Provide superior nutrition, while controlling nutrients and organic wastes, with purple nonsulfur bacteria.

ABUNDANCE & CONSISTENCY

PNS HomeGro™ contains key items required to economically cultivate purple nonsulfur bacteria (PNSB) using commonplace chemicals and implements. This unique kit presents a more eco-friendly alternative to relatively small, pre-grown bottled products as it significantly reduces shipping/packaging waste. Finished culture treats approximately 8,000 gallons! ​

KIT CONTENTS

• Culture vessel, cap, and spigot

• Sticker thermometer

• Growth medium powder

• Inoculum bottle (select blend of probiotic PNSB cultures)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Kitchen funnel

• Kitchen thermometer

• Unscented household bleach

• Hydrogen peroxide (3% or higher), spray bottle

• Isopropyl alcohol (70% or higher), spray bottle

• 60W-65W incandescent lamp or equivalent

• Heat pad (if needed for temperature control)

DIRECTIONS

Prepare Work Area

1. Sanitize Hands and Work Surfaces

   • Establish a clean, uncluttered, draft-free, and dust-free area.

   • Wash hands/gloves thoroughly with antibacterial soap. Avoid loose, long-sleeve clothing (we further recommend wearing face mask and tying back long hair).

2. Sterilize the Culture Vessel

   • Pour 1 capful of household bleach into the vessel (use the vessel cap for measurement, as this will sterilize the inner surfaces of the cap).

   • Add 1 cup of purified water to the vesselecap the vessel and shake vigorously.

   • Uncap and pour out bleach water, shaking out any remaining drops (do not rinse).

   • Without touching the inside of the cap, immediately recap the vessel.

Prepare Growth Medium

1. Boil Water and Sterilize Tools

   • Bring 3 gallons of purified water to a boil in a large pot with lid.

   • Sterilize implements (stirring spoon, thermometer, etc.) by spraying them with peroxide and placing them on a sterile surface (e.g., a tray that has been sterilized with peroxide).

2. Mix Growth Medium

   • Slowly add the growth medium powder to the boiling water and stir well.

   • Cover pot and maintain boil for 10 minutes; adjust heat as necessary to avoid boilover.

   • Turn off the heat and allow pot to cool to 90°C (194°F); this temperature is hot enough to discourage biocontaminants, but not hot enough to melt the culture vessel.

3. Transfer to Vessel

   • Using a sterilized funnel, carefully pour the mixture into the culture vessel. For ease and safety, you may use a sterilized pitcher to transfer the liquid to the vessel (from pot to pitcher to vessel); sterilize pitcher with peroxide, then rinse the peroxide away with isopropyl alcohol, before use. 

   • On the final pour, stir up any settled growth medium in the pot to ensure that it is transferred to the culture vessel.

   •  Without touching the inside of the cap, immediately recap the vessel.

Inoculation and Incubation

1. Cool Vessel/Add Inoculum

   • Allow the vessel to cool to room temperature; generally, this requires that the vessel is set aside overnight before starting next step! Do not add inoculum to hot culture medium!

   • Lightly shake inoculum bottle.

   • Remove cap and carefully pour the entire contents of the inoculum bottle into the vessel (do not touch inside of cap).

   • Immediately recap the vessel.

2. Incubate Culture

   • It is critical to incubate at the appropriate temperature; maintain steady temperature of 28°-30°C (82°-86°F); use a heat pad with thermostat, or similar controllable heat source, as required.

   • Apply sticker thermometer to vessel (opposite side of vessel from main heat source); secure with clear tape if necessary.

   • Place the vessel under continuous, moderate light; a 60-65 watt incandescent (or equivalent ‘warm white’ LED) light source (about 1 inch from vessel) is ideal.

3. Monitor Growth

   • Complete incubation takes approximately 30 days (often longer). To accelerate growth, shake the vessel (preferably daily) as reddish sediment accumulates on the bottom.

   • The culture is fully mature when no additional growth occurs for 5+ consecutive days (usually after one month); it is common for much of the living biomass to settle to the bottom at this time.

4. Prepare for Use

   • ​Sterilize spigot with peroxide, then rinse the peroxide away with isopropyl alcohol.

   • Replace cap with sterilized spigot (avoid touching inside of spigot).

   • Shake the vessel before each use.

   • Spray nozzle of spigot with peroxide, then isopropyl alcohol, before and after each use.​

IMPORTANT NOTES

• Aquarium use only. Not for human consumption!

• Hydrospace cannot be held liable for damages resulting from misuse of this product.

• Includes exclusively licensed strains. No live cultures made with this product (nor any derivative thereof) may be sold, traded or used for any commercial purpose whatsoever.