Isochrysis Crisis

Abstract

Isochrysis galbana, a brown algae, was trialed to grow at the CFK aquaculture lab but failed until we tried comparing different tank salts to create a wellbalanced base. Our objective was to demonstrate and compare the different saltwater mixes that can be used in cultivating brown algae. Isochrysis galbana and other green algae that are grown at the CFK lab play a very important part in the aquaculture system. Algae is used as a good source of food and nutrients for many primary producers. Algae are one of the most important animals on earth. They create most of the oxygen that we breathe, and they filter every part of the water around the world. Brown algae is known around Florida because of certain species, like sargassum. We are currently having an issue with sargassum, so learning about different brown algae species can benefit everyone around the world. If Isochrysis sp. is kept at a stable salinity of 35ppt then it will easily and successfully grow. The samples were grown according to the standard measures but with different salt bases one was raw salt water, live aquaria and REEF salt. The raw seawater sample grew over a 1–2-day period with salinity that usually stayed around 40. The samples mixed into each artificial reef salt took about a week or more to grow color and cultivate the algae.