its easy to do an experiment, fill several test tubes with water from your tank, "sterilise" it with different brands of algaecide. leave the test tubes somewhere where they get a reasonable amount of heat (if in a cold climate), and monitor to see if algae appears in the test tube after a few weeks.Algae has to start somewhere, via spores or baby algae hitchike with contaminated water, plants or fish. If I can sterilize water with algaecide and don’t introduce new contamination, is it possible to eliminate algae permanenty.
Short answer is no. Not possible. Unless you are in a sterile lab environment with very strict protocols in place, it is virtually impossible. Algae spores and bacteria (like BGA) can be airborn, so you can clean, brush, burn and sterilize all you want but algae will come back eventually, and faster than you think.Algae has to start somewhere, via spores or baby algae hitchike with contaminated water, plants or fish. If I can sterilize water with algaecide and don’t introduce new contamination, is it possible to eliminate algae permanenty.
Actually Donnie Wong had conducted an experiment comparing a bottle of tap water versus aquarium dosed tap water exposed to sunlight. As expected, contaminated tap water turned green quickly, but not pure tap water.its easy to do an experiment, fill several test tubes with water from your tank, "sterilise" it with different brands of algaecide. leave the test tubes somewhere where they get a reasonable amount of heat (if in a cold climate), and monitor to see if algae appears in the test tube after a few weeks.
Yes, airborne algae spores such as BGA cannot be prevented, but water born algae theoretically can be. Note that algaecide cannot sterilize 100% algae species without also killing plants, BB and fish with some recalcitrant algae stick around. But if it can eliminate some stubborn algae such as bba or thread algae, it’s an accomplishment.Short answer is no. Not possible. Unless you are in a sterile lab environment with very strict protocols in place, it is virtually impossible. Algae spores and bacteria (like BGA) can be airborn, so you can clean, brush, burn and sterilize all you want but algae will come back eventually, and faster than you think.
Tap water is somewhat filtered and treated with chlorine and/or chloramine. Consequently, pathogen and spore load are reduced. I am pretty confident if he was to leave that little experiment run for over a month he would slowly see algae develop in the tap water bottle. In fact he could run the same experiment with some brand name water bottle (basically RO water) that the end result would be the same, assuming of course that bottle is uncapped. The rate at which algae develops would probably be slower due to the poor mineral content.Actually Donnie Wong had conducted an experiment comparing a bottle of tap water versus aquarium dosed tap water exposed to sunlight. As expected, contaminated tap water turned green quickly, but not pure tap water.
BGA is a bacteria despite its name, but many algae spores are also airborn. Not being an algae expert I can't say which are airbone and which are not, but to me it is virtually impossible to eliminate even the only-waterborn algae spores because it would require an extreme level of sterility which cannot be carried out in our homes/tanks. Spores can survive extreme conditions and still be viable for future reproduction. My opinion on this is that going down the path of sterilization is in fact a bad approach because all these algae can be controlled without eradicating them if you are properly taking care of your tank. The idea of wanting to eradicate something usually finds its roots in the fact that we don't understand how things work and because we believe they are a thread to us. Not that algae are a threat, but certainly become an annoyance if we let them proliferate due to a lack of understanding.Yes, airborne algae spores such as BGA cannot be prevented, but water born algae theoretically can be. Note that algaecide cannot sterilize 100% algae species without also killing plants, BB and fish with some recalcitrant algae stick around. But if it can eliminate some stubborn algae such as bba or thread algae, it’s an accomplishment
Based upon the idea that they all share the same genetic ancestor. The thing is, we share many genes with lettuce, but that doesn’t make us part salad. You would need to convince me that all algaecides are non-selective.Note that algaecide cannot sterilize 100% algae species without also killing plants
Water droplets are airborne. A coconut is also airborne in a hurricane. I am guessing spore mass is a bit lighter that both, so perhaps around 30 ng.Not being an algae expert I can't say which are airbone and which are not
A massive cumulonimbus cloud is also airborn. The idea being not transported by water molecules I suppose?Water droplets are airborne. A coconut is also airborne in a hurricane. I am guessing spore mass is a bit lighter that both, so perhaps around 30 ng.
Humidity in indoor environment is in vapor form, not water droplets as in rainstorms, so it it not capable of transporting algae spores from one water body to another. Outdoor windstorm is different and can seed new water bodies with algae, plants, and even fish and crustaceous. This is why swimming pools and outdoor water fountains need to be chlorinated to prevent algae and bio growth.Based upon the idea that they all share the same genetic ancestor. The thing is, we share many genes with lettuce, but that doesn’t make us part salad. You would need to convince me that all algaecides are non-selective.
Water droplets are airborne. A coconut is also airborne in a hurricane. I am guessing spore mass is a bit lighter that both, so perhaps around 30 ng.
Hi @HanumanBGA is a bacteria despite its name, but many algae spores are also airborn. Not being an algae expert I can't say which are airbone and which are not, but to me it is virtually impossible to eliminate even the only-waterborn algae spores because it would require an extreme level of sterility which cannot be carried out in our homes/tanks.
When I said sterilization, I don’t mean by limiting it to UV alone but also chemical sterilization. UV can sterilize only free floating algae and spores, but not attached algae. If you can root out attached, free algae and spores by chemical and physically means, I don’t see why you cannot eradicate certain algae as algae don’t start spontaneously and must be seeded. That said, some algae spores are air born, hitchhiked with new plants, fish or tap water, or contaminated on glass lids and equipment waiting to be seeded. If you dose algaecide on regular basis and prophylactically, I don’t see why you cant eradicate certain algae, but never all algae. There is no broad spectrum algaecide that can eradicate all algae without also killing live stock and plants, for example, chlorination. Glutaraldehide is effective against BBA but not Clado, and AlgaeFix is effective against Clado but not BBA, and neither is effective against GSA. So the premise of eradicating all algae by sterilization is not possible, but eradicating some algae is possible.In a word, no.
UV sterilisation will not eliminate algae. It sterilised the cells to prevent reproduction. You would be required to manually remove the algae also, or use other methods to help eradicate it.
I ate my ancestor for dinner 😳.Based upon the idea that they all share the same genetic ancestor. The thing is, we share many genes with lettuce, but that doesn’t make us part salad. You would need to convince me that all algaecides are non-selective.
Sheesh and we thought the lean dosing thread was comedic - that cracked me up … like the coconut 😂.Water droplets are airborne. A coconut is also airborne in a hurricane. I am guessing spore mass is a bit lighter that both, so perhaps around 30 ng.
Do they?What about Hydrogen Peroxide?
The saltwater lunatics dose their tanks with H2O2 or use oxydators to keep algae at bay.
Ah my mistake. Do chemicals actually sterilise cells like Ultra Violet light does?When I said sterilization, I don’t mean by limiting it to UV alone but also chemical sterilization. UV can sterilize only free floating algae and spores, but not attached algae. If you can root out attached, free algae and spores by chemical and physically means, I don’t see why you cannot eradicate certain algae as algae don’t start spontaneously and must be seeded. That said, some algae spores are air born, hitchhiked with new plants, fish or tap water, or contaminated on glass lids and equipment waiting to be seeded. If you dose algaecide on regular basis and prophylactically, I don’t see why you cant eradicate certain algae, but never all algae. There is no broad spectrum algaecide that can eradicate all algae without also killing live stock and plants, for example, chlorination. Glutaraldehide is effective against BBA but not Clado, and AlgaeFix is effective against Clado but not BBA, and neither is effective against GSA. So the premise of eradicating all algae by sterilization is not possible, but eradicating some algae is possible.
I have been dosing Glut and spot treating with peroxide prophylactically for years. Based a toxicity data and personal experience, Glut has low toxicity that dosing as much as 5X as recommended by SeaChem will not harm life stock. I only spot spray with 3% peroxide on exposed plants and hard surfaces when I drain down the tank during weekly water change. I don't recommend dosing peroxide because it is hard to control the effective concentration as peroxide is volatile and light sensitive. That said, I am indirectly dosing peroxide when I refill the tank as sprayed peroxide will fall off, but unlikely to reach toxic levels to life stock.I'm not a fan of any chemical treatments against whatever... I rather use elbow grease... But "The one-two punch tut at the planted tank.net"
Is about applying Glut and Peroxide in 2 short bursts over a short period. And it seems people that did it report it works very good against algae.
The "One-Two Punch" Whole Tank Algae Treatment
www.plantedtank.net
I never tried it... Use at your own risk...