How long will the dinos live?
Like a pet or plant, the little guys need care. Assuming the temperature and lighting conditions are good, the culture should continue to grow and divide indefinitely.
BioGlo comes with an initial supply of nutrients (i.e. microbe food) which should last for 4-6 months. After that, additional nutrients may be purchased on our website; we expect a fresh 3-month supply to cost around $10.
Last updated: December 17, 2017 03:08
Why is the shipping cost higher than other projects?
Each BioGlo comes with a 50ml container of living dinoflaggelates which need to be sent via 2-day shipping.
Last updated: November 19, 2017 00:22
How will the shipping temperature affect the microbes?
Although the microbes need controlled temperatures of 20-25°C (68-77 °F) to remain healthy, they can withstand a temperature range of 0-32°C (32-90 °F) for short durations.
Last updated: December 17, 2017 03:08
What is the ideal environment for BioGlo?
To encourage microbe growth, the ideal conditions are:
- Moderate natural light or fluorescent light 18” to 24” from the culture, preferably in 12-hr cycles. Direct sunlight should be avoided.
- An ambient room temperature of 20-25°C (68-77 °F).
- Periodic freshening of the water and food (see FAQ question on nutrients).
Last updated: December 17, 2017 03:08
How do the nutrients work and where can I get fresh nutrients when I run out?
You’ll need to freshen up the water and food inside BioGlo every month or so to keep the dinos happy. Each BioGlo ships with enough nutrients to last 4-6 months, and additional nutrients will be available for purchase on our website www.magicalmicrobes.com; we expect a fresh 3-month supply to cost around $10.
Dinos need nitrate, phosphate, trace metals, and vitamins to live. Because an autoclave is required to ensure sterility of this tasty cocktail, the nutrients may not be readily available at your local pet supply store. However, in addition to the nutrients available on our website, there are a few major suppliers of nutrients to choose from across the U.S., so we encourage you to shop around to see what works best for you. For more information, the Scripps Institute of Oceanography offers a great overview on culturing dinoflagellates to help get you started: https://scripps.ucsd.edu/labs/mlatz/bioluminescence/dinoflagellates-and-red-tides/dinoflagellate-culturing/
Last updated: December 17, 2017 03:08
What if my country has strict import regulations?
For certain countries there may be issues delivering your dino cultures if shipped directly from the U.S. Like most people, a lengthy wait in customs really overwhelms the microbes!
We will do a check on all foreign import regulations before the campaign draws to a close, but we encourage you to reach out to us now so that we can begin addressing specific cases.
For some countries we may be able to ship the culture locally, in which case we will adjust the shipping rate, and for others we simply may not be able to fulfill the order at all. In the event we cannot fulfill an order due to import regulations we will gladly refund your money.
Last updated: December 17, 2017 03:08
What is BackerKit?
BackerKit is a service that crowdfunded project creators use to keep track of hundreds to tens of thousands of backers—from shipping details, pledge levels, preferences and quantities, whether they have paid or had their card declined, special notes, and everything in between!
The BackerKit software and support team is independent from the campaign’s project team—BackerKit does not handle the actual reward shipping. For more information about the preparation or delivery status of your rewards, please check the project's updates page.
How does BackerKit work?
After the campaign ends, the project creator will send you an email with a unique link to your survey. You can check out a walkthrough of the process here.
I never received my invitation. How do I complete the survey?
The most common reasons for not receiving a survey email is that you may be checking an email inbox different from the email address you used to sign up with Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account, or it may be caught in your spam filter.
Confirm that the email address you are searching matches the email address tied to your Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or Tilt Pro account. If that doesn’t work, then try checking your spam, junk or promotions folders. You can also search for "backerkit” in your inbox.
To resend the survey to yourself, visit the project page and input the email address associated with your Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account.
How do I update my shipping address?
BackerKit allows you to update your shipping address until the shipping addresses are locked by the project creator. To update your address, go back to your BackerKit survey by inputting your email here.
When will my order be shipped, charged or locked?
That is handled directly by the project creator. BackerKit functions independently of the project itself, so we do not have control of their physical shipping timeline. If you want to check on the project’s status, we recommend reading over the project's updates page.
I completed the survey, but haven't received my rewards yet. When will they arrive?
As BackerKit does not actually handle any rewards or shipping, the best way to stay updated on the shipping timeline would be to check out the project's updates page.