Gracilaria corticata cultivation in fiberglass tanks and Agar extraction

Abstract

In order to culture the G. corticata for further agar extraction, during one year study (2001), 3 treatments with 3 different densities of 500, 1000 and 2000 g/m2 and 3 replicates were cultured in fiberglass tanks. During the culture period the parameters of temperature, pH and salinity were measured and 30-40 percent of water was exchanged once every two days. The aeration activity was constantly done and also 0.5g urea added into the water after exchanging the water. The biometric measurement of algae was carried out every week and ultimately end of the period culture, the daily growth and net production (wet weight) was calculated in proportion to g/m2. Also, amount of extracted agar (dry weight) estimated seasonally. In winter, the daily growth (%), net production and agar extracted (%) were estimated 1.46±0.11, 11.5±3.57 and 17.5%, in which these figures for three other seasons of spring, summer and autumn were: 3.74±0.31, 38.3±5.4, 19.3 and 1.5±0.28, 12.43±3.3, 14% and 3.11±0.04, 26.9±0.61 and 15%, respectively. Some epiphytes and grazers were recognized in algae cultivation tanks such as Navicula, Nitzschia, Oscillatoria, Peridinium, Chaetoceros, Enteromorpha, Ulva, and Isopoda, Nemertine and Nereis. Two seasons of spring and autumn showed the best daily growth and net production, and also the 500 g/m2 treatment was recognized the best culture treatment.