Australia's Science Forum

How nasty are the protozoans, parameciums and other bugs that grow in "Hay infusion"? I can't find a lot of info on safe handling/ disposal. Gloves and disinfectant/alcohol??

Its so difficult to keep those minibugs alive that I wouldn't be too worried. Just expose them to too much heat or dark when you want to get rid of them. I have finally managed to keep my hy infusion alive for 18months and was very excited by the fact . What's the record??

curie wrote:How nasty are the protozoans, parameciums and other bugs that grow in "Hay infusion"? I can't find a lot of info on safe handling/ disposal. Gloves and disinfectant/alcohol??

The protozoans and bacteria grown from ordinary pond water using hay infussion are mostly harmless.

Safest handling is to anti-bacterial soap wash any hands, glassware, and benchtops that might have come in contact with the infusion.

Am I wrong to recycle the hay infusion back into the garden?

Lyn.

Lyn wrote:Am I wrong to recycle the hay infusion back into the garden?

Uhm... Well, it should be safe enough, but reguardlessly, I do believe we are required to sterilise any and all microbiology growths before disposal.

Technically. Just in case.

Better safe than sued.

what about recycling it back to the pond/stream from which it came?

I get mine from the water trough down in the Ag plot and then toss the remnants there on the grass as well.
I figure amongs the cow, sheep and chook dung a few paramecium wont matter.
What do you do with the water from a vase of flowers? Boil it before you put it out on the garden?

Perhaps as you pour the solution back out onto the grass or pond from whence it came, you could utter the words: "From grass you came, and to grass you shall return". Makes it sound more formal then.

But seriously, when we do hay infusions, we only awaken what is naturally there anyway. I never bother maintaining a culture - although all praise to you guys who do - I just make another when I need it, and pour it away after a couple of days, when we're done.

By the way, I meet students every year who don't get that experiment where we put hay or dried grass into a test tube with bromothymol blue, and get a positive reaction to O2, indicating the presence of life. So I lead them by the nose - "but the grass was dead...what else could be breathing in there..." (what else floats besides wood?). Then we look under the microscopes at all the little greeblies swimming around, and discuss the relative merits of chewing on grass stalks!

(what else floats besides wood?)

A witch!

I love that people here share my warped sense of humour.

I'm just glad someone got it! I thought I may have to explain myself.

LOL

The hay infusion that I have at the moment is the best I have ever done!!!!!!!! I also took a video but didn't know how to or if I could upload it.
The Easy view slide from Southern Biological works beautifully

Nice photos - looks like a very busy little culture!

nickykinz wrote:

(what else floats besides wood?)

A witch!

... a sign of a mis spent childhood Nicky!

You don't have a carnivorous rabbit do you?

Ian

It was only last year my husband (58) realised what the k nigt (knight for those who aren't familiar with the Holy Grail) was!!!!!!!!!

Ni!

Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-PTANG. Zoom-Boing

Fibreweb, could you please send me your recipe for Hay Infusions. I have very little success and have tried a variety of different ways.
Yours looks very successful going by your photos.
Lesley

I got a handfull of hay from the hay shed in the Ag plot.
Then about a litre of water from the trough (also in the Ag plot) in a small bucket put the hay into it, coverd it with glad wrap with several holes in it to try and limit the smell and left it on the window sill
It would now be several weeks old but things were visible under the microscope after about a week.
I didn't need the oat flakes that are suggested in the Laboratory. because it doesnt need to be a pure culture I didn't boil the water or anything.
It's interesting the longer it is left the different things that are appearing.First came what I think are Paramecium, then Euglena and Trachelomonas. (Long green and round green)
Now I have some definate bell shaped things with visible tails ? Vorticella and rectangular things.
It seems a pity now the Cells unit is finished, I dont want to return them to whence they came but the smell is getting tooooo much.