How To Kill Cyano In Empty Tank?

BBrain

Fish Fanatic
Joined
May 7, 2006
Messages
190
Reaction score
1
Location
Nanaimo, B.C., Canada
I'm looking for some way to get rid of cyano from an empty 15 gallon tank.

I've fought this crap for over a year, and it just kept getting worse. So, a couple of days ago, I moved the fish out, and took it down completely. I tossed all gravel, wood, plants, and filter media, and cleaned all equipment, including of course the tank itself. All the equipment smells okay now, but the tank still stinks of cyano. I smell it as soon as I walk in my door. It's going to the recycle centre ASAP unless I can get it cyano-free. I've tried bleach and isopropanol on the glass, frame, and silicone, to no avail. There is no visible cyano or algae or anything, anywhere that I can see. I have a feeling the cyano is imbedded within the silicone.

If anyone has a solution, I'd love to hear it. Otherwise, this stinky tank is outta here in the next couple of days!

Thanks in advance.
 
Hello,

I have never had too face this issue my self, but I did come across a few things that might help you:

  1. try treating with erythromycin. I know petsmart carries it. Just fill the tank with water and treat.
  2. check out this link: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Freshwater-Aquarium-3216/blue-green-algae.htm. Again this was advise for an active aquarium, but maybe fill it and treat it.
  3. I am not sure how safe this would be for the tank after the fact, but you could try one of the bathroom mold/mildew cleaners. I know that cyano is not the same thing as a mold but, my thought process is that the bathroom cleaners are made to penetrate the silicone caulking around the tub. If the cyano has penetrated into the silicone on the tank, the idea of the bathroom cleaner is that it would penetrate the silicone and kill the cyano. Again, not positive this would work, and you may want to check the ingredients on the cleaner to make sure the tank would be safe after SEVERAL rinsing.

This first two warn about not overdosing as it might kill your fish, but in your case this would not be an issue, so I suppose you could overdose to your hearts content. Of course, the last suggestion would be as a last resort, simply because it might render the tank unusable for fish, saftey wise that is.

Sorry I can't offer you more, the only thing I know about cyano is from a University Bio class and in that case we were trying to keep it alive to study it ... not helpful to you :lol:

At any rate, I hope that maybe one of the ideas works for you. Best of luck.
 
Thanks very much for replying, Rebrn. This must be a very virulent species, because I've been unsuccessful with erythromycin (also with hydrogen peroxide, Excel, blackouts, etc., all several times). Perhaps a strong dose of it may work now, but I avoid antibiotics if I can, since over-use is creating resistant critters, globally.

The organism may be holding out between the silicone and the glass, because everything looks very clean. I hope it hasn't penetrated within the silicone itself.

Vinegar was suggested on another forum, which I tried last night. It reduced the cyano odour a bit. I think that I will cut out the silicone now.
 
I know what you mean by over using antibiotics, it wouldn't be my first choice either. I also thought of vinegar, if it did help a bit, before cutting out the silicone, why don't you try filling the tank full of vinegar and let it sit for a day or two. I realize that that would take a lot of vinegar, but it is relatively cheap, and if it works it would save you the effort of removing and replacing the silcone.

Worth a shot anyways.
 

Most reactions

Back
Top