Dumb question
Dumb question
Does (months old) dessicated cyanobacteria recover when re-immersed in water?
Testing for ammonia is nerve-wracking when you have lime green walls.
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- Dwarf Puffer
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Re: Dumb question
Not a dumb question at all. Short answer is 'yes'.
Longer answer... Another way in which cyanobacteria are able to survive in extreme conditions is by producing akinetes, thick-walled cells that are able to resist desiccation (drying out) and freezing. They can remain dormant for long periods of time until conditions become right and they germinate (Clark, 1998)
Longer answer... Another way in which cyanobacteria are able to survive in extreme conditions is by producing akinetes, thick-walled cells that are able to resist desiccation (drying out) and freezing. They can remain dormant for long periods of time until conditions become right and they germinate (Clark, 1998)
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- Mentor
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Re: Dumb question
+1 to Squaffy's post. A previously used but dried-out tank needs full breakdown and cleaning before re-setting. You need to rid of excess left-over organics and inorganics before re-setting and conditioning.
Where's the fish? - Neptune
Re: Dumb question
Is there any way to destroy cyanobacteria that have formed akinetes? I understand that spot treating with hydrogen peroxide works when the cyanobacteria is active in the tank, but will it work when they're dry?
Testing for ammonia is nerve-wracking when you have lime green walls.
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Re: Dumb question
Line the glass with newspaper-soaked acetic acid. It should easily scrape off after a few hours.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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fahaka
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Re: Dumb question
I'll second the vinegar...that stuff can shift a week's worth of assorted woodfire combustants with a quick wipe over.
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But puffers are a girl`s best friend.
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Re: Dumb question
I was going to suggest good old bleach if you're scrubbing out
PP - I was under the impression cyanobacteria produced acetic acid, do you have a reference point I could have a look at?
PP - I was under the impression cyanobacteria produced acetic acid, do you have a reference point I could have a look at?
Re: Dumb question
Actually, I have already scrubbed the tank, and it's been back up and running for a couple of months now without issue. What I'm really curious about is potentially cleaning the old sand and plastic plants that I couldn't quite clear the residue bacteria from with elbow grease.
Last edited by Ekiel on Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Testing for ammonia is nerve-wracking when you have lime green walls.
- Pufferpunk
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Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
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Re: Dumb question
I don't like bleach--prefer Oxiclean for that.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Re: Dumb question
In the past i've cheated and used a Microbiology lab autoclave to sterilise sand (out of hours, hoping I didn't get caught) - you could do a home job in several parts if you have a pressure cooker, though not the plants, they'd melt - bleach for them, or Oxiclean as above
Edit to add... just digging through some old notes and it appears cyanobacteria are ubiquitous, as in they are everywhere, in the air, water etc. so it's nigh on impossible to get rid of them per se and their presence in a bloom will be entirely opportunistic, meaning water parameters containing excess nutrients for example.
Depending on how much time you have, you could put the plants and sand in water, add nutrients to get the cyanobacteria to grow, then zap it all with amoxicillin, but I personally wouldn't go to those lengths
Edit to add... just digging through some old notes and it appears cyanobacteria are ubiquitous, as in they are everywhere, in the air, water etc. so it's nigh on impossible to get rid of them per se and their presence in a bloom will be entirely opportunistic, meaning water parameters containing excess nutrients for example.
Depending on how much time you have, you could put the plants and sand in water, add nutrients to get the cyanobacteria to grow, then zap it all with amoxicillin, but I personally wouldn't go to those lengths
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Re: Dumb question
I also have autoclaved substrates, but I don't have access anymore. Don't try that with porous rocks though....
BGA is opportunistic. Playing with (gentle current can squelch small invasions. Big or out-of-control infestations call for more drastic techniques.
I have used original OxiClean also and would again if I need a whole-tank decontamination. The simple OxiClean rinses free and non-toxically. There are no nasty residues.
BGA is opportunistic. Playing with (gentle current can squelch small invasions. Big or out-of-control infestations call for more drastic techniques.
I have used original OxiClean also and would again if I need a whole-tank decontamination. The simple OxiClean rinses free and non-toxically. There are no nasty residues.
Where's the fish? - Neptune