So I got introduced to algae farming, particulary spirulina, by Steve Blanchard ages ago. We bought two liters of the stuff but I had no money at the time so things fell by the wayside…(It all died)
Buuuut! Now I have lots of cash. I have aquariums and experience setting stuff up. I’m going to give it another go.
I also discovered bioluminescent algae and I want to grow them just for the giggles. Classes could be taught for either one of these things. I could just do a presentation on it to give people information about -why- it is neat and worth pursuing until I get something more real that I can carry around.
What do ya think?
(some links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrocystis_fusiformis and ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0424e/i0424e00.pdf
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What do you need to grow significant amounts of algae? For that matter, what constitutes significant amounts of algae? What would you do with it?
I’ve read about making diesel fuel from algae, and using algae to clean up toxins in water, and even making fuel cells that generate electricity from algae (though, I don’t know how that works, exactly). You could even use the algae as human food. What do you plan to do with it?
I’ve been fascinated by bioluminescent algae for years. When I was in the Navy, my ship sometimes sailed through waters infested with bioluminescent algae, and we could see the glowing lines along our bow. We also used sea water to flush the commodes, so our toilets glowed when we peed in them. Interesting stuff…
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With proper temperature (By heater or other means) and sufficient light (artificial or otherwise) An Algae Culture can double three times. That said an algae culture is 99.9% water. So while starting with one pound at the beginning of the day and ending with eight is possible under optimal conditions…you’re going to need a -lot- of water.
Fortunately you can supplement a person’s diet with as little as five grams a day. So a small ten gallon aquarium in a sunny window could easily produce that or better on a daily basis. Fresh.
There are many different species of algae, some produce oils that can be processed into biodiesel, bases for plastics…etc. But it really comes back to that issue of scale. To grow significant amounts of it you’d need acres. Not to mention advanced equipment like centrifuges and refining technology. I’m looking into it as a food supplement and with glowing varieties as decorative or artistic.
What do I personally want to do with it? Eat it firstly. And if it does me good I’d like to figure out an outdoor pond-style system. Probably built around a kiddie pool. As far as the space goes, I’d want to teach classes, give away samples of cultures and help people establish their own microfarms.
With the dinoflagellates I was thinking similar instruction and sharing, but with a creative arts focus. I’ve got an awesome collection of novelty spirit bottles, and I know some funky hitches and knots to suspend them from a fixture. I’d love to have some glowy blue bottles hanging in my room at night that I can set to spinning or rocking.
That’s just me though. I’d recommend thumbing through that FAO pdf. It’s really something.
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I’m curious what the electron chain is in the bioluminescent bacteria. I’m wondering if it might be used in an organic photovoltaic cell.
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There was a diving experiment to use an algae farm in a small self-contained saturation habitat.
the small design required surface compressors to supplement, but the idea was solid.
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That would be an interesting project. While we are at it, we might try cleaning vegetable oil to make it suitable for diesel fuel, too… and maybe make soap from the residue.
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When I was much younger and driven by Testosterone (ie, teenager), I was once corralled into taste testing algae for a young, attractive girl who was working with it for a science fair project. As I recall the taste and texture left a great deal to be desired.
I would suggest involving folks with solid cooking skills to turn the raw material into something palatable!
Come to think about it, her science fair project may have been “What can a teenage girl get a teenage boy do that they really don’t want to…”
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Fortunately I do have some recipes for this stuff.
If nothing else dried out it would make a good protein supplement for the AP fish or my crayfish at home.
Yep, fish are like Mikey… They will eat anything! 