Red Cyanobacteria

Joshua I. · 07/07/2021, 05:41 PM

Hi all Ive had a 55 gallon saltwater tank for several years now. Right now I have a fox face and clown fish and a coral beauty in it. At one point I thought about making it a reef tank and got some live rock. I decided not to take it a reef but left the rock which ended up having a lot of different hick-hikers on it. I didn't mind but ended up seeing this red algae all over about a year ago and its a pain to scrub off. Someone told me its Cyanobacteria so I got Chemi-Clean I was just wondering if any of you guys have used it. Are there side effects it doesn't mention and most importantly does it matter. By that I mean its a pain to clean but other than that it doesn't really bother me is it bad to just left it be?

Vinny Kreyling · 07/08/2021, 09:12 AM

There is red algae & there is cyano.
Red algae is really attached to rockwork & short haired like a green on a golf course.
Cyano is like a mat on the sand & can produce bubbles & is easy to siphon out.
Sounds like red algae to me but Chemiclean works for me when needed & I have a reef.
The rock is beneficial as a filter media & a tang like a Kole would be best for algae eating.

Yamaxt660 · 07/08/2021, 11:46 AM

If it is cyano all I done was keep sucking out when doing water changes and it's now one. I used some ro system tube.

Sent from my SM-N975F using Tapatalk

Joshua I. · 07/08/2021, 12:37 PM

sounds like its defiantly cyan then maybe I described it oddly but it sounds like thats it because it everywhere but removes easily and has a lot of bubbles any benefit in leaving it do fish eat it or anything?

billdogg · 07/11/2021, 12:01 PM

No fish that I'm aware of will eat it. I used to have problems with it when I was using fluorescent lighting. When the bulbs age their spectrum changes and that seems to promote it's growth. Incidental light from outside the tank (sunlight) can be another cause IME.

Remove as much as possible with water changes. Chemiclean will remove it, but it is really just a band-aid. You very likely have an excess of nutrients feeding it. Clean the substrate thoroughly. A Python Siphon will work wonders for that. IMHO it is a must-have piece of equipment for all aquarium keepers.

Michael Hoaster · 07/14/2021, 10:04 PM

For cyanobacteria I like to do a combination of actions to weaken it first, then deliver a knock-out blow. Start with manual removal on multiple days. Then unleash the chemiclean AND a 3-4 day blackout. Wrap the tank to seal out light. Finish with a water change/vacuum to remove any traces.

Increase water flow rate in the affected area. Cyano likes low current. Consider adding plants to your system. A red macro algae like Gracilaria can adjust to different nutrient levels. I've seen Mollies eat cyano, but you need a lot to make a difference.

Joshua I. · 07/15/2021, 07:54 PM

thanks for the tips guys the tank is already looking better

07/07/2021, 05:41 PM	#1
Joshua I. Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 225	Red Cyanobacteria Hi all Ive had a 55 gallon saltwater tank for several years now. Right now I have a fox face and clown fish and a coral beauty in it. At one point I thought about making it a reef tank and got some live rock. I decided not to take it a reef but left the rock which ended up having a lot of different hick-hikers on it. I didn't mind but ended up seeing this red algae all over about a year ago and its a pain to scrub off. Someone told me its Cyanobacteria so I got Chemi-Clean I was just wondering if any of you guys have used it. Are there side effects it doesn't mention and most importantly does it matter. By that I mean its a pain to clean but other than that it doesn't really bother me is it bad to just left it be?

07/08/2021, 09:12 AM	#2
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	There is red algae & there is cyano. Red algae is really attached to rockwork & short haired like a green on a golf course. Cyano is like a mat on the sand & can produce bubbles & is easy to siphon out. Sounds like red algae to me but Chemiclean works for me when needed & I have a reef. The rock is beneficial as a filter media & a tang like a Kole would be best for algae eating. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

07/11/2021, 12:01 PM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	No fish that I'm aware of will eat it. I used to have problems with it when I was using fluorescent lighting. When the bulbs age their spectrum changes and that seems to promote it's growth. Incidental light from outside the tank (sunlight) can be another cause IME. Remove as much as possible with water changes. Chemiclean will remove it, but it is really just a band-aid. You very likely have an excess of nutrients feeding it. Clean the substrate thoroughly. A Python Siphon will work wonders for that. IMHO it is a must-have piece of equipment for all aquarium keepers. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

07/14/2021, 10:04 PM	#6
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	For cyanobacteria I like to do a combination of actions to weaken it first, then deliver a knock-out blow. Start with manual removal on multiple days. Then unleash the chemiclean AND a 3-4 day blackout. Wrap the tank to seal out light. Finish with a water change/vacuum to remove any traces. Increase water flow rate in the affected area. Cyano likes low current. Consider adding plants to your system. A red macro algae like Gracilaria can adjust to different nutrient levels. I've seen Mollies eat cyano, but you need a lot to make a difference. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

07/08/2021, 11:46 AM	#3
Yamaxt660 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Posts: 19	If it is cyano all I done was keep sucking out when doing water changes and it's now one. I used some ro system tube. Sent from my SM-N975F using Tapatalk

07/08/2021, 12:37 PM	#4
Joshua I. Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 225	sounds like its defiantly cyan then maybe I described it oddly but it sounds like thats it because it everywhere but removes easily and has a lot of bubbles any benefit in leaving it do fish eat it or anything?

07/15/2021, 07:54 PM	#7
Joshua I. Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 225	thanks for the tips guys the tank is already looking better