How can I prevent Cyanobacteria from coming over when I transfer fish?

[UmNick]

I have a few tetras I am moving due to their tank being completely overrun with Cyanobacteria. After trying many methods with no success, I have decided to strip the tank. My concern is that I will bring the bacteria with them, and then have TWO tanks full of this disgusting junk. Any advice on the best way to transfer these guys without transferring bacteria is appreciated.

 

[V1K]

I'm just guessing here, but I think what causes cyanobacteria to take over the tank isn't so much the introduction of it, but the conditions that allow them to grow. Bacteria of all kinds are pretty much everywhere and getting into things all the time, but if the conditions don't work, they don't thrive. So if you know what provoked them the last time and won't repeat the same mistakes, it should be fine.

 

[WilburTheGoldfish]

You can spot treat it with excel, works wonders for me.

 

[Tramsdell]

IME nothing will get rid of cyano short of a new tank or bleaching everything except the fish. I tried 700gph powerhead in a 20gal tank because flow was supposedly the factor that was enabling it, that was after changing light intensity and duration for months and doing tons of water changes all the while, chasing the problem.

The best way to prevent cyano is to QT inverts properly and bleach all new plants. Also, avoid any substrate that comes "with bacteria" or " nutrients" for planted tanks.

I will say that in one tank I had success for a while spot treating Excell using a turkey battery. I thought I got it but a couple weeks later it was back with a vengeance.

 

[Andres391]

I'm guessing you don't have any amano shrimps or nitrite snails. Control your phosphates and most algae will stop growing phosguard is great for that which will also reduce silica, high lights or longer then 8 hours of light will alow this to grow. Or new tank syndrome.

 

[MasterPython]

I have had good luck treating a tank with erythromiacin for cyanobacteria. But I think that stuff is in the air so unless you get your nutrients and light balanced it will come back.

 

[adagona]

I have tried lowering the hours of light, changing water frequently, increasing flow and even using erythromycin, none of these got rid of cyanobacteria completely. I have finally beaten cyanobacteria by adding floating plants. The first few weeks I had to manually rinse off the cyanobacteria that gather around the floating plant roots, and manually remove as much cyanobacteria while the plants get established. Now I no longer see anymore cyanobacteria in my tank as my floaters flourish.