[Rob in Puyallup]

I have a colony of "blue green algae" in my new opae ula tank. Wondering if there is a safe way to remove it before it takes over.

I only feed powdered bluegreen algae (a coincidence?) to this tank and do so maybe twice a week.

I have adult and a few larva opae ula in this tank along with some MTS and a couple pipipi snails.

I've read that erythromycin is safe for fish and the beneficial bacteria, just curious if it is with everything else.

Thanks!

 

[Darkblade48]

Erythromycin should not harm your invertebrates, but will wipe out the BGA quite readily.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Guess I'm a bit of a worry wart when it comes to medicines in a tank. Think I'll try lowering the light levels for starters.

Water movement can help, too, or so I've read, but with that the shrimp hide.

Decisions...

 

[mordalphus]

If I'm not mistaken bga is actually a bacteria , and not an algae. It won't respond to a lower light schedule.

I know that the easiest and safest way to get rid of it is to just dose erythromycin which is an antibiotic.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Yup, it's a bacteria, but a photosynthetic one.

I think.

Have you used erythromycin with shrimp, Liam?

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[Rob in Puyallup]

Been Googling "aquarium antibiotics", seems, (according to one source, anyway), that some antibiotics won't work in aquariums containing high pH water, that they bind with calcium. It further states that erythromycin can wreak havic with the nitrifying bacteria in the filter bed.

Hum.

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[auban]

cyano is a bacteria that is photosynthetic. its most limiting factors are phosphorus, iron, molybdenum, in that order. it is capable of nitrification and denitrification, so it will grow in the presence of ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite, but can also survive with only dissolved atmospheric n2. it is only capable of fixing nitrogen at about 10% of its maximum capacity during periods darkness, so although a blackout usually will not kill it by itself, it usually will stop it from spreading.

black outs work best at night because the stratification that occurs between different saturation levels of different gasses. at the bottom where most cyano is, the oxygen gets used up while the cyano uses it, while there is more oxygen at the surface, where dissolved gasses can exchange with atmospheric air.

removing phosphorus will slow it down dramatically, since it needs phosphorus to produce the lining of its cells. also, if you can find anything that removes molybdenum, it will prevent it from spreading as fast. molybdenum is used in special cells called fix nitrogen, which also happen to be the fastest reproducing cell. they also have a thick encapsulating layer around them, which helps to prevent oxidation through the cell membrane.

removing iron works just like it would with any plant. no iron, no chlorophyll. i dont think i need to explain that one.

if you want more information on cyano, look into getting Wetzels book, "Limnology, Lake and River Ecosystems" third edition. chapter 15 deals with nothing but algae and cyanobacteria.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Thanks for that, Auban,

I just stopped at Petco and found a product that removes phosphates and silicates. Will try that... Will remove as much of the cyanobacteria as I can by hand first.

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[Rob in Puyallup]

Decreased the lighting. Removed the LEDs, down to just a comparatively dim 50 /50 fluorescent.

Removed as much of the cyanobacteria by hand as possible. Still some attached to bits of live rock and on the sand in places where my meat hooks couldn't reach.

Have a phosphate test in the mail, will test the tank before adding the resin.

Shrimp doing great in the shade.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Got the phosphate test kit. The problem isn't elevated levels, test barely changes color.

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[Rob in Puyallup]

After lowering the light levels in the tank, the growth of the remaining bits of cyanobacteria seem to have slowed and they are no longer "pearling".

Seems that's good news!

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[Loumeer]

I am in the middle of a huge issue with this bacteria. So far I have been using

http://www.amazon.com/Ultralife-Ree...492&sr=8-1&keywords=blue+green+algae+aquarium

with great success in my 55 gallon turtle tank.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Ummm... Not sure something safe with turtles is safe for inverts.

I have noticed, since cutting way back on lighting, that the new cyanobacteria is actually blue green instead of green brown.

Not really a step in the right direction, I'm sure.

 

[Loumeer]

Ummm... Not sure something safe with turtles is safe for inverts.

I have noticed, since cutting way back on lighting, that the new cyanobacteria is actually blue green instead of green brown.

Not really a step in the right direction, I'm sure.

I am a bit confused and I don't mean any offense but if you had taken the time to follow the link you would have read in the description

Ultralife Reef Blue Green Algae Remover UltraLife Blue Green Algae Remover is a revolutionary time tested product, that will effectively and safely remove Blue Green Algae quickly from all Freshwater Fish, Plants and Invertebrates. UltraLife BGR contains natural cellular matter, select biological accelerators and special supplements proven effective in removing Blue Green Algae from Freshwater Fish, Plants and Invertebrates and is Safe for desirable macro-algae, nitrifying bacteria and fish.

I have used both Ultralife and Maracyn (Erythromycin).

The Ultralife in just my turtle tanks and the Maracyn in both my turtle tank and my shrimp tank. They both worked but I found the Maracyn took a lot more doses (about 6 -7 days worth) and it came back a few months afterwards and the Ultralife only took 2 doses 48 hours apart. The Ultralife was far more economical for the 55 gallon, not sure if that is an issue. To dose 55 gallons of Maracyn for 7 days it took me 6 packets each day which is around $1 dollar per packet. The ultralife got rid of it so far with only the 1 tube that I bought (only $14).

Either way you should have all the information you need from this thread. changing the photoperiod will only strengthen the cyanobacteria in my experience. The only way I was able to get rid of this stuff is with dosing.

http://www.amazon.com/Mardel-Freshw...e=UTF8&qid=1358837109&sr=8-5&keywords=maracyn

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

I did read it, and found little information on what the product contains, except that it doesn't contain erythromycin.

I will do a Google search on it to see what others have to say.

Thanks!

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Lol! Link is opening to something called Ultra life Reef Blue Green algae remover.

Do see in that link the name of Mardel. Will find my way to it.

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[Rob in Puyallup]

I bought some API Erythromycin Saturday, basically the same product.

I've read conflicting data on the safety of antibiotics such as this when used with live rock.

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[auban]

the only true non chemical way to actively kill cyano that i know of is UVC, as in a germicidal bulb(since uv sterilizer wont actually shine on it). other than that, its the usual methods of decreasing light, trying to eliminate phosphates, raising nitrates(but i dont think that will work in your case...), etc.
it wouldnt fix the underlying issue though...

removing it physically helps. if it is running on a low amount of nutrients, removing it keeps whatever is locked up in it out of the column.

im not sure how antibiotics will affect the live rock. it would worry me, but i have never tried it, so i cant say if there is any danger.

 

[somewhatshocked]

Maracyn-Two is safe. It's a product I've used myself - both fresh and marine versions - with invertebrates.

 

[plamski]

Erythromycin is OK for shrimps. I test it with Neos, CRS, tigers. I don't know how TB's will be. Cardinal Sulawesi has been wiped out on second day -at least on me.