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cyanobacteria/algae
There have been a couple of posts lately about algae
described like this. Or describing algae that forms in lumps that break up and dissolve on contact. Or describing algae the has a really disgusting smell ... Any of these posts could in fact be describing cyanobacteria, also known as Blue-Green Algae. Cyanobacteria, as the name says, is more accurately a bacteria than an algae. Though it certainly appears like algae it is best to think of it as bacteria that has developed the ability to produce its own food through photosynthesis. Some, though by no means all are actually toxic, currently the is a bit of a crisis on the California coast, hundreds of seals and otters are sick after eating fish and shellfish poisoned by this stuff. Because of its unique abilities it is extremely difficult to deal with, most traditional methods of algae control simply don't work. Tinting the water and increasing shade is ineffective, because it can move about and adjust its buoyancy (one of the reasons it often floats up overnight) it will simply migrate to the areas where there is light. It is very tolerant of differing water conditions and can survive in conditions that would kill fish or other plants, (it was one of the first organisms to appear on earth, when the planet was still inhospitable to most life). Like other animals it is able to store the nutrients it needs when there is a surplus (Many of the "nitrogen fixing bacteria" you want in your soil are cyanobacteria) so massive, frequent water changes may help but will not eliminate the problem. The best way to proceed after removing excess decaying material from the bottom of the pond is to combine physical removal of the Cyanobacteria while encouraging the growth of higher plants. Cyanobacteria is uni-cellular (though it often grows in colonies) so it is difficult to mechanically separate it from the water, fortunately those cells are fairly large so a fine filter like quilt batting will work (Though if you put the quilt batting in your bio filter you need to change it regularly and be aware that this may damage the "good bacteria" that are colonizing your filter.) You should also gently skim clumps off the surface with something like an old nylon stocking (the finer the better). Encourage your existing plants to grow and if necessary add more plants, over time the higher plants will out compete the cyanobacteria for the nutrients in the water... (which is pretty much what has happened over the entire planet and is a good solution to most algae problems). You should also make water changes, but be aware that some water sources contain phosphates (Some sources I've read suggest that Cyanobacteria blooms in high phosphate conditions, primarily because it can store nitrogen compounds) I've also heard of people controlling it with small doses of copper sulphate, though this is dangerous as even a small overdose can kill your biofilter, invertebrates, plants and fish. In a small pond or an aquarium it can be effectively controlled with doses of Erythromycin (called Myacin as aquarium medication) double the duration of the treatment from that listed on the package. (This can get Very expensive Very quickly)... Anyway if that was not already too much info you can check out these links http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/bacteria/cyanointro.html http://www-cyanosite.bio.purdue.edu/ http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ehp/ehd/catal.../iyh/algea.htm |
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