New Automated Phytoplankton Reactor

[wlagarde]

Hi All -

I just completed an automated DIY phytoplankton reactor setup. I started with an old GEO kalkwasser reactor. I then added a float switch connected to a peristaltic pump (to maintain a constant level of f/2 media in the reactor), made a water tight removable Plexiglas tube that inserts down the center that holds a 13W T5 fluorescent tube (driven by an advance eballast), an air pump to provide aeration, and a second peristaltic pump to dose the phyto. The light and air pump runsconstantly and there is a vent at the top of the reactor that allows air to escape as its bubled in (a tube from this vent is routed to the sump in case the float fails). Once daily, the X-10 controlled dosing pump doses phyto for 5 minutes (about 8oz phyto). The float in response tops off the reactor with fresh f/2 media from a holding tank. Just prior to dosing the X-10 controlled mixing pump runs for 1 minute to suspend any phyto that has settled to the bottom.

Here are some links to some pics of the setup:

http://home.nc.rr.com/wlagarde/Phyto%20Rx%201.JPG
http://home.nc.rr.com/wlagarde/Phyto%20Rx%202.JPG
http://home.nc.rr.com/wlagarde/f2%20Tank.JPG

[invincible569]

Great job!!

What kind of peri pumps are those?

[Lutefisk]

Very nice looking.

I'll be looking forward to some updates about how it is working out.


Paul

[wlagarde]

Masterflex model 7543-60 foxed speed at 60 RPM. With the 7016-20 L/S heads I have on them, they put out about 8oz in 5 minutes. Paid about $80 for both on eBay.

[wlagarde]

Thanks guys! In the future I might replace the f/2 media holding tank with a UV unit to supply tank water spiked with with concentrated f/2 solution.

[wlagarde]

Just some follow-up: 6 weeks and still going strong...

[Lutefisk]

Originally posted by wlagarde
Just some follow-up: 6 weeks and still going strong...

Thanks for the update!

It looks great.

Paul

[Solly]

Very cool. One question: where is the mixing pump? I can't seem to find it in the pictures...Does one of the peri pumps double as the mixing pump?

-Solly

[wlagarde]

Originally posted by Solly
Very cool. One question: where is the mixing pump? I can't seem to find it in the pictures...Does one of the peri pumps double as the mixing pump?

-Solly

The mix pump is a Maxi-Jet (MJ-1000). You can see it mounted in-line with the white PVC piping...

[Solly]

Sorry, can't imagine how I missed that. Thanks.

-Solly

[wlagarde]

Originally posted by Solly
Sorry, can't imagine how I missed that. Thanks.

-Solly

No prob - it is sort of obscured by the black plastic base...

[Paulairduck]

you might give GEO a new idea???

[stereomandan]

Am I missing something or are you not adding the fertilizer anywhere?

I used to make lots pf phyto "the old fashioned way" and the phyto required fertilizer to grow, plus the light and heat. With your setup, I can't imagine how you could add the fertilizer without some of it making it into your tank without being used up first(to grow the phyto.)

Beautiful setup!

Dan

[Paliya]

Wow that looks so cool. Very nice way to automate phyto dosing. I bet your pods are happy! The t5 in the middle of the chamber makes it look like some alien technology or something.

One question, have you had any problems running the MaxiJet externally?

[wlagarde]

Originally posted by Paulairduck
you might give GEO a new idea???

Hopefully it will...and then they might sell it at a reasonable price...

[wlagarde]

Originally posted by stereomandan
Am I missing something or are you not adding the fertilizer anywhere?

I used to make lots pf phyto "the old fashioned way" and the phyto required fertilizer to grow, plus the light and heat. With your setup, I can't imagine how you could add the fertilizer without some of it making it into your tank without being used up first(to grow the phyto.)

Beautiful setup!

Dan

Fertilizer (macroalgae grow) is premixed into the phyto topoff water. I'm sure some makes it into the tank but I've had no probs so far and Phos and Nitrates still 0.

[wlagarde]

Originally posted by p-deezy
Wow that looks so cool. Very nice way to automate phyto dosing. I bet your pods are happy! The t5 in the middle of the chamber makes it look like some alien technology or something.

One question, have you had any problems running the MaxiJet externally?

Thanks! The best part about it was that it really was easy to make since it only required some minor modifications of the original reactor...

[stereomandan]

Originally posted by wlagarde
Fertilizer (macroalgae grow) is premixed into the phyto topoff water. I'm sure some makes it into the tank but I've had no probs so far and Phos and Nitrates still 0.

I would like to know if you experience a growth of nuisance algae, or if you start to measure nitrates or phosphates.

Please keep us posted since this is a new setup.

Dam

[wlagarde]

Sure - will do. However, I imagine no more MAG gets into the system than those who dose home grown phyto manually...

[Bishop]

Very nice job.

[wlagarde]

Bishop - Thanks. My hope is that this will be sustainable long term since growing and dosing phyto by hand is sort of a pain. I only have about $300 in this thing. Quite a bit better than grotechs option.

[smariner]

Very nice! I like it!

cb

[RENE]

amazing ..=)

[rufio173]

What's the f/2 media? Is that the fertilizer media you use (macroalgae grow)?

Also, what's the mix formula on the media?

Cheers,
John

[Bishop]

It's a nutritional enrichment formula originally described in 1975 to aid in the culture of planktonic algae for the growth of higher level organisms.