Currently I'm on a new tack against my Azolla problem. The water column is very dark with suspended organic matter (confirmed with 400x scope) and starting to go anaerobic. Sediment has dramatically increased over the winter, based on material coming through the pump.

Solving the sediment problem led me to discover biological muck elimination with bacteria, offered by several companies. Does anyone have experience with this?

One company, Clean-Flo, packages aeration equipment with bacteria and enzymes. They suggest that nutrient reduction (from the muck) will control Azolla as well. Is that likely? I had not considered it because Azolla fixes its own nitrogen through symbiosis with Anabaena.

Azolla has accelerated the existing muck problem caused by tree leaves. The trees are cut back, and I hope to manage the muck against future leaf drop using bacteria. There is no other known source of nutrients.


T. Gray Shaw
ISA Certified Arborist # WE-1037
Redway and Berkeley, CA