Co-Founders Adam Ornstein and Sunny Lad of Fiora Mara successfully built a clean room in our warehouse space. They built a controlled environment, set up the aquariums, prepared seed string on PVC piping, and procured ocean water so that once seaweed spores are acquired, they can grow into plantlets on the grow lines.
The clean-room is a controlled environment with low levels of contaminants, used for the sensitive biological processes. This setup marks a significant step in preparing our seaweed hatchery for the cultivation of seed strings for use in our long term goals of absorbing massive amounts of carbon on the open ocean.
To create the clean-room, we used wood and painter’s plastic, ensuring the hatchery remains contaminant-free while minimizing odors that may impact our neighbors. Additionally, we cut PVC pipes and wrapped the seed strings, configured the chiller and bubbler, and added tank lighting to prepare our aquariums’ environment for cultivation
In the pilot’s next phase, we are testing various biodegradable seed strings such as manilla-based hemp rope, cannabis-based hemp, and jute rope for strength and degradation. As we wait for our new source of seaweed spores, we’re continuing to make improvements to our hatchery, such as better air circulation, smaller diameter PVC pipes to maximize output, and improved seawater filtration methods.
As we build and experiment with our hatchery, we’re always keeping our vision in mind: construct a sinkable seaweed farm to sequester carbon at the bottom of the ocean.
