Growing Spirulina at Home. Blue green algae for fish and people too!

[exiagundamit]

Mmm.  Tastes like tubing.

[SuperJeremy1982]

@esidrdave is this safe for human consumption?

[kikr4000]

Loves the sound quality

[mantis777A]

I don't think that's spirulina kind of Blue algae you're growing there...there are so many different kinds of blue algae.

[gg6394]

awesome!! 

[roidroid]

you say carbohydrate a couple of times, was that an accident?

[esidrdave]

@roidroid plant matter consists of lots of long chain carbon/hydrogen compounds. that's where the CO2 goes when it gets absorbed, turns into biomass. Same happens with algae, though it gets CO2 from dissolved gas in water. That comes from agitated water mixing with atmospheric CO2 and from carbon breaking down in the water. this turns into inorganic C02, and either bubbles to the top where it becomes another CO2 molecule to enter the atmosphere or be consumed by algae. Does that explain?

[roidroid]

@esidrdave ya

[outlaWeasel]

I have that same hat!!

[esidrdave]

@outlaWeasel maybe we're related!

[johnstarnes]

Where did you get your starter spirulina? Great work! John

[esidrdave]

@johnstarnes this is a spontaneously occurring algae. it will pop up whereever there is water rich with nitrates and sunlight. you can order spirulina from Univ Texas. There are a number of universities doing research that can supply.

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[enticed2zeitgeist]

Could I just put a bunch of grass clippings into a basket and have the waterfall go through it to add nutrients into the water? You know, as the grass decomposes and such? That way there won't be particles floating around in the water?

[esidrdave]

@enticed2zeitgeist essentially yes. you can get more nutrients if you put boiling water onto the grass.

[marthale7]

where did you get the Spirulina? I need a start of it.

[esidrdave]

@marthale7 water conditions generally are sufficient. but if you want a source the Univ of Texas has a department that sends cultures for purchase. not sure which dept. know your water chemistry first. they like water very alkaline

[undiscovered0001]

man u just made a good 1 i loved :)

[esidrdave]

@undiscovered0001 thanks!

[pranachimana]

worm castings and ash? thanks man. Could this just be done in a normal fish tank? With the worm castings and ash as the nutrients? What type of ash do you use? Hard wood, soft wood, grasses?

[esidrdave]

@pranachimana. yes, it's easy to get algae to grow in a fish tank, just needs lots of light. can be problematic with fish in same tank as oxygen deprivation occurs at night. Ash can work though it will settle as muck in beds or tank. too much solids in the water will compete with algae for sunlight. but the potassium is good. we'll post experiments soon regarding spirulina algae using biochar (hardwood or grasses) vs lime. ash can also be filtered out or settled, leaving water alkaline.

[pranachimana]

@esidrdave Thanks a lot, I want to start my own but i don't want to be dependent on having to buy the "nutrient mixes"

[esidrdave]

@pranachimana good luck!

[an0m0nus]

esidave how do you a adjust the ph level to 9ish to get rid of other algae?

[esidrdave]

@an0m0nus it goes up on its own. C02 plus H20 gives H2C03, bicarbonate is alkaline. With urine as a nitrogen source and aeration plus some add'l carbohydrate decomposing pH can go up to as high as 11. Great for blue green algae, spirulina.

[TheEllisd77]

i hope your next vid shows all the other stuff you mentioned.... how to dry and eat it!!! Thanks for the vid...!!!

[esidrdave]

@TheEllisd77 I'd love to do that. So much to do, so little time...

[sexy52637]

you are like so hot...

[dmacosta1]

Thanks  nice job

[esidrdave]

@dmacosta1 you velcome