Anyone currently growing azolla?

[echidna]

I've just got some azolla pinnata and wonder if anyone has had any success in growing it? I've got duckweed growing quite well and have found from experiments that oversupplying nutrients is actually detrimental to growth. An interesting thing about azolla is that if nitrogen is lacking it can use bacteria to fix its own nitrogen so could be useful in the final stage of water return to remove excess nutrients from nitrogen depleted water.

[GaryD]

Hi Echidna,

I've got duckweed growing quite well and have found from experiments that oversupplying nutrients is actually detrimental to growth.

We had a similar experience with duckweed. We put a handful of composted cow manure into the growing tank and killed it within a matter of days.

Gary

[echidna]

Well I've tried it in three drums, one in full shade, one in partial shade and one in full sun and they all seems to be multiplying slowly, though nothing like duckweed when all is well. Once I've established a big enough supply I'll take some and experiment on nutrient levels. I'm thinking that a weak solution of Seasol and Charlie Carp will permit comparative testing. Might also do a similar test on duckweed.

I'm thinking of running a series of bathtubs in a separate enclosure just to grow this as fishfood (with a few fingerlings in each for mosquito control). The tree frogs should love it and cane toads can't climb too high.

[echidna]

Well, the cold weather of late has really slowed the growth of both the azolla and the duckweed. The azolla seems to be doing better than the duckweed and seems more tolerant of water nutrients than the duckweed. Looks like I'll have to wait until it warms up to have enough azolla to do any experimenting. Though next time I'm passing through Casino I'll take a net and scoop up more plants.

I wanted to incorporate the azolla and duckweed into a greywater recycling system but Logan Recycling Tip has increased the price of second-hand bathtubs to $35 and when you want 10-15 tubs that's getting expensive.

[Hamish]

$35!!!! Thats a bit cheeky considering they cost them NOTHING!!!

[Murray]

That is yet another example of the out-of-control greed of local councils.....especially Logan.

[echidna]

The council operates the tip with four goals, reduce landfill. recycle material, provide employment and make money for charities. Some things are a bargain, but if there's a demand for something - prices go up - sometimes to even more than what you'd pay in a shop. I often go there when I'm looking for something for a project. Got a nice box trailer for $90, only had a broken taillight and typical bad wiring, even had good tyres. Since there's so many acreage properties down this way I suspect the horse/pony crowd want bathtubs and are happy to pay for them, I'll just have to find another recycling place where demand isn't so high.

[Hamish]

Well if the money is going to charity then that is easier to swallow...

[bushboy]

Any other ideas for wriggler control ? I have some azolla in a fg sump
isolated from my system and it is starting to get a nice crop of wrigglers

So far I have scooped some and fed to my fish but this is inefficent

any solutions??

[Hamish]

Guppies