Physan (aka RD20) is probably the most commonly used algaecide, from what I have seen/heard.

Are the snack cups transparent/translucent? If yes, then covering the exterior of the cups will help as it will reduce the amount of light available to the algae for photosynthesis.

FWIW, I have known folks who use semi-hydroponics for growing some of their orchids. Algae growth in the containers is common if the containers are not opaque. Most of them use Physan to control/wipe out the algae as they assume it would be harmful to the plants or because they find it "unsightly". However, a couple of the growers I knew decided to experiment. They allowed the algae in a few of their pots to remain provided it did not get to the point of clogging the side water level limiting drains (topic for another time if interested) while growing other pots with plants of the same genus or even species/cross directly along side but with the algae removal treatment. To their surprise, they found that the plants in the pots where the algae was allowed to remain, typically grew better than those with the algae removed. No idea if these results would transfer over to wick growing of AVs nor if anyone has actually taken the time to experiment.

dviolet, I wick and sometimes have a problem with algae on my wick or in the reservoir. Most of my reservoirs are see thru clear plastic so the sunlight creates......da da DA!!!!! algae!!!!

My question about it is this. Is there something in the soil, an algae "seed" or something,,, that will only grow if exposed to sunlight and of course moisture? I would like to know where it starts. The very beginning. Anyone out there know???

Pain in the neck, but I pull the wick out, thread a new one thru the plant and clean the container out usually with soapy bleach water. I rinse very well because of the bleach.

Paul, I tried to leave the algae alone because what you and others posted about it being beneficial to roots. I had heard that many times before from others also. I usually have to address it because in my personal experience, once the algae coats the wick it is lights out. Pot dries up even though there is water in the reservoir, and I have an almost dead plant on my hands. For that reason alone I feel I CAN'T leave the algae to see if it would be beneficial in the long run.

I would cover the plastic containers but it is convenient to just look and be able to see water levels! Lazy I know.

I don't have any experience with mat watering. Some on the forum do. If you go into the past posts, you will find a lot about the Physan and mat watering. We had a thread not too long ago. Maybe that will help. Good luck! Rosie

Yes, those snack cups are crystal clear! So that's what's up. The wicks have heavy algae too. This certainly is a major bother to have to replace them. As a newbie grower I figured it was only a matter of time before I experienced the same growing pains the rest of you do. (::Grin:: nice pun dviolet)

Just ordered the Physan 20 from Amazon...very few places popped up when I googled for it. And not Lowes, not HD...is it that hard to find locally?

Interesting about the experiments, Paul. Oh I never thought I'd say that about algae, let alone make it my topic of conversation. But here we are...

Well, dviolet, now that we have that figured out,,,what's next??? lol Rosie

Next...we talk fungus.

:-)

Really though, thanks for your replies Paul and Rosie.

ummmm,,,,fungus. hmmmm,,,,sorry, I got nothin'! BTW You're welcome!!! Rosie

Hi Nina! I wish I could say I understand what you said, but I will continue to read it over until my brain absorbs some of it! Whew! All I can say is the plants in the east window are the ones that "algaed up" and the ones under my one and only light fixture never show it ever. Rosie

Nina, from what I have read, many education sources still seem to consider cyanobacteria to be "algae" or "microalgae" and even when considering them along bacteria lines will indicate they are "like bacteria" which seems to imply" not quite". So seems to be one of those organisms which refuses to be easily "pigeon-holed." heh

Btw, are the other "microalgae" like red, and brown also basically bacteria?

As Nina explained - we cannot prevent contamination = the spores of cyanobacteria - we lay people used to call it algae - are floating around.

And we do not want to - we just need to keep it in check - means - sooner or later our water gets too salty from fertilizer concentrate, the mats get dirty, roots of the plants get into mats - let's say every 2-3 months at most it is a good idea to do some house cleaning - especially it is in a living room.

I do not want to have blue-green mats covered with colonies of cyanobacteria in 2 weeks after I put them.

What are you guys using?