Spirulina what is it, and what does it look like

[twilliard]

It's so easy to grow.
Now don't get this confused with cyanobacteria! Looks identical in our tanks.
How many have added amino acids to their tank only to wake up one day seeing an outbreak of red mats?
Yup sure enough! The addition of elevated aminos and an outbreak is sure to happen if present in the tank. I can grow spirulina with only aminos and a little water.
And to note h2o2 is NOT effective against spirulina!

This stuff is interesting as it is so nutritional to our tank life

 

[Psiber_Syn]

How do you begin to grow it should I start adding the powder stuff to my tank for feeding is it beneficial ?

 

[scfurse77]

How do you begin to grow it should I start adding the powder stuff to my tank for feeding is it beneficial ?

I have it in my tank and it looks just like Cyano (twillard helped me discover this) In my opinion this is not something you want in your tank. It's unsightly and grows super fast. Can cover glass, sand, corals and pretty much everything else if your not careful.

 

[Psiber_Syn]

Got a photo of it in your tank ?

 

[scfurse77]

Got a photo of it in your tank ?

Check out the pics on the bottom of this page i posted them 2 days ago.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/back-at-it-peroxide-vrs-cyanobacteria.241002/page-48#post-2927138

 

[twilliard]

It's easy to grow if you have a live starter culture.
All you need is amino acids (I use acro power)
Grow it separate from the tank
Once you get a good batch dry it as you don't want it live in your tank.

 

[twilliard]

here is a shot of my current culture
these guys are small and hard to get a clean shot at 2500 power

 

[Scottsquatch]

There was a Dirty Jobs episode about it. The place grew it for the supplements industry. It grew it out green, but then they did what they called "making it mad." After that it turned bright red and then they harvested it. It was really intetesting.

 

[jedimasterben]

There was a Dirty Jobs episode about it. The place grew it for the supplements industry. It grew it out green, but then they did what they called "making it mad." After that it turned bright red and then they harvested it. It was really intetesting.

Here is the episode for anyone interested

 

[twilliard]

Yes and that is the fasinating thing about spirulina
When you make it mad it retracts. Even the led light on my scope makes it mad even with the iris practically closed. You can watch it unscrew and disappear

This is the exact same event when lights go off. They don't like it so it looks like it's gone just to stretch back out and appear when lights come back on.

 

[Rybren]

Now don't get this confused with cyanobacteria!

Please don't take this the wrong way, because I am trying to learn, but all the reading that I've done indicates that Spirulina is a cyanobacteria. Granted, it is a different strain from what we in the hobby call cyano, but it is cyanobacteria just the same.

Have you found something that indicates that it isn't a cyanobacteria?

 

[twilliard]

It is classified in between algae and bacteria
These two terms are loosely used and often many can be put under this clarification
And no worrys, I don't take things like this personally.
I am helping to educate

Here is the interesting part about all of this...
If it was indeed within the same family as cyanobacteria why does h2o2 have absolutely no effect to spirulina?
These are the questions we seek to answer, or I seek to answer.

 

[Bronc]

Todd,
Just an update on the old thread - I had treated with Red Slimer remover and it made no difference then treated with H2O2 twice a day for a week and saw no improvement either. So, I treated last night with Chemiclean and all of my red slime is gone. I'm pretty sure that means I had Spirulina.

 

[sebo18]

It is classified in between algae and bacteria
These two terms are loosely used and often many can be put under this clarification
And no worrys, I don't take things like this personally.
I am helping to educate

Here is the interesting part about all of this...
If it was indeed within the same family as cyanobacteria why does h2o2 have absolutely no effect to spirulina?
These are the questions we seek to answer, or I seek to answer.

Are you researching a way to get rid of spirulina in a tank?

 

[twilliard]

Todd,
Just an update on the old thread - I had treated with Red Slimer remover and it made no difference then treated with H2O2 twice a day for a week and saw no improvement either. So, I treated last night with Chemiclean and all of my red slime is gone. I'm pretty sure that means I had Spirulina.

Yes you are correct.
There is something about chemiclean that wipes out spirulina but at the same time does nothing to cyanobacteria. . Odd I say

 

[scfurse77]

Are you researching a way to get rid of spirulina in a tank?

I Am

 

[twilliard]

Are you researching a way to get rid of spirulina in a tank?

Yes and no
Spirulina is highly nutritious for our tanks. The problem comes when it gets out of control.
I am leaning more to control than eradication

 

[jsker]

I Am

And how are you doing this?

 

[sebo18]

Yes and no
Spirulina is highly nutritious for our tanks. The problem comes when it gets out of control.
I am leaning more to control than eradication

Cool, thanks

 

[Lasse]

I think he is trying to find a way to avoid this pest.

Sincerely Lasse