What is BioGlow Bioluminescent Algae?
BioGlow is bioluminescent marine plankton classified as Pyrocystis fusiformis (aka Dinoflagellates). They are single celled organisms naturally found in the ocean that emit a bright blue to green light when agitated. Dinoflagellates use light to grow (like a plant). BioGlow will only light up at night, in the dark when gently swirled or shaken.
Is BioGlow hard to look after?
No! BioGlow is as easy to look after as a house plant. It need to be placed somewhere thats exposed to natural light so that they can feed as plants do via photosynthesis.
Also like plants BioGlow need a little water every few weeks. This needs to be highly nutritious sea water or BioNutrients found here.
You can even “grow the glow” by adding BioNutrients up to 50% of the cultures volume. The BioGlow will eventually fill the volume creating more glow!
BioGlow Instructions
Remove the BioGlow Spout Pouch from the packaging immediately after arrival. BioGlow will be stressed from shipping and should be left in a location that receives low to moderate lighting during daytime hours.
BioGlow requires daily light and moderate temperatures to survive. It will not survive without daily lighting!
Typical room and office lighting, supplemented with indirect (not direct) sunlight, is best.
DO NOT place BioGlow in direct Sunlight or in front of any lighting that adds heat . Intense direct lighting may harm BioGlow. When in doubt, place in an area of the room that receives low to moderate lighting. BioGlow is very efficient at converting light to energy.
We recommend leaving BioGlow in one location throughout the entire day and night. We discourage moving BioGlow to a dark room or cabinet in the evening on the chance that they are forgotten and left without light for an extended period of time.
Ideal Temperature: 17C – 26C. Try to minimise temperature fluctuations. They can survive outside of this temperature range but it will slow their growth and add stress to the BioGlow.
It is beneficial (but not required) to loosen the cap during daytime hours. The goal is to increase air-exchange while limiting evaporation.
It is beneficial (but not required) to gently swirl BioGlow once a day, during daytime hours (with the cap tightly closed).
Viewing Bioluminescence
View bioluminescence during nighttime hours (after 7 pm) in a darkened area. Swirl pouch gently to induce light. BioGlow will not light up during daytime hours – even in a darkened room! BioGlow has a ‘circadian clock’ similar to you and I and perform photosynthesis during daytime hours and only produce the light emitting compounds during their dark cycle at night. circadian rhythm
Optional: Their circadian rhythm can be altered or flipped by using a light on a timer and keeping them in a darken area. Program the light timer for 12 hours of light and make sure they are in the dark during the other 12 hour cycle. It usually takes a couple of days, maybe a week, before they begin to change their cycle. Best to use a LED light or a light that does not generate heat.
Feeding BioGlow
Feeding BioGlow is similar to feeding a plant. Feeding will increase the growth and health of the BioGlow culture but is not altogether required. Like a plant, you can overfeed and kill BioGlow. Do not overfeed BioGlow. Feeding can be stressful if an excess of BioNutrients is added at one time. Never add more than half the total culture volume during a single feeding. Do not add BioNutrients more than once a week.
Note: BioGlow can survive for several months with nothing but daily light.
We recommend not feeding for the first week after transfer into a new container or any stressful situation (like a move or change of environment).
We recommend waiting for a line of floating BioGlowing Cells to form at the top of the water line near the edge of the container before feeding. An aggregate of floating BioGlowing cells at the top of the waterline near the edges of the container is a sign of good health. Note – if you don’t see this phenomenon – just wait and observe the culture for a week or so before feeding.
What cool things can I do with BioGlow?
Bioluminescence is amazing in itself however there’s lots you can do with your BioGlow. Why not experiment with their circadian rhythm changing the time that they produce bioluminescence.
Alter the Circadian Rhythm
Their circadian rhythm can be altered or flipped by using a light on a timer and keeping them in a darken area. Program the light timer for 12 hours of light and make sure they are in the dark during the other 12 hour cycle. It usually takes a couple of days, maybe a week, before they begin to change their cycle. Best to use a LED light or a light that does not generate heat.
Make Your BioGlow Dance
See BioGlow react to sound. Vibrations from music agitate the BioGlow so that it emits bioluminescence. Choose your favourite vase, cup or mason jar to fill with BioGlow and try your favourite song and see them dance in colour!
Grow the Glow
Whats cooler than BioGlow? More Glow! You can expand your culture by feeding BioNutrients. Every few weeks when the culture is strong and healthy with BioGlow cells collating at the water surface add up to 50% of the culture volume. Over the next two weeks the BioGlow will replicate itself filling the new volume, more BioGlow!