ALGAL CULTURE

Seawater System Algal Culture Spawning & Larval Culture Spat Culture

MBP grows a variety of algal species as food for growing larvae and spat. Care is given to keep culture stocks healthy and free from contaminants such as ciliates and harmful bacteria. All algal cultures are grown in either sterilized seawater or seawater filtered to 1 μm. All cultures are initially grown in 250 ml flasks and, as the cultures grow, they are transferred to 2 liter flasks, 10 liter carboys, 200 liter cylindrical tanks and finally to 7000 liter fiberglass tanks held in a greenhouse. At each stage, a relatively small amount of algae is added to a large volume of water and nutrients, a method of algae cultured called "batch culture". in addition, the 2 liter, 10 liter carboy, and 200 liter tanks are aeraded with a continuous supply of a CO2/air mixture. Culture pH is monitored daily, and air flow is adjusted to maintain a pH of around 8.0.


Algal species :

  • Tetraselmis striata

  • Tetraselmis chuii

  • Nannochloropsis sp.

  • Skeletonema menzelli

  • Skeletonema costatum

  • Chaetoceros neogracile

  • Pseudoisochrysis paradoxa

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  • Pavlova sp.

  • Thalassiosira pseudonana

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  • Isochrysis galbana

  • Chaetoceros muelleri

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  • Pavlova lutheri

  • Chaetoceros calcitrans forma pumilum

  • Rhodomonas salina