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Re: Diatom Bloom
I'm Back! Las Vages was crazy as always and I didn't lose a lot of money.
I just wanted to Thank you everyone for your insight on my "Diatom Bloom" -
still going on. Although since I cut the hours of light on the tank, there
has been no increase in growth. I have had experience with that Blue-green
algae stuff in my community tank before, but this isn't that. The bloom I
have is where the water just starts turning green and cloudy; a microfilter
clears it up right away - but I can't do that with my baby rams. - which, by
the way, are very fat and healthy. I'm thinking with the water changes I
can again start to do and less hours of light on the tank and I'm good
again. I was just worried with me being gone and having a beginner (heck,
he actually has NO aquarist experience) watch my house and tanks. This time
I was able to come back home with ALL my fish still alive. What a sign of
relief! Well, I have to go clean up my tanks ....Until next time ...
Bonny
>From: "Yvan Alleau" <yalleau@OCE.ORST.EDU>
>Reply-To: apisto@listbox.com
>To: <apisto@listbox.com>
>Subject: Re: Diatom Bloom
>Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 09:13:39 -0800
>
>hi,
>i've just read my mail so sorry if someone already answered that question.
>Diatoms are phytoplankton which can be found in rivers, lakes, marine
>environments (different species so). They have the particularity to used
>silica (biogenic element) in the formation of their tests. In the natural
>environment they typically bloom one or twice a year (often summer period)
>in an amazing quantity when conditions are present. They are: good light
>intensity and duration, presence of all the nutrients (phosphate, nitrate,
>iron, manganese....) in optimum quantity, temperature as well. Nevertheless
>Silica is a limiting parameter to their bloom.
>I'm not quiet sure if its 100% bad for a tank since it will tend to reduce
>a
>surplus of dissolved elements that may have built up but they may also
>impact the amount of dissolved oxygen available.
>Concerning the "blue-green algae " and the info that Ron enlighted :"The
>important difference is that blue-green algae produce poisons (known as
>cyanotoxins) that can and will kill fish and other aquatic life", i have to
>say that each time i have been exposed to it in friends tanks i had a
>strong
>allergic reaction (by touching or smelling them).
>
>Hope that helps,
>take care
>
> FLI USA
>
>Yvan Alleau
>712 Kings boulevard
>97330 Corvallis, Oregon
>home # 738-0606
>College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
>Oregon State University
>office (Burt 222) # 737-3649, to be used wisely !
>yalleau@oce.orst.edu
>
>"When you're far from everything, you're getting closer to the essential"
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Ron West" <nfn09322@naples.net>
>To: <apisto@listbox.com>
>Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2001 7:53 PM
>Subject: Re: Diatom Bloom
>
>
> > >very few types of algal blooms are harmful. Most of the famous algal
> > >species that are harmful occur in the marine environment, on the open
> > >oceans. I don't know of any examples of harmful algal species in
>aquaria.
> >
> >
> > I don't disagree with anything Jonathan has said, but I do feel a word
>of
> > caution is in order here, especially for the benefit of newer aquarists.
> >
> > Cyanobacteria are not algae, but they look and act much like some types
>of
> > true green algae. They are commonly referred to as blue-green algae and
> > sometimes as "slime" algae. They form a very dark-green (sometimes
>almost
> > black) film that can spread out and blanket anything that doesn't get
>out
>of
> > its way.
> >
> > Like true green algae, cyanobacteria also bloom in response to heavy
> > nutrient loads, and in thriving tend to remove these excess nutrients
>from
> > solution. The important difference is that blue-green algae produce
>poisons
> > (known as cyanotoxins) that can and will kill fish and other aquatic
>life.
> > Not to cause a panic, as physical removal of the cyanobacteria mats and
> > regular water changes will protect most fish even in the face of an
>ongoing
> > bloom ("infection"). However, left unchecked, the poisons will
>accumulate
> > and the fish will eventually get sick and die.
> >
> > I'm not sure whether the fish die as a direct result of the toxins, or
> > indirectly as a result of opportunistic infections attacking weakened
>fish.
> > Probably either, depending on the age, species, and overall health of
>the
> > fish in question. I do know that fish, clearly heavily stressed and
>"sick"
> > in the presence of a heavy blue-green algae bloom, can make quite quick
>and
> > dramatic recoveries when the bulk of the algae is removed and the water
>is
> > 50-80% changed.
> >
> > One reason I felt I needed to speak up here was Bonny's statement that
>her
> > tank is brightly lit. When I think of diatoms, I think of the brown film
> > ("brown algae") that tends to grow in the back corners and other low
>light
> > situations rather than under bright light. I may be wrong here. Others
>with
> > more knowledge feel free to correct me.
> >
> > I do know that cyanobacteria can grow under fairly modest light, but can
> > also thrive in bright light, even full, direct sunlight.
> >
> > >< º> <º ><
> >
> > Ron
> > Naples, FL
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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