Just how bad are algaecides?

[TechAquaria]

find a willow tree get some small fresh green branches it will clear that crap right up

DUDE! You are on to SOMETHING HERE!

Later, the next day you posted the above, the wife and I went for a walk along a levy here, just about dusk; we commonly go there to grab aquarium plants you just can't find locally in stores.

I grabbed some willow, new tender shoots from the growing tips of what my wife and I call "water willow" (we don't know the proper name, I am looking now ...) When we got home I tossed a handful in the food processor and liquefied it, strained it though a coffee filter, and injected it into a 10g tank with Bacopa (Moneywort.)

I just gave the fish in that tank a snack--there are roots ALL over and down the stem of the plants! It looks like it is sprouting "roothair", about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long at this point. I mean THE AMOUNT OF ROOTS ARE RIDICULOUS!

This will DEFINITELY require closer experiment and observation ... got any other ideas??? I am all ears! The small amount of algae in that tank shows no change, yet ...

Regards,
TA

 

[livebearerfreak]

i have not and never will use any algea meds as my fish friend bruse said he used them one time and killed more then half his stock in his 150.. i had green water really bad for a month and a half tryed everything finaly took the tank down and reset it up in a different location and since about half a month ago i have never seen no green water since then...

 

[dundadundun]

anyone know a good resource for identifying willows? i wouldn't mind finding one in my neighborhood. i know for a fact the couple i'm familiar with are not within walking distance though.

would be good info to know just in case. maybe one day i'll have to use it. never know. :huh:

 

[TechAquaria]

Let me know what you think ...

anyone know a good resource for identifying willows? i wouldn't mind finding one in my neighborhood. i know for a fact the couple i'm familiar with are not within walking distance though.

would be good info to know just in case. maybe one day i'll have to use it. never know. :huh:

Check this out:

http://www.ehow.com/how_172766_make-rooting-tonic.html

and

http://www.ehow.com/how_4824692_make-rooting-hormone.html

I would love to hear your thoughts--I have not found any excellent pics of type claimed to exhibit these traits yet. Keep me posted if anyone else looks into this, please.

Regards,
TA

 

[dundadundun]

thanks tech... looks to me i'm looking for salicaceae salix. lots of species there! should i just be looking for the leaf shape... and during the right season fuzzy buds?

would this get me false positives?

 

[TechAquaria]

thanks tech... looks to me i'm looking for salicaceae salix. lots of species there! should i just be looking for the leaf shape... and during the right season fuzzy buds?

would this get me false positives?

The leaves on this one are about 1/2 to 3/4 wide, at the middle, they taper to point at both ends, of course one end, ends at the leaf stem. Tomorrow, I will walk and we will grab a few handfuls, I'll post pics--don't laugh at my pics, I am a TERRIBLE picture taker. Just too late tonight ... I don't know if they had any "fuzzy stuff" on the tree anywhere or not. It is late in the season here, end of this month trees begin to head towards dropping their leaves. I don't know if willows drop 'em or not, I kinda think so ...

Regards,
TA

 

[red_wall]

Well, I'm taking the plunge...
Adding algaecide now.
Will do an 80ish% water change 15 minutes after adding it though...
Hope it works.

Goodbye snails, possibly moss too.


*Keeping my filter off, just in case.