First thing to think about, are you talking about Micro or Macro-Algae?

hi, there are several methods for growing seaweed: at the laboratory level I suppose you are targeting microalgae. In the laboratory, different types of cultures can be made: phototrophic culture in photobioreactors, heterotrophic culture in closed reactors in the dark, and mixotrophic culture. In the literature, you can find countless articles that talk about these. The most fundamental thing in algal crops is the mineral medium or culture medium. Algae being essentially saline, they need essential mineral salts for the growth and formation of the cell wall. In addition to the mineral medium, there are other parameters to consider based on the type of cultivation chosen such that: the energy source (light, CO2, carbonaceous substrate, Nitrate, etc.), the volumes of reactors, etc.

I hope i help you

Dear Rasanga Gunasekara

Please define what kind of marine algae you mean. If you mean microalgae, then I've to say, based on empirical data, each types of microalgae families have best growth in specific media. For example Bold's basal media is suitable for growing Chlorela sp. or Zarrouk media for Spirulina strains. However, there is no necessity for just using them. There are lots of papers used sterilized sea water as a medium with some modifications.

Regards

The answers from others are good. In addition... Marine algae like seaweeds are brought in to the lab and pieces are cleaned as much as possible. This can include treatment with antibiotics for a while to kill bacteria. Then put pieces of the seaweed in flasks that have been autoclaved. If possible, you need an incubator for temperature control that has lights in it. It is also best to have an air pump to bubble air through the medium. Use autoclaved ASP-12 medium or a seawater-based medium like f/2. GeO2 can be added to the medium to eliminate diatoms. The seaweed should grow. I hope that this helps you to culture algae in your lab if seaweeds are your goal.

Rasanga Gunasekara

Dear Rasanga sir,

The seaweeds can be grown in the lab, but I think it may depend on the species you selected. As Peter M Bradleys mentioned they can be grown in autoclaved seawater. But you need to transfer the medium at least once a week. Also, nutrients should be added to the medium. Also, the containers should be sterilised in an oven before use. When you transfer the medium and containers of the seaweed always do it in a sterilised environment. otherwise, microorganisms such as fungus can be intruded the culture.@

You asked for more information about culture media for seaweeds in the lab. We did this work in the past. If you are mainly interested in growing them, the easiest way is to use seawater enriched with some nutrients. If you search for “Provasoli seawater medium” you will find more information about how to make these. He developed several good media. Can you collect seawater from a “clean” area, add some nutrients and autoclave to sterilize? Bubble air through the cultures. More information about the cultures and using antibiotics to eliminate bacteria are also available in some of our papers…see either Peter Bradley or Donald Cheney ResearchGate pages. To eliminate diatoms, add 10 mg/L of GeO2. (Please also note my previous answer to your question (above)). Hope this helps.

Dear Rasanga,

Algae and microalgae cultivation methods directly depend on species, your aim, and facilities. Therefore, when you are searching for suitable methods notice these items. In the first step, if you have isolated strain and the species is clear, in the literature search for a suitable medium and light intensity that accelerates algae growth. Then choose a method that makes it easy for you to measure different parameters (T, pH, OD and etc.).

Typical medium for cultivating microalgae are Zarrouk, BBM, BG-11and F/2. If you have a mix-culture sample first try F/2 medium. It is the most common and widely used general enriched seawater medium designed for growing marine algae used in phycological and aquaculture studies. Zarrouk is a slightly cost-effective medium and BBM besides BG-11 are special media with high growth rates depends on species.

Respectively, The cost-effective methods for growing microalgae are as follows: growing in a plastic bag, in a pond (aquarium on a small scale), in flasks, in photobioreactors. (The more electronic controller connect to the medium, the design price will increase).

Light supply could be a game-changer. Pay special attention to financing and choosing the method according to the conditions in the laboratory.

In the end, it is better to say all of these data are depending on the situation. Priorities may vary from case to case.