DIY Freshwater Media
Our Freshwater Media Recipe
Below are instructions on how to make the freshwater media Bold's Basal Medium (BBM), or you can simply buy our version of it from our store! Here is our link.
Bold's Basal Medium BBM, (Bold 1949, Bischoff and Bold 1963)
This media is derived from a modified version of Bristol's solution (Bold 1949). We do not suggest using vitamins as many microalgae are able to supply them from relationships with bacteria, fungus, and other algae. This media is a general media that can be useful for most greens, bluegreens, and with the addition of silica, diatoms!
Table 1: Chemical Composition
| Components | Stock Solution (g/L in dH2O) | Quantity Used | Molar Concentration in Final Medium (M) |
| Macronutrients | |||
| NaHCO3 | 25.00 | 10mL | 2.94 x 10-3 |
| CaCl2 *2H2O | 2.50 | 10mL | 1.70 x 10-4 |
| MgSO4 * 7H2O | 7.50 | 10mL | 3.04 x 10-4 |
| K2HPO4 | 7.50 | 10mL | 4.31 x 10-4 |
| KH2PO4 | 17.5 | 10mL | 1.29 x 10-3 |
| NaCl | 2.50 | 10mL | 4.28 x 10-4 |
| Alkaline EDTA Solution | 1mL | ||
| EDTA | 50.00 | 1.71 x 10-4 | |
| KOH | 31 | 5.53 x 10-4 | |
| Acidified Iron Solution | 1mL | ||
| FeSO4 * 7H2O | 4.98 | -- | 1.79 x 10-5 |
| H2SO4 | -- | 1.0 mL | ---- |
| Boron Solution | --- | 1mL | |
| H3BO4 | 11.42 |
Trace Metals Solutions
Begin with 900 mL of dH2O and dissolve the EDTA. Independently, dissolve each component and bring final volume to 1 liter. Schlösser (1994) recommends making two trace metals solutions, (a) 0.4 g EDTA and 0.7 g FeSO4 7H2O in 100 mL dH2O, and (b) 0.4 g EDTA and remaining elements in 900 mL dH2O; autoclave separately and combine aseptically when cool.
| Components | Stock Solution (g/L in dH2O) | Quantity | Molar Concentration in Final Medium (M) |
| ZnSO4 7*H2O | 8.82 | 3.07 x 10-5 | |
| MnCl2 * 4H2O | 1.44 | 7.28 x 10-6 | |
| MoO3 | 0.71 |
4.93 x 10-6 |
|
| CuSO4 | 1.57 |
6.29 x 10-6 |
|
| Co(NO3) *6H2O | 0.49 |
1.68 x 10-6 |