From: Dmerrill@bnr.ca (Dana Merrill)
Subject: Re: Green Water (was Re: Forget hatching brine shrimp).
Followup-To: alt.aquaria
Organization: BNR
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 18:12:00 GMT

In article <1iag5rINNilr@gvgspd.gvg.tek.com>, pjs@gvgdsd.GVG.TEK.COM (Peter
J. Stonard) wrote:
> 
> In article <1993Jan4.080658.1869@netcom.com> oleg@netcom.com 
> (Oleg Kiselev) writes:
> >You know how now and then people post here, complaining about 
> >green water?
> >Do whatever they do to get the green water and feed that to 
> >your daphnia.
> >Unfortunately, I am utterly unable to force a green water bloom 
> >in any of my tanks...
> 
> Only last night I was thinking someone must have a good recipe for
> algae infested water, all my tanks are crystal clear (well maybe not
> crystal....). Seems that as a kid my pet goldfish tank would turn
> green all by itself. I also had to pull 'miles' of Elodea Densa out, too!
> 
> Recently I've even tried culturing the thick green 'slime' that collects 
> on the underside of the light.
> 
> Anyone know the secret to truely green 'soup'??
> 
> ++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++
> Peter J. Stonard        +                                /^\  /^\
> Grass Valley Group      +                       /^\     /   \/
> Grass Valley, CA. 95945 +                     /     \ /    /  
> pjs@gvgspd.gvg.tek.com  +     Fish keeper in the Sierra Foothills
> ++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++
> If it looks like; sounds like; quacks like; an Opinion. It's mine.

Its been a really long time ago, but I used grow green water for some
reason (think it was to feed egglayer fry).  Anyway, mine was actually a
euglena culture (remember, the one celled plant/animal critter).  Don't
remember all the details; I mail ordered the starter culture from somewhere
that probably doesn't exist anymore (Daleco? or something like that, anyone
know?).  Seems like it was pretty simple, I remember it taking over a tank
of zebra danio fry that I was feeding with it.  Didn't bother the fish, and
I didn't have to feed them for a  while.

I don't think they (euglena) were mentioned specifically in the post on
live foods a while back (by Oleg). (They could be considered a type of
infusoria, however).  

I remember it as being eaiser than trying to rot some pond water and
growing all sorts of nasties along with desirable infusoria.  Also I don't
remember exactly, but you may not actually have to provide "food" for the
euglena as they employ photosynthesis.  They mainly need a good light
source and nutrients. (sounds a lot like algae?)

I realize that this is probably not the "green water" requested by the
original poster, but I suspect it will serve most if not all of the same
purposes and is easier to culture.  Also remember that my comments are
based on my experiences over 20 yrs ago; if someone has more complete and
accurate info, I for one would be interested in hearing including info. as
to where to get a euglena culture.



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Dana Merrill                                Bell Northern Research
DMerrill@BNR.CA                         Research Triangle Park, NC
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