The Nutrient Uptake Ranges of Hydralife's Phytoplankton: Providing Natural Bioremediation and Phosphate Consumption to Your Waters Through Beneficial Algae to Impede the Growth of Toxic Algae.

The following includes ranges of nitrogen and phosphate consumption for some of our phytoplanktons. These phytoplanktons were selected because they are safe and healthy for your aquatic ecosystem, excellent food for zooplankton and have high consumption rates of nutrients which impedes toxic algae and other nuisance algae from establishing control of your body of water.

Chlorella Vulgaris

Ammonia (NH₃/NH₄⁺) is often the preferred nitrogen source for chlorella because it requires the least metabolic energy to incorporate into cellular proteins and nucleic acids. Under optimal conditions, C. vulgaris can remove ammonia at rates ranging from 10 to 50 mg per gram of algal biomass per day. In practical terms, dense chlorella cultures have been shown to reduce ammonia concentrations in water by 80-95% within 24-48 hours. Hydralife Solutions has seen this through our own work as well when treating irrigation ponds fed by effluent wastewater with ammonia concentrations between .25 and .5 ppm and newly constructed ponds fed by springs with ammonia outputs.

A Hydralife Solutions bucket containing 150 gallons of concentrated beneficial phytoplankton to innoculate your lake and compete with toxic algae.

Nitrite (NO₂⁻), an intermediate oxidation product of ammonia, is also readily consumed by chlorella. While less research has focused specifically on nitrite uptake, studies indicate that C. vulgaris can efficiently remove this compound at rates of 5-20 mg per gram of biomass per day, helping to prevent nitrite toxicity in aquatic systems.

Nitrate (NO₃⁻), the most oxidized form of inorganic nitrogen, requires additional metabolic effort to reduce and assimilate, but chlorella still demonstrates strong uptake capacity. Removal rates for nitrate typically range from 15-40 mg per gram of biomass per day. The ability to utilize nitrate makes chlorella particularly valuable in agricultural runoff scenarios where nitrate is the predominant nitrogen pollutant.

The actual uptake rates vary based on numerous factors including light intensity, temperature, pH, nutrient concentrations, and the physiological state of the algae culture. Under high light conditions and optimal temperatures (25-35°C), with adequate carbon dioxide availability, chlorella populations can double every 12-24 hours, translating to rapid nutrient drawdown in affected water bodies and an abundance of food to boost copepod populations.

Phosphorus Removal

Phosphorus, often the limiting nutrient in freshwater ecosystems, is strong target for chlorella's efficient uptake mechanisms. C. vulgaris absorbs phosphorus primarily as orthophosphate (PO₄³⁻), incorporating it into cellular components including nucleic acids, phospholipids, and ATP.

Chlorella can remove phosphorus at rates of 1-10 mg per gram of biomass per day, depending on initial phosphorus concentrations and growth conditions. Studies have documented removal efficiencies of 70-90% of total phosphorus from wastewater and agricultural runoff within several days of exposure to chlorella cultures.

Scenedesmus

Ammonia (NH₃/NH₄⁺): Scenedesmus preferentially uptakes ammonia as its nitrogen source because it requires the least metabolic energy to incorporate into cellular proteins and nucleic acids. Studies have shown removal rates of 70-90% of available ammonia under optimal growth conditions, with uptake rates ranging from 10-30 mg/L/day depending on biomass density and environmental factors.

Nitrite (NO₂⁻): While not the preferred form, Scenedesmus can efficiently convert nitrite to usable nitrogen, achieving removal rates of 60-85% in experimental systems.

Nitrate (NO₃⁻): Scenedesmus readily assimilates nitrate., Removal efficiencies of 50-80% are commonly observed, with uptake rates of 15-40 mg/L/day under favorable conditions.

The total nitrogen removal capacity of Scenedesmus makes it an attractive candidate for bioremediation applications, particularly in treating nutrient-rich wastewater or controlling algal blooms in natural water bodies.

Phosphorus Consumption

Phosphorus Removal Rates: Scenedesmus can remove 80-95% of available phosphorus from water under optimal conditions, with uptake rates typically ranging from 5-15 mg/L/day. The algae stores phosphorus as polyphosphate granules, which can constitute up to 3-4% of its dry weight.

Luxury Uptake: Scenedesmus exhibits "luxury uptake" of phosphorus, meaning it can absorb and store more phosphorus than immediately needed for growth. This characteristic enhances its effectiveness as a bioremediator, as it continues removing phosphorus even when cellular requirements are met.

Selenastrum

Nitrogen Consumption

Selenastrum demonstrates remarkable efficiency in nitrogen uptake across multiple forms:

Ammonia (NH₃/NH₄⁺): This is often the preferred nitrogen source for Selenastrum. Under optimal conditions, cultures can remove 5-15 mg/L of ammonia-nitrogen per day. The uptake rate depends on light intensity, temperature, and ammonia concentration, with maximum uptake occurring at moderate concentrations (2-10 mg/L).

Nitrite (NO₂⁻): While less commonly studied, Selenastrum can utilize nitrite as a nitrogen source, though uptake rates are generally lower than for ammonia or nitrate. Typical removal rates range from 1-5 mg/L per day under favorable conditions.

Nitrate (NO₃): Selenastrum readily assimilates nitrate, with uptake rates often exceeding 10-20 mg/L per day in dense cultures. This form of nitrogen requires more metabolic energy to process than ammonia, but the microalgae efficiently converts it to organic nitrogen for protein synthesis.

The nitrogen uptake pattern typically follows the preference: ammonia > nitrate > nitrite, though Selenastrum can adapt its enzymatic machinery based on available nitrogen sources and Hydralife Solutions utilizes NO3 in our grows to help limnologists manage this nutrient more effectively.

Phosphorus Consumption

Phosphorus is essential for Selenastrum growth, needed for DNA, RNA, ATP, and phospholipid synthesis. The alga demonstrates efficient phosphorus uptake:

Orthophosphate (PO₄³⁻): Selenastrum can remove 1-5 mg/L of phosphate-phosphorus per day under optimal growth conditions. At low phosphorus concentrations, the algae exhibits luxury uptake, storing excess phosphorus as polyphosphate granules for future use.

Nitrogen-to-Phosphorus Ratios: Selenastrum typically maintains cellular N:P ratios between 10:1 and 20:1 by mass, though this can vary with environmental conditions. This means that for every gram of phosphorus removed, the alga simultaneously removes approximately 10-20 grams of nitrogen.

Ankistrodesmus 

Nitrogen Uptake

Ankistrodesmus demonstrates impressive nitrogen consumption capabilities, utilizing multiple forms of this essential nutrient:

Ammonia (NH₃/NH₄⁺): This genus shows a preference for ammonia as a nitrogen source when available, as it requires the least energy to assimilate. Uptake rates can range from 0.5 to 5 mg NH₄⁺-N per gram of algae per hour under optimal conditions, though rates vary with light intensity, temperature, and algal density.

Nitrite (NO₂⁻): While less preferred than ammonia, Ankistrodesmus readily consumes nitrite, effectively removing this intermediate nitrogen form from the water.

Nitrate (NO₃⁻): Though requiring more metabolic energy to convert to usable forms, nitrate serves as an excellent nitrogen source for Ankistrodesmus. Uptake rates typically range from 0.3 to 3 mg NO₃⁻-N per gram of algae per hour, making this genus effective at reducing nitrate levels in agricultural runoff or wastewater.

The total nitrogen removal capacity of Ankistrodesmus cultures can reach 20-40% of their biomass weight during exponential growth phases, representing a significant water purification potential.

Phosphorus Uptake

Phosphorus uptake rates typically range from 0.1 to 1 mg PO₄³⁻-P per gram of algae per hour under nutrient-sufficient conditions. During exponential growth, phosphorus can comprise 1-3% of the algae's dry weight. Importantly, Ankistrodesmus can also store excess phosphorus in polyphosphate granules, a process called "luxury uptake," allowing it to remove phosphorus beyond its immediate growth requirements.

This phosphorus removal capability is particularly valuable because excess phosphorus is a primary driver of eutrophication and harmful algal blooms in freshwater bodies. By effectively sequestering phosphorus, Ankistrodesmus helps maintain balanced aquatic ecosystems.

Nannochloropsis Limnetica:

Nitrogen Consumption

N. limnetica demonstrates impressive nitrogen uptake capabilities across all three major inorganic nitrogen forms:

Ammonia (NH₃/NH₄⁺): This is often the preferred nitrogen source for Nannochloropsis species due to the lower energy cost of assimilation. Studies on related Nannochloropsis species have shown uptake rates of 0.05-0.15 grams of ammonia per gram of biomass per day under optimal conditions. The algae rapidly absorbs ammonia from the water column, incorporating it directly into amino acids and proteins.

Nitrite (NO₂⁻): While less commonly available in healthy aquatic systems, N. limnetica can utilize nitrite as a nitrogen source, though uptake rates are generally lower than for ammonia. This capability is particularly useful in systems where nitrification processes are underway, like golf course irrigation ponds fed by effluent wastewater.

Nitrate (NO₃⁻): As the most oxidized form of inorganic nitrogen, nitrate requires more cellular energy to assimilate, but N. limnetica readily uses this nutrient when available. Uptake rates for Nannochloropsis species typically range from 0.03-0.10 grams of nitrate per gram of biomass per day, depending on environmental conditions, light availability, and temperature.

The total nitrogen removal capacity of N. limnetica can be substantial. Under ideal growth conditions, a healthy population can remove 20-40 milligrams of total nitrogen per liter of culture per day, making it an excellent candidate for bioremediation applications.

Phosphorus Uptake

Uptake Rates: Nannochloropsis species typically demonstrate phosphorus uptake rates of 0.01-0.03 grams per gram of biomass per day. While this may seem modest compared to nitrogen, it's important to remember that phosphorus requirements for algae growth are significantly lower, with typical N:P ratios around 16:1 (the Redfield ratio).

Luxury Uptake: N. limnetica can engage in luxury consumption of phosphorus, storing excess phosphate in cellular compartments as polyphosphate granules when concentrations are high. This stored phosphorus can then support growth during periods of phosphorus limitation.

Chlamydomonas: 

Nitrogen Consumption

Chlamydomonas demonstrates remarkable efficiency in nitrogen uptake across multiple forms. These algae can absorb ammonia directly through their cell membranes, making it their preferred nitrogen source due to the low energy cost of assimilation. They also readily take up nitrate as well which is one of the most common sources of nitrogen found in bodies of water.

Studies have shown that Chlamydomonas can remove significant quantities of nitrogen from water bodies. Under optimal conditions, these algae can consume nitrogen at rates ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 mg per billion cells per hour, depending on environmental factors such as light intensity, temperature, and nutrient availability. This rapid uptake makes them particularly effective at reducing nitrogen pollution in high nutrient waters, aquaculture systems and wastewater treatment applications.

Phosphorus Removal

Phosphorus is the critical nutrient that Chlamydomonas removes from water efficiently. This is important because phosphorus is the limiting nutrient to toxic algae blooms and nuisance algae. Therefore, when phosphorous is utilized by a good algae instead of a toxic cyanobacteria we can essentially feed zooplankton while inhibiting the development of harmful algae blooms. Chlamydomonas phytoplankton require phosphorus for energy metabolism, DNA synthesis, and cell membrane structure. Chlamydomonas cells typically contain 0.5% to 1% phosphorus by dry weight and can achieve phosphorus removal rates of 0.01 to 0.05 mg per billion cells per hour under favorable conditions.

The algae's ability to store excess phosphorus as polyphosphate granules allows them to remove more phosphorus than immediately needed, providing a buffer against future scarcity and enhancing their water purification capacity.