When cleaning out a freshwater tank, I decanted a cute little ball of alga I wanted to keep into a plastic bottle with a mild blue tint (as any normal person doesn't). Since then it has sulked, refusing to photosynthesise and release bubbles of gas and float to the surface. What effect does the blue tint have, and might it be impacting the alga's growth?
AJ
Gut reaction, without doing any research, is that the blue tint is filtering a wavelength in the light that the algae need.
A quick Google suggests that photosynthesis works best with red light, which the blue bottle would filter out. But photosynthesis should still work with the blue light that gets through the bottle - just not as well.
Thank you, that makes sense. I always find it confusing that whatever colour the glass or plastic seems to be is actually the colour that is being filtered out.
A photographer I am not.
AJ
Think of it this way: Your eyes pick up light that either reflects off objects, is emitted by objects (e.g., a screen), or passes through objects (filters).
Each "Colour" is a different wavelength of light, except for two.
"White" is the presence of all colours. If you see a white object, it has reflected all the light.
"Black" is the absence of all colours. If you see a black object, it has absorbed all the light.
If you see "Red", it's because the object has reflected all the red wavelength light and absorbed all the other wavelengths. (Or the screen has only emitted red light, or the filter has only let red light through)
Alga is now in a clear plastic bottle. Still sulking but it's in a west-facing window so no direct sunlight yet.
This is definitely a first-world problem!
AJ
It has only been 5 hours. It needs to heal, so give it some more time. Please let us know how it turns out.
RT
I've just checked. Although night has fallen, there are definitely a few, tiny bubbles of air on its filaments. Not enough to cause it to rise up the bottle but it's a promising sign.
AJ
Although night has fallen
A word to the wise. Do not expect much photosynthesis at night.
A word to the wise. Do not expect much photosynthesis at night
I think it had been photosythesising in the late afternoon and evening sun, and the few bubbles hadn't grown large enough to escape.
That reminds me of a science documentary about the likelihood life on exoplanets. The narrator posited that even if there was no meaningful sunlight, auroral phenomena might provide enough light for simple plants to survive.
AJ
Alga is now in a clear plastic bottle.
I'm curious as to why you are trying to cultivate it at all.
I like the ball shape, and the fact that it rises to the surface and sinks to the bottom of its own volition. Or it used to.
It's like an eco-friendly lava lamp (minus the light), capturing carbon and releasing oxygen.
ETA Have you never looked across a crowded room and seen a woman, perhaps not the best looker, but she has something about her that makes you think she'd be the perfect addition to the collection you keep locked in your basement?
AJ
It might need nutrients. Not a lot, but even algae ingest more than just water and carbon dioxide. You can even order special mixtures suitable for most algae online. It should be under 20$, and one order would probably last you a lifetime. Guillard's and Walne's compositions for nutrient mixtures are apparently (my meager knowledge is from more than 30 years ago) still the most common ones. Also, a bottle can be pretty limiting for algae growth, as the carbon dioxide intake through the neck is small to non-existent. Regularly irrigating the water or blowing in air (without disturbing the algae too much) can help.
Thanks for the advice.
Given that it grew in the original tank with minimal nutrients, if I fed it I'm worried it might rapidly outgrow its new home. Besides, buying special food for it would ruin its claim to be carbon negative. (The plastic bottle is experiencing a delay on its way to my recycling bin and the water is excess kettle water that has been allowed to cool.)
AJ
In college I created a slime algae monster by accident. It involved alot of mixing various things around.. i remember a good amount of over sweetened koolaid, think 1 pound suger, a few packets of koolaid, and a half gallon jug. And pickle juice. created a sweet semi clear slime monster.
Just wait until the algae develop consciousness and turn into AJ's very own tentacle monster...
But isn't AJ a tentacled monster?
You got me. Any tentacled monsters I might have written about are me following the guideline to write what you know.
AJ