Cyanobacteria-Help me please!

kb

kb

Member
I have a 150 fo that has cyanobacteria and I can't get rid of it!!! I've had it before and i removed the phosphate and used red slime remover and it went away. I since have bought a r/o unit and now it's come back. I've used polyfilters to remove the phosphate that i think might be in the tank(test kits don't work for r/o water-so, i don't know if phosphate is the problem or not) and i have used the red slime remover but it's not working this time. I got new lights 2 months ago. My ph is 8.2,ammonia 0,nitrite 0,nitrate 0. I do water changes monthly, clean foam filters(in overflow area) once a week, i have a protein skimmer, and i have good water movement in the tank! Any ideas at all-help me please!!! This cyanobacteria is driving me crazy.
 
kb

kb

Member
I've never checked the silicates-whats that?! I had the cyanobacteria before I changed the lights and it didn't get any worse with the new lights. The tank gets about an hour of natural sunlight(but only about a half foot of it at a time).
[ May 14, 2001: Message edited by: kb ]
 
fotank

fotank

New Member
I had the same problem with reoccuring outbreaks of cyanobacteria. After trying to adjust the water for almost six months, I finally gave in and bought a whole bunch of cleanup critters. I can't remember now which of the crabs (blue or red leg) is good for cyanobacteria, but they knocked it out rather quickly. It's been well over six months since then and the tank is still clean.
 
b_ball12_99

b_ball12_99

Member
Left-handed hermits eat cyanobacteria. Most people avoid them due to their aggressive nature with age. I enjoy mine though, hasn't messed with anything yet.
 
wuelfman

wuelfman

Member
usally cyanobacteria is becouse you have to many organics in the water not from silicates(a glass tank is made from silicates)
red slime remover is not working this time becouse it has developed resistens (spelling)to it
how often do you feed?
what type of skimmer do you have?(is it big enough for your tank?)
what type of lighting do you have?
these i have seen to be some fo the main resone of red slime
hope this helps :)
 
kb

kb

Member
My lights are corallife 50/50 and corallife 10,000k. I can't get a clean up crew because I have a lunare wrasse that eats anything smaller than him! I have an oceanic protein skimmer that is definitely big enough for my tank. The water flow is good in the tank. I use r/o water so how much phosphate could I have in my water? I feed them once a day.
 
wuelfman

wuelfman

Member
1.its NOT phosphate that make slime
2.its to much organics in the water (feeding heavy everyday is one way)
the above 1/2 are to differnt things
what is your skimmer rated for?
if you feed heavy every day your skimmer might not be able to keep up
how old are your lights?over time the color shifts (you wont be able to see it)
[ May 15, 2001: Message edited by: wuelfman ]
 
bobj

bobj

Member
Algae blooms are caused by
1. High nutrient loads(ammonia,nitites)
2. Phosphates and silicates
3. Lighting ,especially high doses of sunlight)
1. Your ammonia and nitrite levels are 0
2. Phosphate test kits are available. Activated carbon media can leech phosphate.
Phosphate is also found in water. Are you using ro/di water?
3. Your tank may be receiving large amounts of sunlight during the day when you are not there to see it.
 
kb

kb

Member
I do use r/o water and my tank gets a little bit of sunlight in the morning only and it only about a foot of it at a time(its 6 feet wide!).
 
kb

kb

Member
Well its been about a month since this post and I still have cyanobacteria. I really need some advice on this because I can't take it anymore. I use r/o water,i have a big protein skimmer, I have a u.v. sterilizer, and my lights are corallife 50/50 and corallife 10,000k. I've used polyfilters to remove the impurities that could be causing this and I have removed the cyanobacteria by hand several times. I just removed the cyanobacteria Sat. and now today is Monday and it's back. Are my lights the problem(they're only a month or two old). Trey I need a nice long explanation about this stuff. Help please-Thanks Kevin
 
up north hermit

up north hermit

Member
Are we not allowed to post links to an information only site??????????????????
Where did my post go??????????????????
I posted a link to a site with information on cynaobacteria to help you kb. But it has disappeared. Would some one explain?
Please :mad:
Hermit
 
up north hermit

up north hermit

Member
You have mail kb.
I went back to the site I posted and followed the links backward, until I came across the link to another BB. I didn't even know it was on this persons' PERSONAL website. So, I guess I'll answer my own query.
Don't post any information sites unless you are sure that it contains no blasphemous links to other BB's. :D
It is an excellent source of articles written on cyanobacteria, BTW.
Hermit :rolleyes:
 
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