Prevention and eradication of cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria LOVES my tanks. Highly stocked, low stocked, no stocked. Every single tank or water feature I’ve had has had Cyanobacteria “problems.”
In most of them it’s just in the substrate and never progresses further, but it has taken over tanks before.

I’m looking specifically for a method to prevent and/or remove Cyanobacteria that is effective and shrimp/plant/fish safe.

Tap parameters:
PH: 6.5-7
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 0
TDS: ~50
KH: 1-2
GH: 1-2
We have had copper pipes for <10 years.

 

I would think you either have low nitrates or high phosphates, possibly a low flow or too deep a substrate?

There's erythromycin which is basically safe for your fish and plants and cycle but cyanobacteria doesn't like it at all. There's like a product, Fritz Slime Out. It says red cyano, but it works on all types.

 

I use HOBs so likely not super low flow? Never tested phosphates but nitrates are usually pretty low so that could be it.
I’ll check out the Fritz stuff, I appreciate the suggestion.

There’s a product I can’t recall right now… I think it’s been recommended to me before

I think it’s Ultralife Blue Green stain remover

 

Any plants? Fish or shrimp? Inert or active substrate?

 

It is said in my town that Cyanobacteria comes down the pipes.

If you saw the main source of drinking water a small brown drain that is the only river running east out of the snow mountains NSW which is redirected many times you would understand how we do not attempt to eradicate something that is just a natural part of nature.

It is my belief you can kill cyno as often as you like but more arrives daily. All you can do is try and limit the factors that see it bloom out of control.

In my town the factors that see it bloom in wild rivers and lakes are high nutrients and warm water and the long hours of summer sunlight.

 

Several months ago, I read the cyanobacteria are so prevalent in nature that they are the primary source of oxygen in the atmosphere. They are found in nearly every body of water whether fresh, brackish, or salty. Thus, we cannot live without them, but in an aquarium, they certainly can be a pain. Since they are bacteria, they can be treated with broad spectrum antibiotics such as erythromycin. Another chemical that can help keep cycno under control is potassium permanganate. It is a powerful oxidizing agent that kills bacteria. However, it can stain anything it touches. It has a deep purple color that disappears as the chemical does its job.

 

I’d like to have something on hand for those instances when it does try to take over a tank. I ordered some Ultralife Blue Green Slime remover to test in one of my lifeless builds.
I’ll keep potassium permanganate in mind too. I would like to try a more targeted approach before going nuclear.

Any plants? Fish or shrimp? Inert or active substrate?

Yes plants, anywhere from lightly to moderately planted.
All sorts of fish, shrimp only three times.
Yes and no. I used sand almost exclusively for a while but now I mix some seachem fluorite into my fish builds with rocks. My older builds have sand.
My first tank to get overrun had some weird black bio sand.

Interestingly enough, one tank that got overrun was with active substrate, the other was intert. The intert one was overrun twice.

 

I’d like to have something on hand for those instances when it does try to take over a tank. I ordered some Ultralife Blue Green Slime remover to test in one of my lifeless builds.
I’ll keep potassium permanganate in mind too. I would like to try a more targeted approach before going nuclear.


Yes plants, anywhere from lightly to moderately planted.
All sorts of fish, shrimp only three times.
Yes and no. I used sand almost exclusively for a while but now I mix some seachem fluorite into my fish builds with rocks. My older builds have sand.
My first tank to get overrun had some weird black bio sand.

Interestingly enough, one tank that got overrun was with active substrate, the other was intert. The intert one was overrun twice.

Shrimp and snails are natural consumers of cyano. Some fish eat it too, usually omnivorous fish but only if you dont feed them.

Given your water parameters, are you keeping mostly softwater fish? The most prolific cyano eaters Ive had are hardwater fish like mollies, guppies, african cichlids etc

 

Shrimp and snails are natural consumers of cyano. Some fish eat it too, usually omnivorous fish but only if you dont feed them.

Given your water parameters, are you keeping mostly softwater fish? The most prolific cyano eaters Ive had are hardwater fish like mollies, guppies, african cichlids etc

All softwater guys, yep. I could try removing the stuff in my shrimp tank by hand, it seems like they can’t get to it because of the filter design.

 

Nerite snails! They love the stuff and will keep it in check.

 

Nerite snails! They love the stuff and will keep it in check.

Also good to know! Unfortunately I’ve had nerites in all of my tanks and not one of them has ever touched it. Still love the buggers though.

 

Hmmmmm. I have olive Nerites and they eat all forms of slime and keep the place spotless. There are lots of kinds of Nerites.

Maybe also try a Siamese Algae Eater. Great Fish!

 

Never kept olives, only tigers and racers. Perhaps olives have a certain taste for it