Breeding Preparation - Phytoplankton (Nannochloropsis)

The following post is simply a place for me to get thoughts into the physical world and to compile information found from multiple places into one.  This post is a work in progress.

Items Needed:

• Miracle Grow Liquid Plant Food
• Phytoplankton starter culter

Equipment needed:

• 5 Gallon water jug w/ tight fitting cap
• Air Pump
• Tubing - 1/4" for air
• Tubing - 1/2" or 3/4" for dispensing and filling
• Valve for dispensing tube.
• Valve for filling tube (if not open-top)
• A stand to hold the 5 gallon jug inverted
• Heater
• Light
• Timer

Environmental requirements:

• Salinity - 1.019
• Water temperature - temperature tolerant, but will keep at or above 70*F
• Lighting - 16 hours on, 8 hours off

Thought Processes:

Phytoplankton will play a large role in breeding clownfish.  Phyto is the food for the food the larvae will consume.  It can be used to feed both rotifers and brine shrimp.

I don't want to mess with 2 liter bottles.  Instead I would prefer utilizing a 5 gallon water jug - whether or not the jug contains 5 gallons is another issue.  The jug will be inverted to utilize the shape of the container to allow for a minimization of dead spots.  Dead spots don't seem to be an issue with phytoplankton, but they are with rotifers and brine shrimp, and I plan on using similar designs across the board for all three.

I haven't yet decided if it's necessary to remove the bottom of the jug.  Vent holes will be necessary, as well as drain holes for tubing.  Water could be added via a tube located toward the top of the jug.  This same tube could server as a vent as well - at least when water is not being added.

The air tube would be inserted perhaps 1/4" into the lid and sealed with silicone adhesive.  This tube would be run up to the air pump located physically above the jug.  A valve would need to be installed on this line to control the amount of aeration the phytoplankton receives.

If possible, a drain tube (1/2" or 3/4") would also be inserted similarly into the lid to allow for distribution of the phytoplankton to other containers - rotifer breeder, brine breeder, storage jugs, etc.  This tube could also be used to drain the jug completely if necessary.  It, too, would need a valve and installed as close to the lid as possible.

The third tube, a filling tube, would be installed at the top 1/3rd of the jug.  It would be used to replenish ASW as needed and would also require a valve, however this valve would almost always be open.  However, with an open top, this tube would be unnecessary and would also allow for cleaning of the jug.  A design decision still needs to be made here.  If the jug was completely sealed, air pressure alone should be enough to be able to dispense phytoplankton to the rotifers and brine shrimp that will be located at the same level as the phytoplankton jug.  Those jugs will also have "feeding tubes" which would allow for ASW or phytoplankton to be dispensed into them.