Awesome Green Algae

[RobGoldsmith]

As ever before I have noticed my white stones going a horrible dull green brown dirty looking colour. Then recently I noticed a few of my stones have gone a brilliant green! They look like fake coral brightness. It isnt a dirty green at all but a really nice almost blue green and deep in colour.

Is this stuff bad? Is it showing too much of something or too little of another? I think it looks great!

Here are some pics, the camera doesnt show off the great colour

Note the splodges appearing under the moss here and a few bright orange ones

Here it is the stone in the middle with the moss on, the rest were only added yesterday to protect fry. (You may just make out some of the newer stones having a sirty light green on them which is the colour my stones used to go!)

Any thoughts?

Rob

 

[KittyKat]

Cyanobacteria.

 

[RobGoldsmith]

Is it bad?

 

[This Old Spouse]

Look here.

 

[RobGoldsmith]

I quite like it! Much better than a white stone, if it isnt hurting anyone then I may leave it alone! I have a few shrimp coming this week, maybe they will clean it a bit

Rob

 

[coldcazzie]

Nothing eats cyanobacteria. Also, it can release toxins into the water that are not good for your fish. Might be a nice colour, but it's not good to have in the tank.

 

[RobGoldsmith]

#105###, can see it is everywhere my moss is! Am i going to have to put chemicals in again?

 

[coldcazzie]

The only chemical you can use is erythromycin - an antibiotic (because it's a bacteria, not a plant) but you can't purchase it in the UK without a prescription from a vet, and a consultation with an exotic pet vet will cost you in excess of £50.

Treatment for it is a combination of manual removal, increasing circulation/flow, increasing nitrates, keeping the tank meticulously clean (filter and substrate), and blackouts for several days hopefully starving it of light.

 

[RobGoldsmith]

ouch ok thanks!

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Can't you use normal tablet form and crush it up cos I have two packets sitting in the medicine cupboard lol.

 

[PDSimon]

won't that kill the bacteria in your filter?

James algae guide -

"Description

This isn't a true algae, but a bacteria called cyanobacteria that is able to photosynthesise. Covers everything in a blue/green slimy mat. Easily peels off but grows back again very quickly. It can smell pretty foul. It is very commonly found in the substrate and especially along the front glass where is receives light.
Cause Often caused by very low nitrates. It is fairly common to have it growing in the substrate against the front glass from where it can spread. Sometimes it appears with new setups that have had light and ammonia present at some point. Dirty substrates and filters may also bring it on. Poor water circulation is another possible cause.
Removal


A blackout is the best method for this. Clean out as much of the algae as you can and do a 30 to 50% water change. If your nitrates are low then add some potassium nitrate to get levels to 20ppm. Remove CO2 and add an airstone. Turn off lights and cover the whole tank so no light can enter. Leave it for 3 to 4 days. No peeking and no feeding - fish will be fine without food for this period. After 3 to 4 days remove the covers and do a 30 - 50% water change. Remove airstone and start CO2. You will need to dose nitrates to keep them dropping too low again. Make sure your substrate and filter doesn't become too clogged up with mulm and also make sure you have good water circulation around the whole tank.


Another option is to treat with Maracyn which is an anti-biotic. Seems to work well but may affect the biological filter. In the UK it is illegal to purchase Maracyn without first getting a prescription for it from a vet.
If the BGA is originating from the substrate place some dark tape on the glass to hide the substrate from direct light."

 

[coldcazzie]

There's debate about that. Filter bacteria are one type and cyanobacteria the other (gram positive and gram negative - can't remember which way round) but erythromycin only effects cyano not filter bacteria. Theoretically anyway, there are people who've used it and had mini cycle from filter die off.

 

[StandbySetting]

Remove as much as you can, and do a 3 day black out, if it's not gone, do another 3 day black out, keep your nitrates above 20PPM.

 

[RobGoldsmith]

Will that not really harm the fish? Completely cover the tank or just lights off?

 

[StandbySetting]

completely cover the tank, devoid it of any light, not peeking either!

Your fish and plants will be fine for 3 days without light.