Odd phyto contamination. Help with ID?

[KonradTO]

Hi all,
Some of my phyto cultures started to turn slowly yellowish so I decided to check under the microscope.
I found plenty of TINY hair-like organisms. First I thought was cyanobacteria but they seem even too small for being cyano.
I would say they are probably 10 times smaller than Ostreopsis.
Any idea? Could be filamentous bacteria this small?
First picture is stereoscope with colors
Second microscope without colors

 

[Dan_P]

Hi all,
Some of my phyto cultures started to turn slowly yellowish so I decided to check under the microscope.
I found plenty of TINY hair-like organisms. First I thought was cyanobacteria but they seem even too small for being cyano.
I would say they are probably 10 times smaller than Ostreopsis.
Any idea? Could be filamentous bacteria this small?
First picture is stereoscope with colors
Second microscope without colors

I wouldn’t rule out cyanobacteria because of the fineness of the filament. @taricha have any additional ideas?

 

[taricha]

I wouldn’t rule out cyanobacteria because of the fineness of the filament. @taricha have any additional ideas?

Agree with this.
Our most common hobby cyano has very large cells. Most forms of cyano are a lot smaller. Specifically, a fine filament green cyano is not that uncommon. I've found that type of thing in my system before.

 

[KonradTO]

Agree with this.
Our most common hobby cyano has very large cells. Most forms of cyano are a lot smaller. Specifically, a fine filament green cyano is not that uncommon. I've found that type of thing in my system before.

Ok then I had maybe some contamination between tank and culture vessels. Its incredible that they killed 99% of the other stuff, they must carry some strong toxins

 

[Dan_P]

Ok then I had maybe some contamination between tank and culture vessels. Its incredible that they killed 99% of the other stuff, they must carry some strong toxins

Many microorganisms use allelopathy to inhibit competition by other organisms. The allelochemical might inhibit growth or lyse cells. I am growing and studying mixed algae culture and have begun to suspect that nutrient competition might be allelopathy.

Good luck getting rid of the cyanobacteria contamination.

 

[KonradTO]

Ok for precaution I checked the stock solution I am using for inoculation and its a bit more diverse but it's composed mainly of those cyanobacteria.
I contacted the company selling them asking the composition of the phyto. It is a pre-mixed blend of phyto but I did not expect to have cyano inside. Intrestingly my pods seems eating this anyway. O ordered some nannochloropsis now, but I will check under the microscope before using this time.

 

[Dan_P]

Ok for precaution I checked the stock solution I am using for inoculation and its a bit more diverse but it's composed mainly of those cyanobacteria.
I contacted the company selling them asking the composition of the phyto. It is a pre-mixed blend of phyto but I did not expect to have cyano inside. Intrestingly my pods seems eating this anyway. O ordered some nannochloropsis now, but I will check under the microscope before using this time.

You might have a new product idea. Cyanobacteria would be so easy to grow.

 

[KonradTO]

You might have a new product idea. Cyanobacteria would be so easy to grow.

Aren't some cyano toxic? I guess that could cross the food chain up to fish and corals

 

[Dan_P]

Aren't some cyano toxic? I guess that could cross the food chain up to fish and corals

The key word is “some” are toxic. I think the most popular toxic blooms are pelagic though. Finding a beneficial nontoxic cyanobacteria might be easy. By the way, people eat many tons of Spirulina each year with no ill effects.