A photobioreactor for the cultivation and harvesting of photosynthetic organisms, comprising: a bioreactor system which is self-contained and which is constructed and arranged to control and maintain parameters necessary for the preparation, growth and harvesting of such photosynthetic organisms, including the levels of carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, nutrients, temperature, and light energy; said bioreactor system including a plurality of reactor vessels, including at least one firewall mixing/sterilizing tank vessel constructed and arranged to contain a source of sterile, temperature regulated water and a source of nutrient replenishment; at least one growth tank vessel, in fluidic engagement with said at least one firewall mixing/sterilizing tank vessel, said at least one growth tank vessel constructed and arranged for cultivation of said photosynthetic microorganisms; valving configured to place the firewall mixing/sterilizing tank vessel in communication with a source of sterilization material while also in fluidic isolation from the at least one growth tank vessel; and at least one harvest vessel in fluidic engagement with said at least one growth tank vessel, said at least one harvest vessel constructed and arranged for receipt of biomass produced in said at least one growth tank vessel, wherein said at least one growth tank vessel includes at least one light source formed from (a) at least one flat light guide constructed and arranged vertically having an edge and a surface, (b) at least one light emitting source, and (c) at least one light transition area, wherein said light source further comprises an LED at an edge of the at least one flat light guide and wherein said light transition area distributes light originating from the LED from the surface of the at least one flat light guide. a bioreactor system which is self-contained and which is constructed and arranged to control and maintain parameters necessary for the preparation, growth and harvesting of such photosynthetic organisms, including the levels of carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, nutrients, temperature, and light energy; said bioreactor system including a plurality of reactor vessels, including at least one firewall mixing/sterilizing tank vessel constructed and arranged to contain a source of sterile, temperature regulated water and a source of nutrient replenishment; at least one growth tank vessel, in fluidic engagement with said at least one firewall mixing/sterilizing tank vessel, said at least one growth tank vessel constructed and arranged for cultivation of said photosynthetic microorganisms; valving configured to place the firewall mixing/sterilizing tank vessel in communication with a source of sterilization material while also in fluidic isolation from the at least one growth tank vessel; and at least one harvest vessel in fluidic engagement with said at least one growth tank vessel, said at least one harvest vessel constructed and arranged for receipt of biomass produced in said at least one growth tank vessel, wherein said at least one growth tank vessel includes at least one light source formed from (a) at least one flat light guide constructed and arranged vertically having an edge and a surface, (b) at least one light emitting source, and (c) at least one light transition area, wherein said light source further comprises an LED at an edge of the at least one flat light guide and wherein said light transition area distributes light originating from the LED from the surface of the at least one flat light guide.