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Blue Green Cyano
Last updated on November 17th, 2023
About Blue Green Cyano
Slime Algae, or Cyanobacteria, is a sheet of slime covering sand, rocks, and coral. If left untreated, this can coat and kill corals in the reef aquarium.
What Causes Blue Green Slime Algae (Cyanobacteria)
Blue green cyano is very similar to red slime algae (which is also cyano). Phosphates in the aquarium can lead to cyano, also known as slime algae. Cyanobacteria will usually start to coat rocks or sand in low flow areas of the reef tank and grow outward. Having high flow, and no areas without sufficient flow, within the tank will reduce the ability of this bacteria to form and coat rocks and sand.
How to get Rid of Blue Green Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria can be removed from sand and rocks with a siphon or net during water changes. It can also be removed from rocks and corals by blowing water at it with a turkey baster or powerhead. Cyanobacteria, even when removed, will generally regrow quickly until the phosphates in the reef tank are reduced.
To get rid of Blue Green Slime you will need to reduce phosphates. The best way to do this is by keeping a good refugium with cheato macroalgae and a strong refugium light. This algae will grow, and consume both nitrates and phosphates from the reef tank. Starving cyanobacteria of phosphates, preventing it from growing.
You can also use a chemical treatment such as ChemiClean to remove cyanobacteria. I tend to avoid adding "quick fix" solutions, however, ChemiClean tends to have a lot of success stories.
What Eats Blue-Green Cyano
Being a bacteria and not really an algae, there are not many creatures that naturally eat blue-green cyano. Though it won't fix the problem long term, if you are looking to clean up a light bloom, there are a couple known preditors of cyanobacteria. Trochus and Cerith snails are both known to eat cyanobacteria in the reef tank.
Court jester gobys and Rainford’s gobys are also known to pick at cyano. Though this has been reported, like many utilitarian fish, this may not end up being the case if the particular fish is not interested in the cyanobacteria. The invertebrates above are more likely to eat cyanobacteria, but these fish may be able to assist in the battle.
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