Adding sugar and magnesium to aquarium to grow Nostoc balls?
- Thread starter knifegill
- Start date
http://mic.sgmjournals.org/cgi/reprint/107/2/309.pdf
This is where I am getting these ideas, but a search for 'nostoc culture' offers a headspinning variety of chemical additives used to raise them.
Going ghetto here, so I'm using small amounts of table sugar (glucose, I hope), Epsom salt (magnesium) and active yeast (hoping casein will become available from it). Since I have no way to test for quantities of these elements, I'll simply be doing a weekly 90% water change in the container and redosing for the week. Should I note significant fluctuations in productivity within days of dosing, I would simply dose again experimentally with one of the three elements and observe which of the three (likely to be magnesium as per the article) is the most depleted.
Arbitrarily, I'll use one gallon of water with one teaspoon of sugar, one teaspoon of the epsom salt and just a pinch of yeast. This will be in the low-light test.
The upstairs container will simply contain aquarium water and be exposed to bright light. Also, I used african cichlid sand for pH stability in the container upstairs, so I'll be obligated to include it in the basement sample as well.
I'll update this if I have any success. If I fail and they all die, I'm sticking my head in the sand.
This is where I am getting these ideas, but a search for 'nostoc culture' offers a headspinning variety of chemical additives used to raise them.
Going ghetto here, so I'm using small amounts of table sugar (glucose, I hope), Epsom salt (magnesium) and active yeast (hoping casein will become available from it). Since I have no way to test for quantities of these elements, I'll simply be doing a weekly 90% water change in the container and redosing for the week. Should I note significant fluctuations in productivity within days of dosing, I would simply dose again experimentally with one of the three elements and observe which of the three (likely to be magnesium as per the article) is the most depleted.
Arbitrarily, I'll use one gallon of water with one teaspoon of sugar, one teaspoon of the epsom salt and just a pinch of yeast. This will be in the low-light test.
The upstairs container will simply contain aquarium water and be exposed to bright light. Also, I used african cichlid sand for pH stability in the container upstairs, so I'll be obligated to include it in the basement sample as well.
I'll update this if I have any success. If I fail and they all die, I'm sticking my head in the sand.
All elements are in place and notebook is dedicated. Now we wait. 38 nostoc balls to start. Grow, babies, grow!
I'm actually really stoked about this. Going to dedicate all of tomorrow to trying to find some before the frost hits. Snow on monday... D: eeek
Mine were hiding near the roots of plants. Some were in the open but they were mostly rolling within the grassy zone in the puddle. And they weren't in every puddle, either. Just the grassy one. If I do succeed in growing them, I can send you some. Heck, I could go there right now and grab you a bunch. I doubt they would cost much to ship, I wouldn't even use more than enough water to just keep them wet. If you feel like dropping a couple of dollars on mystery algae balls.
I did notice some strange stuff while reading up. Sometimes they host diseases, and they apparently are regularly eaten by peruvian peoples even though they contain a neurotoxin.
I did notice some strange stuff while reading up. Sometimes they host diseases, and they apparently are regularly eaten by peruvian peoples even though they contain a neurotoxin.
I have 1.26 in my paypal, next time im at my moms i'll get her to add some money for me (my bank wont do money transfers) and if you have some alive i'll gladly buy what ever you feel would be fair for 20$ I'm in Ontario tho so Im not sure how much shipping would end up being.
If i cant find any i'll definitely msg you when I get some money
If i cant find any i'll definitely msg you when I get some money
For 20 bucks I'll send you a bucket full! Realistically, five or ten bucks would be cool. Not looking for major profit here. Cool to get money for time spent though.
Well if I cant get them here...i'll go nuts thinking about it, and as soon as i have them i'll be bored with 'em.
As for the actual risk of pathogens I'll probably let a few dry out and hopefully that will kill any parasite in them...
then rehydrate and let them live with a feeder fish...if both are alive after a week i'll trust them with my other fish.
I'm sure feeder fish are just, if not worse, then those little guys.
As for the actual risk of pathogens I'll probably let a few dry out and hopefully that will kill any parasite in them...
then rehydrate and let them live with a feeder fish...if both are alive after a week i'll trust them with my other fish.
I'm sure feeder fish are just, if not worse, then those little guys.
My sentiments on infection potential as well.
I've had them two days and I'm not bored yet. But I've been known to watch bamboo grow.
I've had them two days and I'm not bored yet. But I've been known to watch bamboo grow.
