Growing Algae...

[Savvypro]

29 July 2011 update...

Today I decided to do a liquid medium test tube for both of the mystery strains.

It's a simple test to see what develops from the sample transfers.

[wizofid]

Thanks - just reading along. I guess its kind of hard to sit and watch them grow.

Cheers - Wiz

[Savvypro]

Thanks - just reading along. I guess its kind of hard to sit and watch them grow.

Cheers - Wiz

For the test tubes - yep, nothing much to do except shake them every now and then.

For the flats, I can see the self shading taking place, the Spirulina produces some interesting patterns in the medium.

The flasks are even better as when a clump forms, I can watch air bubbles forming at the top edge of the clump. Some times the whole clump ends up floating to the top.

For the other strains: its a case of trying to figure out if they are actually growing or if there is an actual contamination.

[wizofid]

yes - trying to grow only the good stuff would be hard. I would suppose its about cleanliness of the highest order.

Thanks!

[Jetijs]

This is my bioreactor. I am growing chlorella nvulgaris algae. So far everything seems to work quite fine. The reactor uses 30 1w LEDs, 18 red and 12 blue ones. They light up for 12 hours a day. There is an air bubbler inside, the same type as aquariums use. Also there is an aquarium heater in the reactor that keeps the temperature at 32 degree celsius. My friend took a sample and put it under microscope, the algae culture is very clean and without any other species inside. Hope it will keep this clean.

[Savvypro]

This is my bioreactor. I am growing chlorella nvulgaris algae. So far everything seems to work quite fine. The reactor uses 30 1w LEDs, 18 red and 12 blue ones. They light up for 12 hours a day. There is an air bubbler inside, the same type as aquariums use. Also there is an aquarium heater in the reactor that keeps the temperature at 32 degree celsius. My friend took a sample and put it under microscope, the algae culture is very clean and without any other species inside. Hope it will keep this clean.

@Jetijs

What's the capacity of the reactor? is it plastic or glass?

[Jetijs]

It is a 25L glass jar intended for wine/beer making. The algae color turns darker by each day, they really seem to like that environment

[Savvypro]

It is a 25L glass jar intended for wine/beer making. The algae color turns darker by each day, they really seem to like that environment

I've been trying to get something similar, but all I can find here in the UK is fermenter bottles with slim openings.

What medium are you using for the Chlorella Nvulgaris?

[jtanguay]

Where do you buy the live spirulina platensis? ( or however it's spelled)

I'm more interested in the health benefits since it's jam packed with nutrients and can be grown indoors in a cold climate.

[Savvypro]

Where do you buy the live spirulina platensis? ( or however it's spelled)

I'm more interested in the health benefits since it's jam packed with nutrients and can be grown indoors in a cold climate.

It depends on where your located, if your in the USA, check the posts at the beginning of the thread.

[Jetijs]

I've been trying to get something similar, but all I can find here in the UK is fermenter bottles with slim openings.

What medium are you using for the Chlorella Nvulgaris?

Hi.
The medium is distilled water and some plant nutrient additive. I try to maintain the PH at level 7 and will soon get the dissolved solids meter to see when to add more nutrients. Tests show that this species loves distilled water without any minerals typical to tap water, grows a bit faster in such conditions. I have now upgraded to a 120 liter reactor, it is a plastic container. I glued the LEDs to a aluminum profile and soldered all the lead wires, then I insulated all the contacts with several layers of clear epoxy. 70W overall power. The aluminum acts as a heat sink and also will keep the water at warm temperatures. It will be a submersible light, hope it will work well. I will let the epoxy set firmly over night and pour the water and algae into it tomorrow. It also has six air stones at the bottom of the aluminum profile and it will use an air pump with 6 outlets to feed air to the water. Should work fine. Here are some pics:

[Stealth]

That's a nice looking setup. I am planning on doing one soon. I am in the middle of another project right now, but should be finished with it in a couple of weeks. I would like to grow spirulina as well as some other things in an aquarium. Keep us posted on your progress. Good luck. stealth

[Jetijs]

Hi Stealth,
here is a little update video:
120L bioreactor.wmv - YouTube

[ashtweth]

Even the corrupt united nations said spirulina is humans number one food grow it bro thank you

[Savvypro]

1st September 2011 update...

Just made 2 litres of new Spirulina medium, and multiplied out the flasks and flats that I put together in July.

For the flasks I've only doubled the volume of the medium. I'm not taking the chance that a larger volume may stifle and possibly kill off the Spirulina, that I've spent a while to get to this point.

As it stands I have 1 x 500ml flask filled to the 500ml mark, a 250ml flask filed to about 225ml (the water level is between the 200ml and 250ml mark). And a 1 litre clear glass olive oil bottle filled with about 750ml of Spirulina and new medium.

I’ve moved all the contents of the test tubes except for one over to 75ml flats. The test tubes that I emptied out, I filled them with about 10 ml or so of new medium. I’ll be doing a similar test to the one I did with the vial sample.

So far I have only used a lamp for growing the algae. I Haven't had a large enough volume nor a large enough container, to be able to use an aquarium heater to keep the medium at a constant ideal growing temp.

In a week or 2 I should be able to double the volume again and really get going. Will need to order the harvesting mesh before I can start harvesting.


Anyone know where I can get a good quality 50 micron screen/mesh/net with out having to buy a large roll of it. The stuff that I have bought so far is a thick felt material.

I was going to order the following from amazon.com but there is a restriction shipping it to the UK: Amazon.com: Nylon Mesh Sheet, 50 Microns Square Opening, 31% Open Area, 40 Microns Thread Diameter, 12" x 12": Industrial & Scientific