Cyanobacteria Treatment

[Stilgar[bbs.isca.uiowa.edu]]

I posted a couple of weeks ago about a problem with algae in my
aquarium. (Search for "Algae ruining hobby for me" in
rec.aquaria.freshwater.misc). After posting a picture, respondents
identified it not as algae, but as cyanobacteria.

Upon the advise of the posters and the Internet community, I procured
some erythromycin and began treatment. I scrubbed everything in the
tank as best I could and did a water change. I've since been treating
with 1.2 grams of erythromycin every day for the last 4 days (it's a
55 gallon tank).

It doesn't appear that the cyanobacteria is spreading anymore, but
that could just be wishful thinking effecting my perception.

How can I tell if the cyanobacteria is dying? Will it change color,
or just disappear or what? How much longer would you recommend
erythromycin treatment? I don't want to make any resistant strains of
cyanobacteria and release them into the ecosystem when I do my next
water change.

[Dinky]

"Stilgar[bbs.isca.uiowa.edu]" > wrote in message
m...
>
> How can I tell if the cyanobacteria is dying? Will it change color,
> or just disappear or what? How much longer would you recommend
> erythromycin treatment? I don't want to make any resistant strains of
> cyanobacteria and release them into the ecosystem when I do my next
> water change.

When I've used this method to kill the cyano, I've seen results in a week or
less. From your OP and the pics you posted on the web, I agree this is what
you have.
I seem to recall using a much higher dosage that that, even considering
the fact that my affected tank was larger.

Best of luck to you, please don't give up, once you beat something, you've
learned something as well, and will likely never have to deal with the same
stress again.

[RedForeman ©®]

"Dinky" > wrote in message
hlink.net...
>
> "Stilgar[bbs.isca.uiowa.edu]" > wrote in message
> m...
> >
> > How can I tell if the cyanobacteria is dying? Will it change color,
> > or just disappear or what? How much longer would you recommend
> > erythromycin treatment? I don't want to make any resistant strains of
> > cyanobacteria and release them into the ecosystem when I do my next
> > water change.
>
> When I've used this method to kill the cyano, I've seen results in a week
or
> less. From your OP and the pics you posted on the web, I agree this is
what
> you have.
> I seem to recall using a much higher dosage that that, even
considering
> the fact that my affected tank was larger.
>
> Best of luck to you, please don't give up, once you beat something, you've
> learned something as well, and will likely never have to deal with the
same
> stress again.

and if, no WHEN you beat it, please come back and help us show others by
using your problem as an example of a success story...

--
RedForeman ©®
still trying to remember to BOTTOM post....

[Robyn Rhudy]

When I've treated with erythromycin to kill the cyanobacteria, it usually
first breaks away from whatever it's attached to. Then, it floats around
and gets sucked up. I see this after just 2-4 days. I treat for 5 days
and it's all detached and not a problem in the tank. Alas, after say 3
months, it always comes back. This is because all it takes is one spore
or fragment left and our water must have a lot of silicon which blue-green
algae likes.

http://www.fishpondinfo.com/algae.htm

On Tue, 10 Feb 2004, Stilgar[bbs.isca.uiowa.edu] wrote:

> I posted a couple of weeks ago about a problem with algae in my
> aquarium. (Search for "Algae ruining hobby for me" in
> rec.aquaria.freshwater.misc). After posting a picture, respondents
> identified it not as algae, but as cyanobacteria.
>
> Upon the advise of the posters and the Internet community, I procured
> some erythromycin and began treatment. I scrubbed everything in the
> tank as best I could and did a water change. I've since been treating
> with 1.2 grams of erythromycin every day for the last 4 days (it's a
> 55 gallon tank).
>
> It doesn't appear that the cyanobacteria is spreading anymore, but
> that could just be wishful thinking effecting my perception.
>
> How can I tell if the cyanobacteria is dying? Will it change color,
> or just disappear or what? How much longer would you recommend
> erythromycin treatment? I don't want to make any resistant strains of
> cyanobacteria and release them into the ecosystem when I do my next
> water change.
>

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[Andy Hill]

Robyn Rhudy > wrote:
>This is because all it takes is one spore
>or fragment left and our water must have a lot of silicon which blue-green
>algae likes.
>
Spores for both regular algae and cyanobacteria are in the air -- if the
conditions are right, they will grow.

I think you're mistaken on the silicon thing -- diatoms (often called brown
algae) are the guys who like silicon.

In a planted tank (which is what the OP has), cyanobacteria are a sign that
phosphates are too high relative to the other nutrients. After (or during) the
antibiotic treatment, using a phosphate absorber to drop phosphates down to a
more reasonable level will allow the green plants to outcompete the
cyanobacteria for the remaining phosphates.

[Michi Henning]

"Stilgar[bbs.isca.uiowa.edu]" > wrote in message
m...
>
> Upon the advise of the posters and the Internet community, I procured
> some erythromycin and began treatment. I scrubbed everything in the
> tank as best I could and did a water change. I've since been treating
> with 1.2 grams of erythromycin every day for the last 4 days (it's a
> 55 gallon tank).

That's 5.76 milligrams per liter, which should be ample. (Most people
recommend 2.5 milligrams per liter.)

> How can I tell if the cyanobacteria is dying? Will it change color,
> or just disappear or what?

You should see a lot of dying algae floating around.

> How much longer would you recommend
> erythromycin treatment?

Eight days should be enough, but there is no need to dose
the antibiotic every day. Have a look at the recommendations
for this at http://www.myfishtank.net/articles/bga.php. I've used
those with good success in the past.

Cheers,

Michi.

--
Michi Henning Ph: +61 4 1118-2700
ZeroC, Inc. http://www.zeroc.com