The Algae Concentrate Feeding Calculator gives oyster producers a simple way to determine the volume of algae concentrate they need to feed eastern oyster larvae.

This calculator includes calculations for two feeds: Shellfish Diet 1800 and LPB Frozen Shellfish Diet, both manufactured by Reed Mariculture. This calculator can be used for batch, continuous, and/or automated feeding strategies. Automated feeding levels are adjusted for both drain-down and non-drain-down protocols.

How it Works

The calculator utilizes three primary inputs to estimate the theoretical age (days) of the spawn: tank volume (liters), larval density (per milliliter), and average shell length (micrometers). It then calculates the target algal density and ingestion rate to determine the final algae concentrate volume (milliliters) and ChlorAm-X dosage (grams).

Feeding tips: To resuspend algae and prevent clumping, dissolve ClorAm-X in 500 milliliters of a sodium chloride solution (30 parts per thousand) before adding the algal concentrate. Then, filter the suspension through a 20-micrometer screen to disperse cells and remove debris that is too large for larvae. Finally, rinse the screen and dilute to the target volume using 1-micrometer-filtered seawater.

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