Worms are bad

[jennifer]

Hi Pamela, many microscopic aquatic animals have some kind of "hibernating" phase. This allows them to survive if their pond dries up, and allows them to spread from pond to pond in a dry form. For example, daphnia (aka "water fleas") form ephippia, which are basically small dry seed-like specks, which can stay dry for years, then spring back to life when soaked. Some nematode worms have a dauer form, which can also survive for years dry. This is how such critters could, conceivably, travel into our houses on dirt from outdoors.

 

[rheann]

that is really interesting, Jennifer, I never knew that

I wish I could dry up for a while, then come back to life in teh future, that would be so cool, then I could sort of... be immortal...(gives it heavy thought) Lucky Water fleas

I want to see the future when they have those funky flying cars and stuff.

 

[edward]

A point that many people forget is that the filters do not reduce the organic load in the tanks they simply assist the conversion to nitrate but this in turn can allow for denser colonies of bacteria and algae (biofilm) which then feeds items like the worms causing the outbreaks. There needs to be some mechanism that removes the organic matter from the tank (water changes) to help prevent these problems.

Ed

 

[pamela]

thanks jennifer, that is cool, i was just so puzzled.