Culture Maintenance: Temperature Control

Temperature Control

The main culture room at UTEX is maintained at 20 °C in order that the room may be used for both storage and active growth of cultures. A secondary walk-in culture chamber is also maintained at 25 °C and is used for storage and active growth of our tropical macroalgae and experiments or protocols in culture cleanup that require a warmer temperature. Where space is not a problem, 5 - 25 °C rooms, chambers, or incubators may provide better for storage and for cultivation of certain algae. The degree of temperature control required in a culture facility is determined by the requirements of the research. There are many commercial brands of culture chambers varying in size from 10 ft³ to the large walk-in, fully-contained units; with proper engineering, the level of control can be just as exacting.

It is not, however, necessary that investigations utilizing cultures be restricted to culture rooms under close control. Ordinary laboratories with reliable central air-conditioning that will cool the room to 20 °C, or even window units which will provide adequate cooling, will serve.