Homemade Low-tech Organic Spirulina Culture

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Domestic cultivation of a highly nutritious micro-algae

Spirulina is a micro-algae, more precisely a spiral cyanobacterium of about ¼ millimetres. It has thrived in hot, desert regions for more than three billion years. At the origin of plant and animal life, Spirulina has largely contributed to the creation of the earth's atmosphere by producing oxygen from carbon dioxide.

If it is of particular interest to us today it is because it is also a super-food. Spirulina's rich constitution is due to the fact that its cell wall is made of protein. On the other hand, in the plant world, the cells have a cellulose wall, which is difficult to digest. Spirulina also has a high concentration of vitamins and iron. This ideal composition and its ease of assimilation make spirulina a food supplement coveted by great athletes. But Spirulina is sold expensive while it is simple and quick to grow. Its yield is very good: on the same space Spirulina produces five hundred times more protein than a cattle breeding. In the same way it takes about 13,500 litres of water to produce one kg of bovine proteins whereas only 2,500 litres are needed for micro-algae.

Numerous associations and NGOs (Univers la Vie, Antenna, etc) cultivate it to fight against famine and malnutrition in the world. It exists in its natural state around the tropical belt (Peru, Mexico, Chad, Ethiopia, Madagascar, India...) and even in France, in the Camargue. The family culture makes it possible to integrate spirulina into its daily diet. The French Spirulina Federation recommends a consumption of fifty grams of fresh spirulina per day, or about 10 grams of dry spirulina. In this objective of local production, it is necessary to have 1m² of cultivation basin per person.

MATERIALS

Spirumeter

• White plastic cap
• Screws
• Wooden or plastic rod or ruler

Medium of culture

• Drinking water
• Sea salt
• Bicarbonate of soda

Food

Natural:

• White vinegar
• 100g rusty nails
• 5 to 10 lemons or citric acid
• Human urine

OR

Mineral :

• Potassium Nitrate
• Monoammonium phosphate
• Iron Sulfate
• Potassium Sulfate (optional)
• Magnesium sulfate (optional)

OR

Pre-weighed food for sale N50 and N250

TOOLS:

Spirumeter

• Rule
• Screwdriver

Medium of culture

• Tray of 200L or more

Mineral Food

• Food canister (>10 liters)Balance

Natural food

• 2 bottles of one liter
• Balance

Seeding, cultivation and maintenance

• Garden hoses
• Strainer
• Aquarium pump (500 to 1000 liters/hour)
• Cans of different volumes (from 20 to 200 liters for example)
• Measuring glass
• Balance

The growing medium
Spirulina lives naturally in volcanic lakes, rich in salt and bicarbonate of soda, with a high PH, close to 10. This is its environment but not its food, as fish do not feed on sea salt. In the culture of spirulina, the objective is to recreate as close as possible the native environment of spirulina. In its natural state, Spirulina is rarely taken except by pickers and flamingos. In pond the harvests are much heavier, it is thus necessary to regularly bring food to the culture to allow its renewal. In the culture of spirulina, it is thus necessary to dissociate the culture environment from the living environment and the food:

growing medium = living environment + food

The development environment.

Spirulina lives naturally in warm climates. When the temperature of its living environment is below 18°C, it hibernates. From 20°C it starts to develop. From 30°C its production intensifies strongly. At 37°C, the optimal temperature of the environment, the population increases by a quarter every eight hours. Above 42°C, spirulina dies. In France, outdoor cultivation, with a translucent cap, is possible from mid-April. The deep green color of spirulina is obtained by photosynthesis. For this, spirulina needs a strong luminosity but not a long exposure to the sun. It is important to shake the pool to prevent the spirulina on the surface from burning and to allow the deep ones to benefit from the light. The culture must be 20cm deep maximum so that all the spirulina can benefit from good sunlight.

The concentration

One of the health indicators of spirulina is its concentration. To measure it there is a very simple instrument: the Spirumeter or Secchi disk. It is a white disc at the end of an axis graduated in centimeters. The concentration of spirulina is measured by dipping the disc into the culture solution. When the disc disappears, the graduation on the surface is read, the Secchi concentration index. The lower the index, the more concentrated the spirulina is. For a healthy spirulina, the concentration should be between 2 and 4. At 2 it is very concentrated, it can be harvested. At 4 it is at its minimum cultivation concentration, for example after a harvest.

This tutorial is produced in collaboration with Gilles Planchon, a specialist in the domestic culture of spirulina, trainer and researcher on the natural living environments of microalgae.

• Screw a white plastic cap at the end of a ruler or a plastic or wooden rod of about 20 centimeters
• Scale the stem from 0 to about ten centimeters, with the 0 at the level of the cap.

• Fill a large volume canister (100 to 200L) with water, ideally from a rainfall or a low calcareous source.
• Add the baking soda at a rate of 1kg/100liters of water.
• Add the sea salt at a rate of 500g/100litres of water.
• Shake well to dissolve them
• Transfer the volume of the canister into the culture basin with a
  pump (aquarium type or natural siphon). Repeat the operation until the tank is full.
• Make a mark 20 cm from the bottom to see if the water evaporates and top up with water if necessary.

WARNING If tap water: Shake (pump or bubbler) during ½ day: the chlorine in the water evaporates and the limestone precipitates with the bicarbonate of soda, when the living medium is transferred to the pool, the limestone remains at the bottom of the canister. If rainwater: filter

The rich composition of spirulina comes from its diet, it is mainly
composed of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and iron. The food used in the family culture can be of mineral or natural origin. Mineral fertilizers obtained by chemical synthesis or by the exploitation of natural deposits are less ecological than natural food produced locally. Both preparations are presented.

Mineral Food: The components of this preparation are agricultural fertilizers, they must be water-soluble. They can be found in agricultural cooperatives or garden stores. For about 10 litres of food (Milieu LIB from the book La Spiruline pour Tous - Culture Familiale') :

• Put 10 liters of water in a bucket
• Add 1kg of Potassium Nitrate
• Add 100g of Monoammonium Phosphate
• Add 10g of Iron Sulphate
• Add 50 g of Potassium Sulphate (optional)
• Add 50g of Magnesium Sulphate (optional)
• Shake well until all components are diluted.Transfer to a closed container
• Label and keep away from the sun

Or

Pre-weighed food for sale N50 and N250

Or

Natural food: The components of the mineral food are found in ideal proportions in the urine [1]. By adding a solution of iron oxide or "juice of rusty nails" spirulina benefits from a local and organic food ideal for its productivity and resistance. The high pH and salinity of the culture medium reduces the risk of contamination. However, only "organic" urine should be used, from people with a healthy diet (non-smokers, without medication or contraceptives). Human urine is now widely used in agriculture and many studies exist on the subject [2].

For 1 litre of urine-based food:

• Put 10cl of white vinegar in a 1 litre bottle. It eliminates odours, eliminates bacteria and preserves ammonia.
• Complete with healthy urine
• Label and keep away from the sun.

Juice of rusty nails: per 1litre of nail juice

• Put 100g of nails in a bottle (ideally already rusty nails, they indicate a ferrous composition only and not other alloys).
• Add one litre of white vinegar
• Add the juice of 5 to 10 lemons or 1 tablespoon of citric acid.
• Wait 10 days (time needed to obtain the right concentration of iron oxide).
• Filter the juice, label and store away from the sun.
• Set the nails aside for future use.

WARNING Prepare the iron solution at least 10 days before the starting date of spirulina culture. If you leave the nails more than 10 days in the solution, the iron oxide concentration will rise. It will be necessary to dilute the juice with water.

The basin was filled with the living environment in the previous stage. Now it is time to bring in the food:

• Mineral: 2 liters/100liters of medium

Or

• Natural/Organic: 1 litre of urine + 200ml of Iron solution/100 litres of culture medium

The culture medium is ready to welcome spirulina, you just have to get some. It is possible to get spirulina from anyone who has a family culture. It is also possible to contact a producer near you to know if he can supply fresh or concentrated spirulina (Gilles Planchon can make shipments to France). One kilogram of fresh pressed spirulina normally costs around 50$.

With freshly pressed spirulina, cultivation can begin as early as the harvesting phase, for this purpose a large quantity of unwashed spirulina must be introduced directly into the basin. It can be kept for 3 to 5 days in a refrigerator. It takes about 500g of freshly pressed spirulina to seed a 500 liter basin. A concentration of about 4cm will be obtained with a spirumeter. The first harvest will be possible one week later.

• Dissolve the freshly pressed spirulina in a small volume of culture solution (around 30l) first by hand and then with a strainer to break up lumps.

WARNING Foam indicates an increase in protein so spirulina that breaks: let it rest and shake more gently.

• Gently transfer the concentrated spirulina into the basin, preferably in the evening. The contents of the canister can be gently poured directly into the pond or you can use an aquarium pump or a natural siphon.
• Check the concentration and add culture medium if it is higher than 3 %.
• Ensure good agitation during the first 4 days (but not at night)
• Shade the pool for the first few days

It is possible to seed his pond with concentrated spirulina. Unlike pressed spirulina, spirulina has not been separated from its living environment. It has a very high concentration, it must be quickly transferred to its new growing basin. It should not remain more than 12 hours in transfer.

• Gently transfer the concentrated spirulina into the basin, preferably in the evening. It is possible to pour the contents of the canister directly into the pond gently or to use an aquarium pump or a natural siphon.
• Check the concentration and add culture medium if it is higher than 3 %.
• Ensure good agitation during the first 4 days (but not at night)
• Shade the pool for the first few days

It is also possible to start the spirulina culture with a smaller volume and grow it to the final volume of the basin. Under ideal conditions, it takes 30 days to go from one litre of culture to 500 litres. The growth phase is more economical because very little spirulina is needed at the beginning. The growing phase can start indoors from the beginning of April.

• Get fresh or concentrated spirulina (see steps above).
• Dilute it with culture medium to obtain a concentration of 3 to 4 on the Secchi disc (For 100 litres of culture solution you need 2 litres of mineral feed or 1 litre of urine and 200ml of iron solution).
• When the concentration approaches 2, increase the culture volume by 1/4. Change container if necessary.
• Repeat the above two steps until a volume equivalent to 10 cm in height is obtained in the final basin, transfer to the basin. Under ideal conditions, the increase in culture volume can be done daily.
• Continue to add culture medium until the final culture volume of 20 cm is reached.
• Make a mark at 20 cm from the bottom to see if the water evaporates and top up with water if necessary.

Spirulina needs a lot of light but should not be left in direct sunlight for long periods of time. For this, it makes the growing medium stir regularly during the day. The simplest solution is to use an aquarium pump, which can be found in pet shops. An ideal pump should be able to move the volume of the pond in one hour. In our case, the pump has a flow rate of 1000l/hour for a 500 liter pond.

• Install the pump underwater, as close to the surface as possible to allow good mixing.
• Install a timer to not stress the spirulina too much: alternate 15 minutes of agitation for 30 minutes of agitation rest.
• Turn off the pump at night for the breathing phase of spirulina TIP For small volumes, stirring can be done by hand, with a strainer, at least four times a day.

Check the concentration of spirulina regularly, ideally once a day.

• If the concentration of Spirulina exceeds Secchi 2 the PH becomes too high and Spirulina may die: harvest
• If the concentration of Spirulina falls below Secchi 4, the culture medium is too bright: shade.

With the heat of the pond, the water evaporates but the food, salt and baking soda remain in the pond.

• Add water regularly to return to the initial volume, indicated by a marker 20cm from the bottom.

REMINDER Tap water can be calcareous, it must be softened or use rainwater or osmosis water (see Preparing the culture medium: the living environment)..

Spirulina needs a lot of light but not direct exposure to strong sunlight.

• Adjust the shade according to the seasons, brightness and temperature.

WARNING If the spirulina is exposed to strong luminosity while the culture medium is at low temperature, for example at the end of winter, there is a risk of photolysis (the spirulina breaks and dies). Shade the pond when the culture medium is cool.

Over time the basin becomes loaded with organic matter (dead spirulina, other algae...). In order to keep a healthy growing environment, it is necessary to replace ¼ once or twice a year:

• Collect the spirulina above a tank and not above the growing tank. Thus the culture medium does not return to the pond.
• Make a new growing medium as seen in the 'growth phase' part and add it to the pond.
• Get rid of the old growing medium (undiluted it can be used as a weed killer, diluted to 10% it enriches the compost, otherwise put it in the drain).

When the outside temperature becomes too low for the crop (pond temperature below 18°C), the crop must be overwintered.

• Insulate the basin from the outside (cardboard, straw, etc.)
• Cover the pool so that the light is low. Spirulina must not be in total darkness or it dies.

When you buy spirulina or for winter storage, you can put part of it, pressed but not washed, in the refrigerator. It can be put back into culture by following the rapid sowing phase.

• Check the concentration of spirulina, if the Secchi is higher than 2.5 (if the Secchi disc is no longer visible from 2.5 cm or less), harvesting is possible.

TIP Harvesting is more efficient in the morning. As long as the basin has not been agitated, the spirulina is in patches on the surface of the basin TIP.

Harvest

• Install a support (frame, sieve) above the growing basin
• Place a 30micron nylon fabric in the holder to act as a filter.
• Pump the culture medium (or use a pitcher) and pass it through the filter, the culture medium returns to the basin, the spirulina remains in the filter. Harvest as much as possible ¼ from the pond.

TIP With a 1000/hour pump and a 500-litre tank, you can filter up to 125 litres, i.e. about 8 minutes of pumping time.

WARNINGCheck the concentration during the harvesting phase, shake the basin and take a jug, the concentration must remain above 4. If the concentration is lower, stop harvesting and shade.

• Collect the spirulina in the centre of the filter

WARNING Once the spirulina is harvested, avoid touching it by hand, its culture medium (high concentration of salt and baking soda) protected it from bacterial aggression.

• Press the spirulina by hand by rotating the nylon fabric and pressing on the biomass. The pressing must be progressive. Maintain pressure until the escaping liquid turns slightly green/Put the spirulina in the fridge
• Rinse the material (nylon, frame, sieve) over the basin to compensate for evaporation.
• Weigh the pressed spirulina
• Compensate in food in relation to the harvested spirulina so that it can grow again and return to the maximum concentration for a new harvest :
• Mineral food: 200 ml per 100 grams of freshly pressed spirulina

Or

• Organic food: 200 ml of urine + 10ml of iron solution for 100 grams of fresh pressed spirulina
• For a good distribution of food, shake the basin by hand with a strainer.

WARNING Spirulina breathes at night, it should not be fed in the evening. Favour harvests in the morning.

For the basin construction:https://wiki.lowtechlab.org/wiki/Bassin_de_culture_de_spiruline/en

• FAO: Spirulina - A livelihood and a business venture
  
  

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