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  • From: Rob Halgren <halgren@msu.edu>
  • To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [NAFEX] Re: algae problem
  • Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 12:07:04 -0500


Message: 3
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 05:53:47 -0800 (PST)
From: Jim F <bonfire58_2000@yahoo.com>
Subject: [NAFEX] Question......
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Message-ID: <20040329135347.48971.qmail@web60003.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I have an algae problem. I water my greenhouse by pumping well water into an
elevated tank then use the water after it warms to greenhouse temperature.
Trouble is, I get an algal bloom inside the tank. The algae then covers the soil
surface of the plants and all this has been a constant battle with fungicides for
the plants, draining & cleaning the tank, and etc. Does anyone have a
suggestion as to how to control the algae in the tank?
Thanks,
Jim Fruth
Pequot Lakes, MN



Bleach works, although some plants are sensitive to it. Might want to try it out on a few of your less prized plants first, and use the minimum amount that does the job. You could also minimize your algae growth by making the tank opaque. Algae require light to grow. It would be difficult to make the tank completely opaque if it isn't already, but you could consider encasing it in plywood or sheet metal. If you paint it black you might even make it into a better heat sink.

I've seen (and in my new greenhouse I will have) tanks buried under the greenhouse itself. This would be warmer than well water, assuming some heat transfer from the greenhouse. Another approach is to have a long piping run from the well which snakes through the greenhouse. The length of the run would be directly proportional to the warmth of the water at the end, as you would pick up heat as the water passes through the greenhouse. I'd use copper pipe, instead of PVC. Kind of like a geothermal heat pump, without the geo. Actually, if you used PVC painted black, and watered only on reasonably sunny days, you might get some pretty darn hot water out at the end.

Rob

--
Robert G. Halgren, Ph.D.
Bioinformatics Specialist
GTSF - Michigan State University
http://genomics.msu.edu
(517) 353-7236 - halgren@msu.edu



  • [NAFEX] Re: algae problem, Rob Halgren, 03/29/2004

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