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Re: Pest



> Subject: Eliminating Aphids
> 
> I recently discovered something I think will be very helpful to the group.
> Aphids were never much a problem for me when I kept my Co2 injected
> aquariums covered.  But as soon as I went 100% pressurized Co2 I became
> less careful about returning the glass covers.  Thus, whenever a leaf broke
> the surface....aphids!
> 
> I have a terrarium for emersed growth Ludwigia acuata, grandelosia and a
> few others... no aphids.  Yet the terrarium is side - by - side w/ an
> opened top tank who's emersed growth got hit w/ aphids.  The terrarium is
> opened to the air w/ a 1/4" crack that allows any aphid to enter.   It
> seemed so obvious that high leavels of Co2 gas in the terrarium kills all
> the aphids!  Talk about a natural insecticide!

You can kill your plants with excess CO2 as well in a terrarium. CO2 is
heavier than air. Excess will kill plants as well as critters but not as
fast. Aphids will not go in (they'll die) but your plants will do better
with out added CO2 in immersed culture generally. You can up the CO2 some
but this is a pain and not needed for that much of an increase in growth
rates. You don't get much out of it basically for adding the CO2 in there.
You may do more harm than good if not careful. I did it, tried it and found
no differences at all. If you can kill the pest, do it, but careful not to
go too far. Pyrthin (spelling) spray works super and so do lady bugs and
frogs as predators. CO2 would be a temporary thing to stop the pest. I did
do this but I did not tried to stop aphids or other pest with it. It may be
a good thing for hard to kill pest like red spider mites which are more
resistant to Pyrth spray.
> 
> Now,  I havent tried this w/ DIY Yeast generated Co2.  My guess is it
> should work too as long as the yeast culture is  LARGE in proportion to the
> tank and is very active.  In addition, the aquarium should be covered w/ a
> glass top leaving only a small, open crack.
> 
> There in no other safe way I've found to control aphids (that won't harm
> the plants or fish) except perhaps to make sure no plant reaches the
> surface.  

The "Noah effect" does it-flooding the tank for awhile. Lady bugs do it,
Frogs can do it, Prytherin(spellling) spray does it if you don't have fish
frogs etc. Won't harm the plants at all. Excess CO2 can kill the plants and
the fish as well as the aphids. A frog may be the best solution perhaps.
Regards, 
Tom Barr