina? Have you compared sources for cost for those nutrients?

I have heard seawater may be used to grow spirulina. I am currently investigating how to process the seawater as the nutrient base for the culture. Do you know anything about this?

Hope to hear from you soon,

==Romo

[theremart]

Algae

http://www.algaelab.org/store/


Blogs under tag Spirulina


Found this location that sells kits to grow spirulina, with instructions.

Looks like a good way to go.

mart

[Savvypro]

Savy, great thread.

Have you come any further with these plans? If yes, do you want to swap trade bio-reactor plans? I'm working with my room mate (used to be a marine bio major) -- but I sure could use some critiques, and it seems you're as interested in this as I am. I've plans for making either an acryllic-tube reactor, or a 2-liter soda bottle + PVC prototype reactor.

I am not going the "pond" route, as in the region I am in, I do not have a regular suitable background temperature.

As a side note, have you considered doping the water with ORME's?
to boost growth rate, and to make the ORME's suitable for human consumption through the plant.

Also, have you contacted any warehouses/wholesale stores for the minerals nescessary to feed the spirulina? Have you compared sources for cost for those nutrients?

I have heard seawater may be used to grow spirulina. I am currently investigating how to process the seawater as the nutrient base for the culture. Do you know anything about this?

Hope to hear from you soon,

==Romo

My plans are currently on hold as I'm putting money aside in order to get culture samples and supply’s in order to start experimenting and growing algae. I should be ready to start in a couple of week, but I'll be growing a few different algae strains - not just Spirulina.

I don't mind exchanging bioreactor plan ideas, although most of the things I’ve thought about - is in this thread. I will say that I’m currently looking to start off with, is 1 gallon pickle jars.

On ORME's - I've briefly looked at it, but don't have concrete info on how to make it. I do have other ideas which I'm looking to test which are easier to do before I go onto harder things.

On cost - I've done some costing for the different supply's and listed them in this thread.

On seawater - take a look at the culture websites, but basically it is to heat up the water before use, some pass the water through a filter. Take a look through this thread, I link to a culture site which has very good info on different process.

On a slightly different note, where the mediums call for salt, I plan to use real sea salt in it's place.

[Savvypro]

http://www.algaelab.org/store/


Blogs under tag Spirulina


Found this location that sells kits to grow spirulina, with instructions.

Looks like a good way to go.

mart

I've mentioned them in a previous post, the problem is for those not in the USA - as geting the cultures can be problematic and costly.

[Savvypro]

@Romo,

Does your room mate still have access to research paper available on online libraries like JSTOR or Sciencedirect.

[Stealth]

I have always been interested in hydroponics, and would love to grow Spirulina and vegetables inside in an aquarium. It is just that right now I am just too busy, as I am remodeling my house. After I finish, I would like to start one. You can find many products available on the web by doing a hydroponics search. It would be invaluable in a survival situation where you could grow your own food year around indoors. I use Spirulina myself, and like it very much. I buy mine at a health food store. It is expensive to buy,but it goes a long way when using it with other foods.This could be a sustainable food source when all else fails, or as food prices soar. It is estimated that the US will have 15% less food production this year than last. Add to that the rising costs of fuel to produce and trasnsport, and we could see food prices escalate to an astronomical level.Since the US is one of the worlds largest suppliers of food, it could mean food exportation could be down drastically, or food levels here in the US could decline rapidly. Either way,growing algae for food or oil is a viable and wise decision that can be implemented without a huge investment. Good Luck. stealth

[Savvypro]

Just adding to what Stealth wrote.

The Nasa papers that I have read indicate that Spirulina could be used as the only food source in long term voyages to Mars. That it would produce all the oxygen and food required.

The fact that you can easily produce Spirulina with different levels of carbohydrates and protein can also be a benefit (I covered this in a previous post, the deciding factor is temp).

In one Nasa proposal that I read, it gives the figure of 2.7kg (dry weight) of daily production for a 15 man crew. Thats 180g per person per day, that small figure is enough to feed and produce oxygen for a single person.

Based on the store bought prices I've seen of 1kg costing about £30 ($49.0874 - where 1 GBP = 1.63625 USD @ 2011-05-06 08:10 UTC), it would cost £5.40 (8.83771 USD) a day. Growing it yourself at the figure I stated in post 22 (less than £10 per kg - see: http://www.energeticforum.com/agricu...tml#post128386) it would cost less than £1.8 a day.

[Sun Fusion]

Just to highlight here that CNN declared algae to be the ultimate source of renewable energy. It is also referred to as the green fuel due to its capacity to replace fossil fuel. More attention should be payed to this,and I am so glad that I can discuss the matter in a forum like this

[Savvypro]

It's been a while but I'm finally ready to get going. I was going to order the culture samples this week, but based on the time it takes to get them ready for shipping - it woun’t be until next week that I’ll be placing my order.

With that being the case, I’ve been preparing to order all the component minerals/chemicals that I’ll need to make the mediums. As I plan on growing 4 algae strains to begin with. I've got my eye on a couple of others - but the cost to acquire them, is putting them on the back burner for the time being.

The main problem that I’m currently running into is with some of the chemicals, trying to get some of them in either food grade or lab grade is an issue. A good example is Copper Sulphate - one supplier listed lead and arsenic at 50 ppm each - although low I’d rather have them at 0. Considering that the algae is going to be consumed.


On a different note, as I've been doing my research my ideas on how to grow the algae keep evolving, the only issue is that I have a lot of ideas but no definite, firm "right this is how it's going to be done" plan.

The ideas are based on a few principles and facts that I've found along the way, some of them are listed in this thread - for example:

Different colour light results in different growth types - blue light will cause spirulina to divide more (increase in number), red light will result in it growing larger.

Higher temp (30 degrees C) results in higher protein content, at 25 degrees C, it's less protein with a higher % of carbohydrate.

Light is actually a limiting factor - too much light and spirulina will stop growing and self shading will increase.

To grow in winter, the limiting factor is heat - more specifically the lack of heat.

One of the new principles that I recently come across is that some algae growers are forcing the algae into dark areas. To allow for the processes which only take place in the shade or in the dark - to take place. Instead of having the algae in light continuously, for 8 to 12 hours a day. The cycle is altered to being in the light and being in darkness multiple time a day - if not per hour.

On a volume basis, half the volume is in light while the other half in is darkness/shadow. This is mainly done with circulating enclosed bio reactors, where half the volume will be in a dark tank with the other half going through the light collecting part of the pipes/bags etc.

[Savvypro]

Just a quick update...

Spent the past few days ordering the equipment and supply's that I'll need. Still got a couple of things to get, one I'm not sure about.

The chemicals that are needed for the medium the algae will grow in have all been ordered - except for some of the metal trace minerals, as their purity (at least the ones that I have found) are questionable.

Because I'll be growing more than just Spirulina, the amount of chemicals and equipment that I needed is more than those who are just looking to grow Spirulina. For example I have bought a pressure cooker, some mason jars (very difficult to find in the UK - and not cheap), and other things to ensure a non contaminated growing environment.

I've tried to minimise the amount of things I need to get by focusing on things that are reusable and can be re-sterilised - so as to minimise cost. So that means a lot of glass "equipment". I Managed to find a bargain on test tubes, but still need to find a bargain on autoclavable caps that can withstand the pressure cooker.

I also ordered the main 3 cultures today, if everything goes as planed they should arrive here by the end of next week. At which point my focus will be to ensure their establishment, before moving on to large volume growing and the best bit: testing.

[Savvypro]

13 June 2011 update...

The cultures should be ready to ship out today, so should have them this week - baring any shipping problems.

Managed to win myself a brand new 5 stage reverse osmosis filter with tank and faucet. It’s only a 50GPD unit (would have like at least 100 GPD), but for the price I can’t complain as I’m getting it cheaper than basic 3 stage filters, without the extras. Still have to figure out the waste water issue, I’m looking to get a Permeate Pump as my water is right off the mains and should have enough pressure. Although it may actually be too much, as there is a local pumping station near by, until I test it - I'm not 100% sure.

On a different note I've received nearly all the chemicals to start making up the mediums for the 3 different algae. I'm going to start off with the standard recipes in order to get them established. Then I'll start testing.

A couple of funny issues that I've had so far:
The pressure cooker that I bought is slightly too small for what I wanted it for, so I may have to buy either a bigger one or actually get an autoclave.
The 1,000ml/35oz mason jars that I bought are a bit tall for the pressure cooker.

Non absorbent cotton wool (to be used to plug open gaps/holes in test tubes, growing containers) - very expensive, in fact the lab supply companies that I have look at. Their standard delivery charge (£12, nearly $20) is as much the wool and then they ass VAT. Hopefully I can find an alternative supplier, who doesn’t charge outrageous prices.

Got myself some Agar Agar, the supplier that I got it from has the weirdest price structure in that the more you buy the the more expensive it gets. Not only that, if you were to buy 5 200g bags, it’s £10 cheaper than buying a 1kg bag. But the shipping cost on the 200g bags is a joke. Luckily I only need about 10g per 1 litre of medium, so the 200g will last me for a while, as the agar versions of the medium will only be used in the fist few stages of culture volume growth.

I may make some agar jello.

[Savvypro]

14 June 2011 update...

Algae samples arrived in the UK today and are due for delivery tomorrow.
Wasn't expecting a Wednesday delivery, but towards a Friday one.

Oh well let the good times begin...

[Savvypro]

15 June 2011 update...

Algae arrived early this morning.

In the picture attached, the tube on the left contains Spirulina. The other two will remain a secret for a little while longer.

For the next week or so I’ll be leaving them in their current test tubes, so that they can establish themselves - before I start dividing them up for culture multiplication.

[Savvypro]

16 June 2011 update...

I been giving the Spirulina test tube a shake every couple of hours (during the day), to get the algae off the bottom of the tube. This morning, I removed some of the Spirulina + medium - into a small vial that I had prepared.

What I should now have is a small vial with the most buoyant of the Spirulina. With the most intact spirals or at least that’s the theory. I’ve taken a look at the vial under one of my microscopes and can see all the Spirulina spirals. Unfortunately I don’t yet have a means of taking a picture of what I see on my microscopes. It’s one of the things that I still have to get.

Even without a microscope you can see the Spirulina in the water, their like little specks of green dust moving about. But under a microscope, it's even more amazing, while their free floating and moving about.

I've now placed them under a diamond grading lamp which has a day light tube in it. I've got a more permanent lamp that is still on it's way. This afternoon I received a box of 6500k lights that I’ll be using, (I paid for 5, and received a box of 8 instead - 3 of them, as a gift from the merchant).

[Savvypro]

17 June 2011 update...

Something woke me up at about 2 am in the morning, once I was up I checked the algae. The Spirulina that was left in it's original test tube had clumped up really badly over night. So did the Spirulina in the smaller vial, but when I gave it a shake, it loosened up and is not as bad as the Spirulina in the original test tube. As it now has a number of green clumps floating around.

Thinking about how to prevent the clumping, I got the idea to lay flat the test tube and the vial. As the Spirulina settles, the greater surface area (while the test tube and the vial are on their sides) will prevent the algae from clumping up as badly, as compared to when they settle at the bottom of an up right test tube and vial.

This morning when I woke up, I again checked on the cultures and found that my theory had proven to be right.

The other two algae are growing on agar slants so their likelihood of clumping in the same way as the Spirulina is virtually nil.

I think its time to reveal a bit more about one of the other two strains.

In the picture that I posted on the 15th, the test tube on the right contains a green algae which can be used to to produce biofuel. Although the strain itself isn't one of the highest lipid producing algae know, I got it for a different purpose. The biofuel aspect is just an added extra, if I decide to experiment in that direction, I'll have a good test candidate to experiment with.