Control of algae with antibiotics.
- Thread starter Jk5
- Start date
HighlandReefer
Team RC
The publication date was 1995. I wonder how effective it really is. Interesting, thanks for the link. Would be nice if it really works well in a reef aquarium. 
nooooo not another attempt at antibiotic abuse.
We need to use less, not find more uses
FWIW I had a long conversation with a phycologist about this very subject not that long ago. Unfortunately I don't recall a single detail at the moment so I'll have to ask next week when I see him again
We need to use less, not find more uses
FWIW I had a long conversation with a phycologist about this very subject not that long ago. Unfortunately I don't recall a single detail at the moment so I'll have to ask next week when I see him again
HighlandReefer
Team RC
Gresham,
I would be interested in any scientific facts your mycologist friend can provide relating to this subject. This is the first I have heard about antibiotics being used to control algae problems. As far as the cyanobacteria, I have only heard where Erythromycin has been used on them. Of course you have a vast array of products with unknown ingredients, which would put you at the manufacturer's mercy.
I am not one to push the use of algaecides or for that matter biocides, but there can be situations where a hobbyist has exhausted all other means of controlling their pests. The drop out rate in the reefing hobby do to algal type problems is higher than many know about.
I would be interested in any scientific facts your mycologist friend can provide relating to this subject. This is the first I have heard about antibiotics being used to control algae problems. As far as the cyanobacteria, I have only heard where Erythromycin has been used on them. Of course you have a vast array of products with unknown ingredients, which would put you at the manufacturer's mercy.
I am not one to push the use of algaecides or for that matter biocides, but there can be situations where a hobbyist has exhausted all other means of controlling their pests. The drop out rate in the reefing hobby do to algal type problems is higher than many know about.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15295495#post15295495 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GreshamH
nooooo not another attempt at antibiotic abuse.
We need to use less, not find more uses
x2
Even if antibiotics work, such use often leads to problems with drug resistant strains of other organisms. It's one of the biggest reasons there are such problems with resistant strains of things like E. coli, Salmonella, etc.
The phycologist in question is a co-worker so when I go back to work monday I will pick his brain. He tends to talk way over my head at times so it takes a few encounters to glean everything I need to from the conversation. Dudes got two post docs
Erythromycin (Red Slime remover, etc) is effective against cyano but at what cost to us humans
I'd say algae is probably the largest reason for drop outs.
what do you think about "natural" biocides like naphtoquinones?
naphtoquinoes are able to reduce microalgae, dinoflagellates pests and protozoans infections?
http://www.novalek.com/kordon/rid_fungus/index.htm
http://www.novalek.com/kordon/ich_attack/index.htm
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=18757285
http://seakleen.com/Nat Pro Technology.html
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7052723/description.html
naphtoquinoes are able to reduce microalgae, dinoflagellates pests and protozoans infections?
http://www.novalek.com/kordon/rid_fungus/index.htm
http://www.novalek.com/kordon/ich_attack/index.htm
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=18757285
http://seakleen.com/Nat Pro Technology.html
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7052723/description.html
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They are also consider rather toxic to aquatic life...once you start looking at info other than what the manufacturer provides. Also anything that can kill dinoflagellates can kill zooxanthellae, as it is also a dinoflagellate. I would hesitate to use it in a reef tank. I also suspect that in the products available in the aquarium trade, the active ingredients is reduced too low to be truly effective. This later is based on my finding that these "herbal" solutions are not effective.
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