Algae Fertilizer (Culture Media and Salts)

Algae cultures need fertilizer, or nutirnets.  To grow algae consider that they are in contact with their environment through their cell membranes.  They interact with the physical, chemical, and biological makeup of the water.   When we culture algae cells we try and control these factors to target the growth of the cells that we desire (think about how a farmer would want sandy or clay soils for for different crops).  There are general types of water that are used to culture algae

• Freshwater (Chlorella)
• Seawater (Nannochloropsis, Pyrocystis fusiformis, Porphyridium, Isochrysis)
• Alkali  (Arthrospira aka spirulina)

Media is made up of both SALTS and NUTRIENTS.    Freshwater salt concentrations are very low, we believe in adding a small amount of carbon buffer to the media (pH 7).  Seawater is largely sodium chloride (pH 8.2).  Alkali salts include both sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate (pH 10)  

Nutrients like our spirulina and f/2 are a complete mixture of everything that a culture will need.  The content of the nutrients can be described in two key groups:

• Macronutrients:  nitrogen, phosphorus
• Micronutrients:  trace metals, vitamins

All of the Algae Research and Supply salts and nutrients are made in our labs and are as good as it gets for growing algae!