cyano algae

[Bruce Wayne]

I have some in my fuge...I heard of some type of snail that eats it, anyone know?

[mat167]

I thought that mexican turbos might. If its not i'd just take it out by hand though

[suspectcobra]

if my information is correct green emerald crabs will eat it and cyano isn't an algae its a type of bacteria...spreads like an algae though :P i suctioned mine out and did frequent water changes to get rid of mine.

[fancyfish]

there is no magic cure for cyanobacteria. You need to lower phosphates. take out what you can by hand, use some carbon and increase flow and maybe decrease feeding

[ed102475]

I read that no snail or crab will eat it.

[hicmndr]

I've seen my mexican hermit crabs nibbling on it.

[R2E2]

My blueleg hermits, black turbos, and mexican turbos will eat it off the rock and glass. They do not seem to interested in the cyano that grows on the substrate for whatever reason.

And for flow, your results may vary. I have the stuff growing in high flow areas just the same as lower flow areas. It doesnt seem to care in my tank.

Algaefix marine worked for round one of my cyano outbreak, but now that I am battling it for the second time it doesnt appear to have the same effect. The stuff seems to have built up a tolerance. I hope I am wrong...

[losthere]

IDK of anything that eats cyno, reduce nitrates & posphates and add flow. Cyno wont grow in high flow zones, put a power head shooting at the cyno and it will be gone.

[mat167]

Originally posted by losthere
IDK of anything that eats cyno, reduce nitrates & posphates and add flow. Cyno wont grow in high flow zones, put a power head shooting at the cyno and it will be gone.

I agree with this for the most part, but cyano can very well grow in high flow zones. I've seen it growing on and under powerheads.

[Cadu]

How long your tank has been running? sometimes cyano is part of the aging process... everybody have, had or will have it...
if you are doing everything right: using RO/DI water (0 TDS), not feeding in excess, have low nitrates and phosphates... it will go away.

[Moto_fish]

There isn't flow under and on powerheads...

[circusink22]

my mexican turbos ate it, also got some out by hand, it gave me a headake getting rid of it, lowering nitrates will help, I hate this stuff not too sure if my blueleg hermits eat it i never saw em picking at it.

[DVNO]

i heard astrid snails will eat it too, but im sure it wont fix the problem

[circusink22]

no that will not fix it, make sure your nitrates and phos. is good this stuff sucks i had a bad case of it it killed 2 corals and i was able to save one, it will not go away overnight so snails help my sea hair didnt do much for it mostly turbos

[Jova]

I once had a sea hare that ate cyano... But really, you should attack the cause of the problem, and not just try to find a CUC that will eat it... Better flow and frequent water changes to get the nitrates down worked best for me.

[faze07hd]

I have cyano and have had it for about 5 months now... I have honesly tried anything and everything, except for adding chemicals. Waterchanges weekly, will help, but wont cure it. Forget about the snails and crabs, im sure they eat it, but if its a descent size outbreak, you may need 100's to cure it.

I just read about blue life's phosphate control. Look it up. My LFS doesnt carry it but i had it ordered and tuesday will be the d day for my cyano, HOPEFULLY!!!!

I heard nothing but good things about this stuff, and as of right now, i have nothing to lose. Good luck!!!!!!! your going to need it!

[faze07hd]

forget about the more flow!!! my cyano only grows in high flow areas.

IF your nitrates are down to near 0 I would look into that phosphate control.

[blennymower]

I bought a small little bottle that came with a powder that you put in the water. Nuked the cyanobacteria to high heaven. Never again saw it.

[newguy1983]

Blenny, any adverse affects on the tank/inverts/corals/etc?

[tatkinson]

I went through everything trying to get cyano under control I got a sea hare which ate it all in short order never to return again.. sadly I then moved the hare to the fuge where he managed to make it to the sump and met a swift death in the return pump but still no Cyano. Rowa, nitrate remover, flow nothing made a difference. I think once it starts it's really tough to get rid of but once its gone and nitrate and phos are under control it doesn't come back.

[IslandCrow]

If the cyano is only in your fuge, I truthfully wouldn't worry about it too much. Cyano is extremely efficient at nutrient export, and in your particular case, I believe it's doing more good than harm. Generally, if cyano is only growing in the fuge, it is due to low flow. Detritus will start to build up and fuel the cyano. I'd say the best way to get rid of it would be to syphon out as much as you can and then add a small powerhead to your refugium, mainly to keep things ont he bottom stirred up so detritus does not settle. It may take a few weeks to a couple months, but that will probably fix your problem.

[mat167]

^ agreed.

[MrRyanT]

Originally posted by IslandCrow
If the cyano is only in your fuge, I truthfully wouldn't worry about it too much. Cyano is extremely efficient at nutrient export, and in your particular case, I believe it's doing more good than harm. Generally, if cyano is only growing in the fuge, it is due to low flow. Detritus will start to build up and fuel the cyano. I'd say the best way to get rid of it would be to syphon out as much as you can and then add a small powerhead to your refugium, mainly to keep things ont he bottom stirred up so detritus does not settle. It may take a few weeks to a couple months, but that will probably fix your problem.

Exactly what I was thinking.

[Anemonebuff]

^
+1 or is that.....+3?