Ridley Laboratories
Ridley Building is where our marine scientists have their research facilities. It houses laboratories, aquariums and an algal culture suite.
Specialist facilities
Computer controlled force gauge and pressurised waterjet
Equipment measures strength of adhesion of hard fouling organisms. We look at this on coatings on microscope slide size surfaces. Advanced Analysis and Integration Ltd built this for our lab.
Contact angle goniometer
This facility measures the spreading of a probe liquid on a surface. It provides data on surface chemistry. It looks at the relative importance of polar/dispersive and Lewis acid-base interactions. We apply it in the context of marine bioadhesion.
Molecular Biology Suite
We perform the following molecular techniques:
- SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis
- 2D-gels
- Western and Northern Blotting
- PCR and Column Chromatography
EthoVision® Video Tracking System and Simi Motion® 3D Tracking System
We use this for automation of behavioural measurements.
Sperm Class Analyser®
This automates the analysis of sperm quality. It provides rapid, accurate and objective results of:
- motility
- concentration
- morphology
- DNA fragmentation
Other facilities
Other facilities include:
- objective results of motility, concentration, morphology and DNA fragmentation
- uHPLC and mass spectometry
- freeze drier for sample preparation for analysis
- gas chromatography for analysis of trace gases
- air-sea gas exchange tank to simulate natural air-sea gas transfer
- spectrophotometers - 3D fluorescence, UV-Vis and microplate fluorescence
- time lapse video microscopy, digital image capture and high-speed video capture (1000frames/sec)
Aquarium
We have four commercially available re-circulating filter systems. Each aquarium is adjustable for temperature, salinity and photoperiod.
Artificial seawater, from reverse osmosis filtered tap water and commercial sea salt, fills our aquaria.
In-line systems include:
- UV sterilisation
- trickle bio-tower and fluid sand filtration
- protein skimming and ozonation
The aquaria are suitable for temperate and tropical marine invertebrates, including non-native species.
TMC System Marine Components
- a 750 litre pallet reservoir constructed of HDPE complete with support grid
- 100 micron bag filters
- a fluidised sand filter with 15 kilos of oolitic coral sand
- a re-gassing/trickling bio-tower with 70 litres of TMC Bio-rings
- random fill media (210m2/m3) and five side wall flow-deflector rings
- a Protein Skimmer with venturi pump and internal and external foam cup wash kits
We also have a TMC commercial UV steriliser P8-440w, a filtration circulation pump, and an aquarium supply pump (½ hp self priming).
Other Components
- an Ozone generator connected to a protein skimmer
- a Tricool roof chiller supplying cooler water/glycol mix to plate heat-exchangers
- air pumps (60 L/min)
- day-length tracker lighting control, which follows photoperiod at fully adjustable longitude and latitude locations
- RO water filtration supplying 100 gallons/day (20” 5 micron pre-filter, 20” carbon filter and 2x 100 gpd membrane filters)
We also have a YSI 5200 recirculating system monitor with multi-probe (temperature, conductivity, pH, ORP, salinity and dissolved oxygen). It has a control function with relays for temperature and ORP (ozone).
Testing Capability
The maximum capacity for the system is 5000 litres and 25-50 kg biomass.
We have fully adaptable table-top space for tanks (depth 2ft, length 2x 53” 2x 79” 2x 83”), and a total of 24 water supply taps.
We can offer a temperature range from 6-40 degrees celsius, and fully adjustable salinity.
Other aquarium facilities
We have other aquarium facilities, including:
- cooling incubators - house experimental invertebrates outside of the main aquarium
- pH control for CO2 Dosing - testing ocean acidification effects on invertebrate reproduction and development
- constant temperature rooms - housing organisms and samples for teaching and research
Algal culture suite
We have a designated algal culture facility for the production of algae for research.
They allow for batch production of marine and freshwater microalgae. This is under controlled environmental conditions.
We grow microalgae to feed larvae and for biotechnology and toxin research.
We maintain master cultures of 100ml to 20L carboy batch cultures of single strain algal stocks.
Our research includes algal biofuels (bio-diesel and bio-ethanol) and chemical signaling.
Facilities
We have:
- constant temperature room, maintained at 19 degrees celsius with a controlled light:dark cycle of 16:8 hours
- aeration provided by air pumps through Hepa-Vent filters for sterile culture
- autoclave used for sterilisation of media and samples
- microbiological safety cabinet for sterile culture transfer and inoculation
- LED Photobioreactor with a 2.5L capacity, used for algal culture under controlled environmental parameters
Specification
Find out about our specifications.
TMC System Marine Components
- a 750 litre pallet reservoir constructed of HDPE complete with support grid
- 100 micron bag filters
- a fluidised sand filter with 15 kilos of oolitic coral sand
- a re-gassing/trickling bio-tower with 70 litres of TMC Bio-rings
- random fill media (210m2/m3) and five side wall flow-deflector rings
- a Protein Skimmer with venturi pump and internal and external foam cup wash kits
We also have a TMC commercial UV steriliser P8-440w, a filtration circulation pump, and an aquarium supply pump (½ hp self priming).
Other components
- an Ozone generator connected to a protein skimmer
- a Tricool roof chiller supplying cooler water/glycol mix to plate heat-exchangers
- air pumps (60 L/min)
- day-length tracker lighting control, which follows photoperiod at fully adjustable longitude and latitude locations
- RO water filtration supplying 100 gallons/day (20” 5 micron pre-filter, 20” carbon filter and 2x 100 gpd membrane filters)
We also have a YSI 5200 recirculating system monitor with multi-probe (temperature, conductivity, pH, ORP, salinity and dissolved oxygen). It has a control function with relays for temperature and ORP (ozone).
Testing capability
The maximum capacity for the system is 5000 litres and 25-50 kg biomass.
We have fully adaptable table-top space for tanks (depth 2ft, length 2x 53” 2x 79” 2x 83”), and a total of 24 water supply taps.
We can offer a temperature range from 6-40 degrees celsius, and fully adjustable salinity.
Contact us
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Ridley Building
Claremont Road
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU
Tel: +44 (0)191 208 6659
Fax: +44 (0)191 208 7891
E-mail: D.J.Whitaker@newcastle.ac.uk