Interview with Diana Walstad: Mycobacterium

[@precise3291]

I'm just learning about this myself, had to hit up a couple of fish stores to let the staff know what's up, definitely something we should be aware of.

[@Sigurjon543]

What a great interview with a living legend.

[@sherickoos]

Thank you so much for this podcast. I have learned so much. I didn't realize that fish TB is pretty common. My husband and I were thinking of getting a UV sterilizer but now it seems like we should get it sooner than later. Thanks again!

[@Aquarimax]

sherickoos You are welcome, it was great to learn so much from Diana as well! I ended up getting a UV sterilizer for my goldfish aquarium when I was having trouble with piscine mycobacteriosis, it helped break the cycle. 👍

[@oruwatching]

I know this is an older post, but parts 1 and 2 were great for me. I am getting back into the hobby and want to do a planted tank. Quick question, I worked with UV when I was doing saltwater. Diana talked about how it killed fish TB, but wouldn't it also kill all of the good bacteria in the tank? Thanks

[@Aquarimax]

Great question! It is recommended to add a UV unit after the beneficial bacteria have colonized the surfaces (gravel/filter sponges, etc) in the aquarium. That way, they have a chance to gain a foothold before the UV kills of the relatively small numbers of them in the water column.

[@oruwatching]

@@Aquarimax Thank you so much! Now I feel better, I am buying her book and going for it. I subscribed, rung the bell and gave you guys a thumbs up. :-)

[@Aquarimax]

oruwatching glad to help, and thanks for the support! 👍

[@Snoochie-Booch]

Not sure the episode where I heard you say that isopropyl is better disinfectant than Clorox because the alcohol breaks down the cell wall. My question is what solution are you using? How much water do you add to the mix also does it matter 91% or 70%? Do you use that solution over and over like a barber shop sterilizes tools? Or do you renew the solution after use? How long do you leave the tools/nets in the solution? Do you prime soak afterwards to clean the alcohol off? Thanks for your time

[@Aquarimax]

I use 70%, and it evaporates so quickly I just use it once. Typically I soak or spray a surface and then let it dry. Once it is dry I just give it a good rinse and it seems to be sufficient.

[@Snoochie-Booch]

@@Aquarimax thank you, great advice. I just made up a glass jar full of 90% and soaked all my tools in it kind of like a barber shop sanitizes it's tools. Had to go to Michaels to find a big enough vase and made a lid for it. Thinking it should stay a while like that.

[@90secondsofaviation86]

I was changing aquarium water and then I noticed that some of my fish are very thin and seem to be breathing heavily. I did not wear gloves and right after I disinfected my hands properly with alcohol based desinfectant, however some aquarium water splashed into my eyes, so I rinsed them well under the tap. Am I likely to catch fish tb then? There really arent many sources online

[@mkuc6951]

Very interesting. Does this mean that UV kills or controls mycobaterium? In reptile keeping you can put UV bulbs over your lizards etc to keep them healthy I wonder if that would help. I wonder in nature that is less of a problem due to the exposure of suns' rays.

[@Aquarimax]

The UVC is a sterilizer does kill mycobacterium with enough exposure. This is a different UV spectrum from the UVB and UVA offered to reptiles. That said, I expect the sun does end up destroying some Mycobacterium at the surface of outdoor water.

[@mkuc6951]

@@Aquarimax This was a cool chat. It's from 6 years ago, maybe have another one with Diana to see what new stuff she's learnt? i'd be happy to listen to it.

[@kimortelli6266]

How do I protect my tank

[@ScreamingForClemency]

how long can it live in the water without a host? like a tank full of water but no fish.

[@Aquarimax]

+ScreamingForClemency Unfortunately, a very long time. Mycobacteria can live indefinitely without a host...after a while, their numbers would decrease, and they might not be in their pathogenic state...but they can last at least a year...possibly longer.

[@ScreamingForClemency]

Aquarimax wow. thank you.

[@Aquarimax]

+ScreamingForClemency On the bright side, as long as there is no greasy surface scum to keep the mycobacteria thriving, they should decrease to a point where they are no longer much of a threat. Environmental mycobacteria are everywhere; eliminating them is not feasible. Keeping their numbers down through competition with beneficial bacteria is a more attainable goal.

[@precise3291]

Will a UV sterilizer compromise beneficial bacteria?

[@Aquarimax]

If they are already well established, not really, but in a newly set up aquarium, it could prevent them from establishing effectively.

[@precise3291]

@@Aquarimax very insightful, thank you, this is a little discouraging, I'm almost skeptical about obtaining more fish, thank you for the information.

[@Aquarimax]

@precise3291 I can understand that feeling, but fortunately once I got a UV sterilizer and got things under control, I haven’t really had issues with MB…and I have kept fish the entire time

[@precise3291]

@@Aquarimax good to know, thank you, good dialog too, very informative

[@Mathias_NB]

I've been planning on doing a first Walstad 15G using potting soil and a fine gravel cap, but wondering if ADA Aquasoil with no cap is a viable option as well? Would this still be considered a Walstad setup? Does Aquasoil have the ability the replenish it's nutrients over time in the same way that soil does?

[@Aquarimax]

Hey Now According to this site: www.aquasabi.com/aquascaping-wiki_substrate_ada-aqua-soil-amazonia ADA aquasoil has a lot in common with the soil used in Walstad aquaria, so I suspect it would probably work similarly in many ways. They are both full of nutrients originating in plant material...but the site also mentions that the nutrients in aquasoil last up to 3 years. In a Walstad tank, not all of the nutrients will not necessarily last even that long...

[@sdqsdq6274]

so mycobacterium is in the water column ,it doesnt hide in the medias like nitrobacter and Nitrosomonas ?

[@Aquarimax]

sdq sdq Mycobacteria are nearly everywhere really, as EM, non pathogenic environmental mycobacterium, but when they become pathogenic, they are even more everywhere, just in greater numbers...water column, filter media, substrate...and especially the surface film, if there is a protein and lipid-rich scum available...they are very attracted to that, so one way to help protect your fish is to prevent surface scum from forming.

[@globalist1990]

I wonder if floating plants help cleaning this surface biofilm.

[@Aquarimax]

I grow a lot of floating plants In my experience, aeration helps more with this particular issue.

[@tamingguppies]

Get a surface skimmer

[@powerfullance1898]

can u upload this as this week's podcast?

[@Aquarimax]

www.aquarimax.com/2013/07/10/aquarimax-episode-170-interview-with-diana-walstad-on-mycobcteriosis/

[@kimortelli6266]

My tank has TB. And I got a big rash on my arm that I use in the tank and my holistic Dr is treating it fir the parasite in that family. I'm wondering what to do with the water? Will it always be infected? I syphon my ranks. So I may have spread it to all 3 tanks, will the bacteria die outside the water cause it drains in our sinks, so I'm worried about us getting from that.

[@Aquarimax]

I would recommend a UV sterilizer unit to start with

[@kimortelli6266]

How do you manage this disease without getting rid of everything?

[@Aquarimax]

It is difficult! I recommend a UV sterilizer, and making sure there is no greasy film on the surface of the water through aeration and keeping the underside of the aquarium lid free of residue through regular cleaning. Isopropyl alcohol (70% or higher) used to sanitize any objects as well as your hands, can help prevent the spread as well,

[@AussieAquatic]

The Critical importance of Bacteria in the Health of All Living creatures is poorly recognised and/or understood.How to Stimulate and maintain the balance of microbiota is well worth learning about.

[@Aquarimax]

+colinbarsby Very true. As I believe Diana mentions, in this particular case, it is often a matter of providing conditions that are favorable to beneficial bacteria rather than eliminating the ever-present environmental Mycobacteria.

[@AussieAquatic]

Aquarimax Absolutely.

[@bryanlazores2801]

truedat homie

[@precise3291]

What's the possibility of an effective cure for this type of bacteria?

[@Aquarimax]

A complete cure? Fairly low…but management to keep the MB from reaching pathogenic levels is very feasible

[@precise3291]

@@Aquarimax thanks for the reply, what's the most effective way to combat this problem?

[@marchean83]

I bought additional 5 neon tetras to my school consisting of 10. 4 of the new ones died within a few days. Today one of the older ones is dying. Also I've lost 1 tiger barb since I bought them. There are no symptoms of any illness - they seem fine and happy, next day the die. Could this be mycobacteriosis? Edit: I think it's worse, it might be plistophorosis. 3 more dead in the morning.

[@Aquarimax]

No signs of fuzzy growth at all?

[@marchean83]

@@Aquarimax Just 2 left now. It was flexibacter 99%. I noticed all the others that left and died yesterday and today had their mouths "deformed". The 2 neons and the rest of my fish seem ok now. Waiting for the meds to arrive.

[@sdqsdq6274]

fish tank granuloma ,fk no wonder i always get funny looking red boil on mine hands , weird it always goes off after a while

[@Zapton5]

I wonder if this is not what took out that old lungfish Granddaddy. Yes he was old. But a old immune system is a week immune system.

[@Aquarimax]

Victor Baker good point...it could have been!

[@powerfullance1898]

☺

[@Aquarimax]

+powerful LANCE! It's an older episode, so it's probably no longer available on ITunes, but everything's on the website. I hope you enjoyed/will enjoy it!

[@cookingclassics]

Maybe feed the fish beneficial bacteria.

[@Aquarimax]

Worm Boy encouraging the strong growth of beneficial bacteria does help 👍

[@tammybrown8033]

...*the moral is...quit fish pets if u want to live*

[@Aquarimax]

tammy brown LOL...not quite THAT bad, but it still somewhat disturbing...

[@tammybrown8033]

Aquarimax ...*very dangerous i would say...but anyone is free 2 choose the pet of it wishes...buy a pet at ur own risk....hahahaha*

[@sdqsdq6274]

why live when you cant keep fish as a hobby ? you want a long lifespan go live in the mountains and go off grid

[@tammybrown8033]

sdq sdq...*shut up jackwad*

[@TheChiGirl1]

Good luck it’s environmental so it’s in soil ,lakes, rivers,creeks,oceans, and water treatment facilities!!