Finally Started My Black Out Today :(

[loraxchick]

i had a horrendous breakout of bga. a 5 day blackout cleared it right up (afte r trying for a long time to rid it any way possible).. do a big waterchange, feed the fish and do another 3 dau blackout if you're worried that the first on did not completely erradicate it.
as far as duckweed being a symbiont of bga, i had never heard,read this in my time as a marine biology major in college. interesting if you could post some link to this. and dont take EVERYTHING professors say as gospel...if you read it in a book or scientific article that's one thing, but professors arent always 100% accurate in their teaching. as him/her where they learned that info, im sure they'd be happy to share. i only say this as ive duckweed in two tanks and never had bga in those *shrugs*. also the local ponds around here are covered in the stuff, and dont have huge bga outbreaks.
just my two cents.
good luck with the next blackout. bga can drive you crazy!
cheers

 

[Curiosity101]

I will try to find some proper solid evidence but I've not got to grips with the library system yet.

My theory is that duckweed introduces the bacteria when it dies, but that doesn't mean the bacteria can get a hold.
And in most tanks where the duckweed thrives it also makes sense that it would out compete the lone bacteria. Afterall symbiosis is normally more efficient than if the organism lives on it's own.

Like I said, just theories, and the BGA did appear after all the duckweed was gone, and it also never really got worse. It just refused to go away. So who knows...so long as it's gone that's all I care about

 

[loraxchick]

that would mean the duckweed would have to contain the bga..i doubt it. but perhaps the bga lives in small number on the outside of the duckweed and is transferred this way. whan conditions are favorable the bga explodes (bacteria multiply so so fast- if you take micro, you will see this). which is why everyone with duckweed doesnt instantly get bga. im not disagreeing at all. interesting thought about the symbiosis.
symbiotic relationships dont really make it easier for the organism, otherwise evolution would have sort of driven towards most species being symbiotic. realistically two organisms evolved to help each other, as neither could do what they do alone.
another question, what are you studying at university?
good luck in round 2
cheers

 

[Curiosity101]

Cyanobacteria in Symbiosis - It's available as an ebook...I can get access via the uni. Here is the contents page.

http/waynesword.palomar.edu/plnov98.htm

I realise the second link isn't on duckweed, and I don't think that the contents on the picture mentions it. Just thought they were interesting. I got 17 books/journals returned on the topics of cyanobacteria and symbiosis...so wouldn't know where to begin actually looking through them all.

And I'm studying Genetics.

 

[OldMan47]

Azolla is the plant commonly known as frog bit. What we call duckweed is the Lemna species. Most of the cited articles seem to be relating to the subject of the symbiotic relationship that is established in things like the corals and similar organisms that have some cyanobacteria embedded in them providing nutrients to the coral, not to plants having a symbiotic relationship with cyanobacteria.

 

[loraxchick]

yes oldman..im divulging into this...i think its all so interesting. thanks to curiosity for getting me this. im absolutely not thinking of frogbit. or waterlettuce.
genetics. thats a great area of study. good stuff
cheers

 

[Curiosity101]

I know that book isn't, but 17 books/journals came back, it's more than likely there are more examples than just the azolla...

Also I'm well aware azolla isn't duckweed...

But yeah, whether my lecturer is correct or not...still an interesting thought.