| Ordinary farmers have their tractors or draft
animals, their special tools and machinery,
fertilizers and harvesting equipment. A Spirulina
farm needs a laboratory. Nothing extravagant
- like what one sees in research institutions
where the leading edge of science is defined
-but a few of the basic requirements for
chemistry and microbiology: a balance capable
of measuring down to one milligram, a second
balance capable of measuring from 100 grams
to 5 or 10 kilograms, a microscope with magnification
power from 25 to 800 times, a pH meter for
determining the hydrogen ion concentration
in water , (High hydrogen concentration is
acidic; low hydrogen ion concentration signifies
alkalinity) ...thermometers, a luxmeter measuring
from 100 lux to 100000 lux, a Secchi disk
(a centimeter ruler with a white disk attached
to the zero end for measuring culture density
), at least two electric aquarium pumps (the
type used for aquarium fishes), a reservoir
for 50 or 100 liters to hold made-up culture
medium, plastic air tubing with valves and
tee connections, a water filtration system,
and various types of glassware - beakers,
bottles, glass tubing, and a Bunsen burner.
Notice I say more than one thermometer because
the chance of breaking one is about 100%.
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