Originally Posted by
MichelleD
http:///forum/post/3169361
I am very, very new to all of this. Can you explain what cyano is? I've seen reference to it but haven't made sense to what it actually is. Thanks!!
amazing what you can find out if you research the web
What is Cyano?
Cyanobacteria are one of the oldest living microscopic organisms on earth. This organism has been in existence for more than 3.5 billion years. In fact, some articles describe it as a fossil. It is reputed to be the source of most organic material on earth and also the main source of oxygen. Cyanobacteria have many names including blue-green, red, purple, black and green slime algaes although they are not true algae. The color arises from a pigment in the cell which assists chlorophyll in photosynthesis. In fact, theories state that cyanobacteria may have been the source of choloroplasts, the structures that contain chlorophyll, in present plant cells. In nature, cyanobacteria can be found in water that is contaminated or is high in nitrates or phosphates.
Cyano Facts
1) Cyano is a large bacterium that is aerobic but can live under anaerobic conditions
2) It can tolerate extremes of temperature and salinity
3) Develops a protective mucous layer which gives rise to its 'slimy' nature.
4) can trap gas bubbles
5) can develop a modified cell called an akinete which stores carbohydrates under adverse conditions to aid in survival
6) can appear in multiple colors as listed above.
7) has an EXTREMELY FAST growth rate and can double every 20 minutes
is type of bacteria thrives in water that is high in nitrates and phosphates. Unfortunately, it is usually a sign of excess nutrients in the water. But don't take that too personally as a sign of poor water husbandry. Frequently, it can start when there is an undiscovered death of an animal or organism that is in your tank. However, it is more commonly related to excess nutrients. Many claim that 'low flow' is a cause, however, there is no proven evidence that this is the case. So, possible causes include:
--overfeeding
--undiscovered death of a tank inhabitant
--excess phosphates (using water or topoff that is high in phosphates)
--poor water maintenance, ie, poor nutrient export
So, What Do I Do Now?
Eradicating cyanobacteria, once established, is a frustrating experience that requires patience and attention to tank maintenance. Here are some of the most common recommendations to aid you:
1) Change feeding habits, many recommend every other day feeding, to reduce nitrates
2) Although no strong evidence to support this, consider increasing water flow or redirecting flow to dead areas
3) Skim
4) Find the source of contamination and remove it
5) Increase the frequency of water changes
6) Siphon off the cyanobacteria to help reduce the load. You can use airline tubing attached to hard plastic tubing. You can also siphon the substrate to remove detritus. Use a turkey baster to float if off the LR and then suction it up with a turkey baster. Be forewarned..it grows back quickly
7) Change to RO/DI water if you are not using it to reduce phosphates
8 ) Consider adding a phosphate binding media insert. You can also consider adding polyfilter until clear (helps bind phosphates).
9) You can consider reducing lighting but this is often of little help
10) Add cyano-eating livestock. Some cyano eaters include Mexican Red Leg Hermit Crabs, Astrea snails and Trochus snails.
