Weed Algae

From Phyco.org

Weed Algae are algae species that invade an artificial algal system such as a raceway or a photobioreactor.

1 Contaminants
2 Algal Systems
3 Identification of Weed Algae
4 Prevention of Weed Algae

[edit] Contaminants

If one were to search for "algae aquarium" (or just about any other algae-related topic) on the web in 2005 would yield about 900,000 hits about controlling or eliminating algae-- all algae. To make algae farming more efficient, algaecides that are specific and broad spectrum must be developed. At the current time, the only known method of controlling weed algae is by environmental control. For example, isolating a marine algae farm deep in the Sonoran Desert to minimize the possibility of a foreign marine algae being blown into an open algae pond.

[edit] Algal Systems

Many smaller photobioreactors isolate an algae culture, as if they were in a bubble. An industrial greenhouse falls short of being an isolation photobioreactor, because fresh outdoor air is required for summertime cooling, and workers open doors to enter and exit a greenhouse. A greenhouse air system filters outside air, but not enough to exclude foreign algae. In fact, the evaporative cooling systems used in greenhouses tend to encourage algal growth, unless treated with an algaecide.

[edit] Identification of Weed Algae

The easiest way to identify foreign algae in your culture is by microscopic inspection. When you first get seed algae, examine it using a microscope. Take a snapshot, draw your algae, or find a picture of your algae on the internet. If you find a picture of your algae on the internet, you can compare the two to assure yourself you have the right seed species.