For growers who want to skip the trial and error
The Essentials Kit gets you started. This kit gets you producing. It contains everything the Essentials Kit has, plus double the starter culture, a full kilogram of post-harvest nutrients, and a pH tester pen — the three things most growers end up buying within their first month anyway.
Here is the math. If you buy the Essentials Kit and then realise you need post-harvest nutrients and a pH pen, you will spend another $47 minimum. You will also wish you had started with more culture, because 500ml takes care. This kit removes those second-guesses.
What is in the box
- 1L Live Spirulina Culture — lab-verified Limnospira platensis, checked under microscope before shipping. Double the starter volume of the Essentials Kit
- 1kg Fast Grow Starter Nutrient Mix — precision-formulated, makes 50L of starter media
- 1kg Post-Harvest Nutrient Mix — for replenishing your culture after every harvest. The Essentials Kit does not include this
- 10L starter growing container — clear, food-safe, the right depth for light penetration
- 50W aquarium heater — maintains temperature in the 28–32°C range spirulina prefers
- Quality air pump — keeps the culture moving and oxygenated
- Silicone air tube with suction cap and inline valve — regulates bubble intensity to avoid splashing
- Digital thermometer with probe — monitors temperature without disturbing the culture
- pH tester pen — the tool most beginners wish they had from day one. pH drift is the silent killer of cultures
- 500mm × 500mm harvest mesh — 44-micron mesh for clean harvesting
- Step-by-step growing manual — setup, maintenance, harvesting, troubleshooting
- 1 Replacement Culture — if your first culture fails through no fault of your own, we replace it (you cover postage)
- Direct email support — questions answered by someone who actually grows this
Why 1L of starter culture matters
Spirulina multiplies exponentially, but it starts slow. With 500ml, you are looking at 8–10 weeks to first harvest. With 1L, you halve that. More starter volume means faster establishment, stronger early growth, and a culture that is more resilient to temperature swings and pH drift while you are still learning.
Why post-harvest nutrients matter
The starter nutrients get your culture established. The post-harvest nutrients keep it producing. Every time you harvest, you remove biomass and deplete the media of essential nutrients. Without replenishment, the culture fades. The post-harvest pack included here is the same one sold separately — formulated to replace exactly what was lost.
Why the pH pen matters
Spirulina thrives at pHs over 9.5. At pH 10 almost all potentially harmful bugs are wiped out. You cannot guess pH accurately by colour or smell. The pen tells you exactly where you stand in ten seconds. It is the difference between catching a problem early and starting over.
What to expect
First harvests typically occur around weeks 6–8 with 1L of starter culture — faster than the 500ml starting volume. The 1kg starter nutrient pack makes 50 litres of media. The 1kg post-harvest pack replenishes your culture through months of regular harvesting. Most growers do not need to buy additional nutrients for 3+ months.
Why buy Australian
Imported cultures get seized by quarantine or die in transit. We ship express from Perth — no biosecurity paperwork, no roulette. You get a living culture that arrives ready to work, not a vial of regret.
“I bought the 50ml culture pack first, then upgraded”
“I started with a 50ml pack because I was not sure I would stick with it. Within a few weeks I built the culture up to a few hundred mls and knew this was for me, but I figured I would run out of starter nutrients and I had no feeding mix for once I began harvesting. I had no way to check pH. I ended up buying the post-harvest pack, a pH pen, and another 500ml of fresh culture separately. If I had just bought the Premium Kit upfront I would have saved money and avoided the week of waiting for the extra culture to arrive. Start with this one if you are even moderately serious.”
— Angela K., Hobart
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this compare to the Essentials Kit?
The Essentials Kit contains 500ml of culture and no post-harvest nutrients or pH pen. This Premium Kit contains 1L of culture, 1kg of post-harvest nutrients, and a pH tester. Choose the Essentials Kit if you want to test the process with a reduced commitment. Choose the Premium Kit if you want to reach harvest faster and maintain continuous production without buying additional supplies in your first couple of months.
How long until I can harvest?
With 1L of starter culture, first proper harvests typically occur around weeks 6–8. The larger starting volume establishes faster and is more resilient to early mistakes.
Does this include everything I need for continuous production?
Yes, for approximately 3+ months. The starter nutrients establish the culture. The post-harvest nutrients replenish it after each harvest. The pH pen lets you monitor the critical chemistry. After 3 months you may need additional post-harvest nutrients depending on your culture volume and harvest frequency.
What if my culture dies in transit?
Express shipping is included to prevent this. If your culture arrives unhealthy, we will replace it under the replacement culture guarantee.
Can I use tap water?
Tap water is fine but you must dechlorinate. You can do this with an additive designed to do this – you can puchase this at an aquarium shop. If you have a good water filter, then you will not need to dechlorinate. You can also start with store-bought mineral. Filtered rainwater works too.
How much daily care does this need?
Less than five minutes once established. Check the bubbler, top up for evaporation, monitor temperature and pH. The manual explains exactly what to look for.
Is this safe to grow at home?
Yes. Spirulina grows in alkaline conditions (pH 10+), which naturally discourages most common contaminants. It is one of the safest home cultivation projects you can undertake.
What happens after the 10L container is full?
You expand into larger containers. The equipment in this kit — heater, pump, mesh, pH pen — scales with you. Many growers move to 80 – 100L containers once they have the rhythm down.
Ready to start producing?
Add to cart now and we will express ship your complete system from Perth. Questions before you buy? Email us — we actually answer.
