Weedo Bandito
Member
I've never labeled myself as a grow guru, for the record. Please provide sources for your claim that cyanobacteria is algae. My source says
"Because they are photosynthetic and aquatic, cyanobacteria are often called "blue-green algae". This name is convenient for talking about organisms in the water that make their own food, but does not reflect any relationship between the cyanobacteria and other organisms called algae. Cyanobacteria are relatives of the bacteria, not eukaryotes, and it is only the chloroplast in eukaryotic algae to which the cyanobacteria are related."
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/bacteria/cyanointro.html
If the tea is too much hassle for you, then fair enough. No where do I claim that tea treatments are effortless, and they are meant to gain a measure of control, not to be a perpetual requirement for growing. Once an outbreak is handled, treatments are optional. Using laziness to support your point of view is not terrible persuasive.
An argument from incredulity. Just because you are unable to imagine something doesn't mean it's false. The concept of diversity and competition is what protects you from microbe infection on a daily basis. Your skin is covered in bacteria that help out compete pathogens, your mouth is full of bacteria that help displace decomposes, and "worm shit" is an integral part of any soil garden. If we shrugged off any concept which seems counter-intuitive to us, we would have to throw out the majority of scientific knowledge. Using your lack of imagination to support your point of view is not terribly persuasive.
Here is one example of how loss of diversity can lead to infection.
"The team reports this week in the journal Science Translational Medicine that sinusitis may be linked to the loss of normal microbial diversity within the sinuses following an infection and the subsequent colonization of the sinuses by the culprit bacterium, which is called Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum." http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2012/09/12718/sinusitis-linked-microbial-diversity
I have always been very upfront that the tea is for those who have tried everything else and failed. Many outbreaks of slime are resistant to sterilizers, unless we add amounts that would also kill plants. There are some who would say brewing tea is easier than constantly cleaning every piece of equipment and the entire growroom. I myself would argue that those things should be done anyway, but your assertion that sterilization is easier than brewing tea is not universal.
Again, the tea is meant for situations where slime resists h202 treatments. If you think h202 treatments are not detrimental to plants, then cite your source. If you have never seen proper levels of h202 recommended, then I question how much effort you could have put into research. The use of h202 is a risk vs benefit call.
Using inexperience as support for your point of view is not terrible persuasive.
The entire reason you mentioned cyanobacteria was to correct what you thought was a factual error. You were wrong, and now your defense is that facts don't matter? Using a double standard to support your point of view is not terribly persuasive.
The very first sentence in your sticky says, “When a clear snot forms on roots in a DWC, and the normal course of treatment for root disease doesn't work, you probably have something called brown slime algae, which actually isn't algae at all, but a cyanobacteria. It loves oxygen and doesn't need light to grow.” This, of course, is bullshit. Your very own source
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/bacteria/cyanolh.html
says that, “Whatever their color, cyanobacteria are photosynthetic, and so can manufacture their own food. “ This same source goes on to say, “The term "algae" merely refers to any aquatic organisms capable of photosynthesis, and so applies to several groups.” So, you’re wrong and Cyanobacteria qualify as algae.
My laziness notwithstanding, your sticky does say, ”Making a microbe tea is cheap and easy…” How can you make that claim if the bulk of the end product goes down the drain? This is wasteful and inefficient, not cheap and easy.
I’m afraid that you have me on the incredulity. In my mind, if something is dirty, you clean it. The whole bio-diversity thing is new to me. All is good though. This is one of the reasons why I took up hydro growing. I’m learning something every day.
You said, “Many outbreaks of slime are resistant to sterilizers, unless we add amounts that would also kill plants.” This is also bullshit. Iodophor and H2O2 are deadly to bacteria if used correctly and yet are safe for your roots. The proof is in my grow room. I think the burden is on you to demonstrate otherwise.