ok, I've got a growing algae on a waste stream

[jmcgowanjm]

what's the best way to harvest this algae.

This is not a theoretical question. I'm breaking my back trying to get this algae out. Thank you for any help.

http://www.keyfacts.co.uk/total.asp

http://www.princeton.edu/hubbert/current-events.html

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/venez.html

Iran(South Pars), GabonRabi-Konga), Angola(Girasol, Venezuela(Sincor), Khazakstan(kashagan), the most
important oil producers of 2003

[cprise]

1. Out of what?

The Gulf of Mexico?

The "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico is caused when excessive nutrients-- including nitrogen and phosphorous-- trigger paid growth of algae. When the algae die and decompose, dissolved oxygen levels plummet, causing fish, shrimp, crabs, and other sea life to die. This condition of low oxygen is called "hypoxia."

A preliminary estimate of the bottom area made by Dr. Nancy Rabalais of the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium puts the size of the dead zone at 20,000 square kilometers (7,728 square miles). The expanse is about the size of the state of New Jersey, and if placed in the heart of the country would extend from Chicago, Illinois to Des Moines, Iowa.

http://www.amrivers.org/index.php?module=HyperContent&func=display&cid=1067

[jmcgowanjm]

4. This is not a hypothetical-my 1/3 acre pond

which is downstream (aren't we all?) from my farmer
friends phosphorous rich cattle land.

I'm pulling it out right now with a 2sq ft net. How do
I turn this stuff into fuel?

The old farmer's maxim. If there' a market for it, you won't be
able to grow it. So I need a market for this stuff.

[seasat]

5. You could grind it up and compost it.

Other than drying it and burning it, I don't know how you could make it into fuel. However, if you are in the right climate, crawfish love algae and other aquatic vegetation, you could seed some in that area, let them graze the algae, and harvest them. Some Louisianna farmers do that in rotation with rice. You could at least get enough crawfish for a good boil for yourself.

[jmcgowanjm]

7. crawfish love algae- good idea. I love crawfish

I didn't know they ate algae. Have to find some live ones somewhere.
thanx seasat

[seasat]

8. I did an experiment with Crawfish for an aquaculture class.

Crawfish are omnivores but mostly eat vegitation. If you do a search for crawfish and aquaculture, you'll come up with tons of links. I used to catch them all the time down in ditches near my folk's place in SW GA when I was kid. I'd take a net and drag it through the mud. I'd then let the mud settle out and you'd have a few crawfish. In Louisianna (if I remember it right) after harvesting the rice at the end of the summer, they seed the field with crawfish which feed on the remaining rice stalks and plants. Crawfish are then harvested in mid march when they drain the fields to prepare for the next rice crop.

[TheWhitneyBrown]

10. How to catch Crawdads

I built a pond once and stocked it with thousands of crawfish, and then every month I would throw a minnow trap in and take out a mess to eat. I never had algae in there, either, but I also stocked the pond with snails. They eat algae too.
I got the snails in local ponds like mine.
I caught the crawfish in streams and shallow lakes by walking in the water at night with a flashlight, when you see one, reach down and quickly snatch it up with your hand. They move backwards, so after a few tries you can anticipate their motion and it gets real easy. You can catch a couple hundred in a few hours.
I also stocked it with minnows and frogs, and finally brown trout.

[cprise]

9. That's a way to get people power from algae-- fish farm

If you want fuel, these are interesting pages:

http://www.fao.org/docrep/w7241e/w7241e0h.htm

http://www.chemplant.co.uk/s-essen.htm

I suppose you could also get the oil by just cold-pressing it, or liquefying in a food processor, then let it settle in water so the oil rises to the top. Then you would need to filter it before processing it into biodiesel. http://www.journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_aleksnew.html

You can also mix small amounts of oil (like a gal. per tank) into your diesel fuel without affecting the engine or combustion if you think you won't have enough oil to bother with biodiesel processing.

I haven't looked into the use of 'SVO' (straight vegetable oil) for home heating. I know that biodiesel is commonly used for heating, but haven't seen mention of SVO.

[markus]

2. First, dont' try to finish the coffee

Next, wash out the cup with very hot water and soap.

Don't leave your coffee cup half-full at work while on vacation.

; )

[jmcgowanjm]

3. LOL-the water/coffee/algae/fuel cycle-ingenious

After drinking your coffee, you can fuel your car!

BTW-How'd you know about my dirty dishes, you with
the NSA or somethin' ?
;}

[NNadir]

6. Put in your gas tank. I've learned here it works. n/t