In general, most isolated strains had a growth cycle of 8 days to stationary phase. However, some strains were found to have a shorter growth cycle, such as the long-chain diatom Skeletolema sp. (strain 18) and Chaetoceros socialis (strain 35). Strains 18 and 35 bloomed at day 2, but collapsed between day 3 and 4, and had a relatively low gravimetric lipid content (i.e. 2.2e2.7% of biomass DW). These were therefore deemed unsuitable for further culture. Other strains had an extended growth log phase of up to 20 days, such as the group of