Spirulina

Growing Spirulina

a)  Materials Needed

• Hydroponic Solution A (25ml) and B (25ml)
  
• Non-iodized Table Salt - 10 TBSP (approx 140 grams)
  
• Baking Soda - 10 TBSP (approx 140 grams)
  
• Non-chlorinated Drinking Water - 10 liters
• Aquarium Aerator (Air Pump, Hose, Air Stones)
  
• Transparent or White Plastic Pail that can hold at least 11 liters of Water 
• Spirulina Live Culture - 1 liter
  
• If grown indoor, grow lights
• If grown in non-tropical countries, aquarium water heater that can be adjusted between 30C to 38C
  

b)  Procedure 

1. Pour 5 liters of non-chlorinated water to the transparent/white pail;
2. Pour hydroponic solution A into the water and stir, then wait for 5 minutes;
3. Pour hydroponic solution B into the water and stir, then wait for 5 minutes;
   
4. Add additional 5 liters of non-chlorinated water and stir;
5. Add 10 TBSP of Baking Soda into the water and stir till dissolved;
6. Add 10 TBSP of Non-Iodized Table Salt into the water and stir till dissolve;
7. Add 1 liter of Spirulina Live Culture into the water;
8. Setup the aquarium aerator;
9. Cover the pail with transparent covering (Transparent Plastic Cover or UV Sheet is recommended);
10. Place the pail outside where it can be bathe in the sun for 5 to 7 days.
    

 

c)  Harvesting Spirulina 

1. Using an empty pail, strain (preferably using cheese cloth) the spirulina from the growing pail;
2. Wash the strained spirulina with drinking water till all salts are washed off;
   
3. Squeeze and dry the spirulina in the sun or in a mechanical dryer;
4. Approximately a 10 liter setup should yield 100 grams of spirulina powder;

 

Organic Hydroponics

Organic Hydroponics refers to hydroponics farming using organic fertilizers.  The basis of the procedure below is 10 liters of water with 8 lettuce vegetable plants using Kratky method:

 

Materials Needed:

1.  Katanim box (Kratky) that can handle 10 liters of water with 8 plant holes;

2.  Good Compost (must be complete compost with adequate NPK ingredients, e.g., good combination of cow manure, chicken manure, vermicast, guano, decomposed banana parts, decomposed egg shells, decomposed used coffee grounds or teas, etc.) or commercially-graded Organic Compost/Fertilizer (e.g., Plantmate) - 700g kilogram;

3.  Non-chlorinated Water - 10 liters

Procedure:

1.  Just like in any regular Kratky setup, place 10 liters of non-chlorinated water in the Katanim styrobox;

2.  Make the Compost Tea.  Pour 700g of Good Compost, mix and stir until the 10 liters of water turns dark brown like chocolate;

3.  Transplant the seedlings (seedlings must be 14 days after sowing);

4.  Leave and wait for the seedlings to grow.  The lettuce plants will grow in 4 weeks and should be ready for harvest by then.

Important Note:

The above procedure can be the basis in implementing organic hydroponics using other hydroponic methods such as NFT, DWC, etc.  For hydroponic methods requiring pumps, you may need to filter the Compost Tea in order not to clogged your water pump.  Also, you may need to steep the Compost Tea for 3 days before filtering the solid materials.