Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 13:52:17 -0500 (EST) From: Perry Malouf <pmalouf@access.digex.net> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg839$foo@default> Subject: Re: Bacterial infection?
Hi John, you wrote:
> ...there was a very thin, clear "film" covering the
> surface of the water...I completly cleaned the
> aquariums and flushed the pots but the surface scum kept
> returning....
Probably the bacteria were living in the pots as well as
the water surface. Flushing wouldn't have eradicated them.
So, when you set things up after cleaning the aquarium tanks the
bacteria from the pots emerged to set up another colony
on the water surface.
What method did you use to clean the aquariums tanks?
> I next placed the pots into individual saucers
> of water but again the scum returned.
It is reasonable to try to isolate the pots from one another
and from the aquarium tank. Unless you take special precautions,
though, this still wouldn't prevent bacteria in the pots
from re-establishing a colony in the tank.
> Over the weekend I repotted all the plants ....
Sounds like a much better idea, but it still might not
get rid of all the bacteria.
When you clean your tanks, use a good disinfectant. I like
a strong chlorox solution, and vigorous scrubbing with a
bristle brush. Do the same thing to any pot that once held
a plant, and is about to receive a plant for repotting.
Repot in fresh potting media.
Even after all this, there probably will be bacteria on the roots of
the plants. If you keep conditions a bit drier for awhile,
the bacteria may not be able to flourish and hopefully will die back
to harmless levels.
I'm not sure if there is an antibiotic that you an apply in solution
to the plants, which will kill the bacteria but leave the plants
alone. Sounds very unnatural, though, since plants live with
bacteria all the time.
It seems that some aspect of the growing conditions has made things
ripe for bacteria growth.
Where are you getting your water from? Perhaps the source is
a bit contaminated?
Regards,
Perry Malouf
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