hey guys i got my 20 long set up with 7 multies and im loving watching them re-scape the tank to the way they like it!
i noticed a little bit of algae growing and wanna stop it before it gets to crazy, any one dealt with this kind of algae before? or have a way of fighting it?
its on the rock in the right and a little to the left of the bottom shell.
i have a 55 with the same algae, but its a little more out of control
If this stuff grows really fast, like multiplying in maters of hours, then I suspect that it not algae. It may be the Cyanobacteria. I've treated mine with Ultralife Blue Green Slim Stain Remover. Be careful not to spread it across multiple tanks.
Joe.
It does look like a slime cyanobacteria. Unlike real algae it will be almost immune to total light blackouts. The quick and temporary way is to use antibiotics like Erythromycin. However without added oxygenation and the removal of organic wastes from the aquarium it will rebound quickly and could well be resistant to the next antibiotic treatment. Adding airstones, a spray bar, or increasing surface ripples will make the aquarium less inviting to cyano. Physically removing as much cyanobacteria and organic waste as possible will make it harder to grow back because you also remove some of the nutrients it needs. Some if not all of the non-antibiotic treatments now being sold advise taking those steps as part of the treatment.
It does look like a slime cyanobacteria. Unlike real algae it will be almost immune to total light blackouts. The quick and temporary way is to use antibiotics like Erythromycin. However without added oxygenation and the removal of organic wastes from the aquarium it will rebound quickly and could well be resistant to the next antibiotic treatment. Adding airstones, a spray bar, or increasing surface ripples will make the aquarium less inviting to cyano. Physically removing as much cyanobacteria and organic waste as possible will make it harder to grow back because you also remove some of the nutrients it needs. Some if not all of the non-antibiotic treatments now being sold advise taking those steps as part of the treatment.
Reading this I literally just realized I haven't have had any issues with cyno since I switched all my tanks to a central air system. Never realized there was a connection. Good to know.
As I've mentioned earlier, I've used "Ultralife Blue Green Slim Stain Remover" with great success. No more sign of this ugly stuff again. Others have used "ChemiClean" with good success also.
Joe.
It does look like a slime cyanobacteria. Unlike real algae it will be almost immune to total light blackouts. The quick and temporary way is to use antibiotics like Erythromycin. However without added oxygenation and the removal of organic wastes from the aquarium it will rebound quickly and could well be resistant to the next antibiotic treatment. Adding airstones, a spray bar, or increasing surface ripples will make the aquarium less inviting to cyano. Physically removing as much cyanobacteria and organic waste as possible will make it harder to grow back because you also remove some of the nutrients it needs. Some if not all of the non-antibiotic treatments now being sold advise taking those steps as part of the treatment.
I had break out of that stuff, tried upping water changes also blacked the tank out for a week and it still came back. I used the Erythromycin and it was gone in a day. Not sure what set it off? The tank is 2+ years old and my regime for cleaning has stayed the same. I am feeding less and sifting the sand more so hopefully it will stay away.
For me the bacteria comes back after the erythromycin unless I make changes.
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