Disclosed is a method of mitigating silicate precipitation and/or gel formation when providing silicate to a culture media having a pH of about 7-9 wherein the method comprises: addition of an aqueous silicate solution to the culture media via a conduit that terminates above the surface of the culture media such that the silicate solution passes through a gaseous medium prior to contact with the culture media avoiding contact of the silicate solution with tank components prior to contact with the culture media, wherein the culture media is agitated, and wherein the first contact of the aqueous silicate solution with the culture media is at or proximate an area of high or maximal agitation of the culture.
