Tech-M's Magic Bryopsis killing ingredient: Lithium

[metrokat]

Did you have algae issues?

Off and on. The system has ebbs and flows.

 

[tjnorthdakota]

Hopefully somebody can answer this, would it be possible to remove the magnesium from tech-m so that possibly more of the "secret ingredient" could be added to the tank at a time, limiting factor is to high magnesium level in the tank. I know sodium hydroxide will precipitate out the magnesium chrystals. Has anyone ever tried this?

 

[stevo01]

Well, it's been suggested that the secret ingredient is missing from the current tech m profile. If that's the case there would be no reason to remove the Mg.

 

[mcarroll]

LiCl is used to precipitate DNA and RNA after the cells have been lysed.

Interesting. How do they do the lysing?

 

[Orcus Varuna]

Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) and/or sodium dodecyl sulfate is the most common lysing solution used for DNA extraction. Probably should also add spinning the cells really really fast lol

 

[bblumberg]

Interesting. How do they do the lysing?

Most commonly by first digesting the cell wall with carbohydrases and then lysing the cells with detergent. Or you could break the cell walls mechanically by grinding, or sonicating. You can precipitate RNA selectively by adding the right amount of LiCl, or precipitate both DNA and RNA with LiCl (or most any other type of monovalent cation) and alcohol.

Bruce

 

[mcarroll]

Very interesting!

 

[JimWelsh]

Bryopsis arrived today. Thanks, @stevo01 ! My first job is to not kill it. No, I'm not kidding. I tend to kill my first "starter culture" of just about everything. I even managed to kill my first rotifer culture! Once I have it nicely established, then the experimentation will begin. I'll keep you all posted.

 

[stevo01]

Bryopsis arrived today. Thanks, @stevo01 ! My first job is to not kill it. No, I'm not kidding. I tend to kill my first "starter culture" of just about everything. I even managed to kill my first rotifer culture! Once I have it nicely established, then the experimentation will begin. I'll keep you all posted.

Good luck Jim!

 

[revhtree]

Bryopsis arrived today. Thanks, @stevo01 ! My first job is to not kill it. No, I'm not kidding. I tend to kill my first "starter culture" of just about everything. I even managed to kill my first rotifer culture! Once I have it nicely established, then the experimentation will begin. I'll keep you all posted.

Cool!

 

[Orcus Varuna]

Most commonly by first digesting the cell wall with carbohydrases and then lysing the cells with detergent. Or you could break the cell walls mechanically by grinding, or sonicating. You can precipitate RNA selectively by adding the right amount of LiCl, or precipitate both DNA and RNA with LiCl (or most any other type of monovalent cation) and alcohol.

Bruce

Thank you for the detailed explanation!

 

[bblumberg]

Thank you for the detailed explanation!

You are welcome.

 

[stevo01]

While Bry grows out for Jim I've began Continuum treatment. Starting Mg is 1575ppm, I dosed 80ml for a 100ppm increase. Keeping fingers crossed.

 

[reeferfoxx]

While Bry grows out for Jim I've began Continuum treatment. Starting Mg is 1575ppm, I dosed 80ml for a 100ppm increase. Keeping fingers crossed.

Tech M round two?

 

[stevo01]

Tech M round two?

Let's assume the current Kents recipe does not contain LiCl. Let's also assume LiCl is the working compound element that destroys Bryopsis cell walls. The Mg level is a relation to the ammount of the secret ingredient present, therefore the same levels would need to be used in this treatment. I'm starting off with my Mg at 1575ppm. I'm confident if I raise to 2075ppm it will be equal to starting at 1375 and raising to 1875. It's been claimed that 5 days of dosing Continuum will cause death to the Bry, and maintaining levels for 3 weeks will ensure no return.

 

[stevo01]

Dose 3 is tonight and should bring my Mg to 1875ppm.

 

[stevo01]

For the visual record. This is what is looks like today.

 

[revhtree]

Any news yet?

 

[stevo01]

Any news yet?

Its going to take Jim a little while to grow out the specimen I sent him. In my own LICl experiment i think its too soon to tell. Ill continue to update as i move forward. Im going to test PH when i get home. I think if PH is at 9 that the Bryopsis will start breaking down or at least slow down the growth. Whats the safest level I can bring PH to without causing major issues? Thanks.

 

[JimWelsh]

Good news is that not only have I not killed it, but it appears to be quite happy and growing! Now, I just need to get a couple of other small rocks populated with it, so I can do an experiment using a couple of different Li levels, while also maintaining a control. Stay tuned.....