Re: Fungus Gnats and CO2
Harold Slater (hslater@io.org)
Thu, 2 Mar 1995 21:05:39 -0500
Hello all,
just a few notes on fungus gnats and CO2. I have controlled
fungus gnats succesfully with the use of beneficial nematodes. The
product I use is called BioVector. I buy it in the smaller version
(bottle size) called Biosafe. It is the nematode Steinernema
carpocapse. It works by entering the fungus gnat larvae and releasing a
bacteria which kills the larvae. What's great about it is that it
doesn't harm any other beneficial bug or any larger animals. I'm not
sure where to get it in the U.S. but I get mine from Plant Products
just outside Toronto, Canada. You can try calling them at (905)
793-7000 they might know where in the U.S. to get it. It works very
well.
I have used the Yeast method for CO2. I originally made my little
glass fermenter for a tropical fish tank (for aquatic plants). It was a
1.5L glass bottle with a rubber stopper with a 1/8" glass tube attached
to a air line tube. I used one small packet of yeast to 1/2 cup refined
sugar to 1/2 litre of water. It produces CO2 for about 7-10 days.
It's very cheap to run. I let it just diffuse amongst plants that
were growing under lights.
I once saw an ingenious setup by a plant hobbyist using marble chips
and muriatic acid. It used an I.V. bottle that released a single drop of
acid every 30 seconds or so. The acid/marble reaction produces CO2 in
abundance. He used a little 1" computer fan slowed down to a very slow
speed with resistors to slowly diffuse the CO2 amongst his plants.
It worked amazingly well and was completely safe.
harold
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