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Algae in an AP System

I have multiple tanks in an AP System. One of the tanks with no fish and lots of sun has had an Algae bloom.

I isolated it from the system, while I regroup.

My system chemistry

2013-03-02

PH-7.4

NH-0.25

NO2-0

NO3-0

I am thinking, that when I move my Tilapia to the Algae laden tank, they will consume the Algae and my Nitrates will rise.

Am I on the right track?

In retrospect, It may have been a dumb question to many, Gravity was once a mystery.

2013-03-11 A few days older and wiser. I am now feeding my worms Green Algae, they like it better than Avacados. My Tilapia also are eating Green Algae Dailey.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jim Troyer on March 5, 2013 at 1:24pm

Hi Bob

Yes, adding herbivores should help, in the mean time, use up the nutrients the algae is living on by adding a plant load.

Throwing in some of those water hyacinth plants in there should help quite a bit to control your water nutrients.

all the best,

Jim

Permalink Reply by Robert Rowe on March 6, 2013 at 3:11pm

Bob Replied:

Ithought of that but then the algae woulf die and in the process use up all the combined Oxygen.?!

Jim Troyer said:

Hi Bob

Yes, adding herbivores should help, in the mean time, use up the nutrients the algae is living on by adding a plant load.

Throwing in some of those water hyacinth plants in there should help quite a bit to control your water nutrients.

all the best,

Jim

Permalink Reply by Robert Rowe on March 9, 2013 at 3:30pm

In response to my own question.

I decided to net some green algae and feed it to one of my composting worm beds.

This problem may be be a solution to what to feed my red wigglers.

I read a few comments on the topic and this may be a good thing.

Any commments?

Permalink Reply by Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. on March 9, 2013 at 5:22pm

Warning Warning Will Robinson. Water hyacinth is considered a noxious weed in Arizona.

Permalink Reply by Jim Troyer on March 10, 2013 at 12:19am

That's right Dr. Brooks - that's why we never let it out of captivity...

@ Bob did those red wigglers like the algae?

Permalink Reply by Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. on March 10, 2013 at 5:00am

I think the following document might be helpful:

http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/az/pdfs/energy/rdep/deis...

Don't mean to over react, just a word of caution. I guess the word quarantined bothers me ;-)

Permalink Reply by Robert Rowe on March 10, 2013 at 8:35am

Robert Rowe replied:

Words have meaning - The key words here are restricted and quarantined. - I interpret this to be mean, if I have it I must control it.

Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. said:

I think the following document might be helpful:

http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/az/pdfs/energy/rdep/deis...

Don't mean to over react, just a word of caution. I guess the word quarantined bothers me ;-)

Permalink Reply by Robert Rowe on March 10, 2013 at 8:44am

Yup! Chowin down

Jim Troyer said:

That's right Dr. Brooks - that's why we never let it out of captivity...

@ Bob did those red wigglers like the algae?

Permalink Reply by David Schwinghamer on March 10, 2013 at 10:37am

Garden Pool had an event in Glendale with someone using a pond filled with that noxious weed, they gave me some to try and my Tilapia gobbled it up!

Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. said:

Warning Warning Will Robinson. Water hyacinth is considered a noxious weed in Arizona.

Permalink Reply by Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. on March 10, 2013 at 3:41pm

Well, when I am am asked what these words mean in practice, and having worked with the regulators in question, my response is "they don't want you to have them and may act accordingly. Your choice." Personally I keep them as far from my facilities as possible. Just sayin'

Permalink Reply by Sheri Schmeckpeper on March 12, 2013 at 12:51pm

Bob, you can also put plecostomi in your tank to control the algae. Tilapia will eat it, but they tend to allow it to grow on the surfaces and plecos clean surfaces. Too much algae will suck the oxygen from your system, so you're probably doing well to feed your worms. :)

Permalink Reply by Robert Rowe on March 12, 2013 at 2:23pm

Sheri Re my Tel msg.

I have concluded that ammonia @ 0.50 is a good time for 66% water replacement, taking it to 0.16. Is this too conservative in your opinion?

Sheri Schmeckpeper said:

Bob, you can also put plecostomi in your tank to control the algae. Tilapia will eat it, but they tend to allow it to grow on the surfaces and plecos clean surfaces. Too much algae will suck the oxygen from your system, so you're probably doing well to feed your worms.