Positive identification of cyanobacteria

[twilliard]

Twillard, I have three different colors of thin mats on some of the rocks. All are in areas behind rocks where flow is a little lower (but not absent by any means). They are the typical dark red, an almost black color and a light green. All are thin and easily suctioned off the rocks. I had some of the red only in the sump which I resolved with turning the light off in the sump for about a week (no macroalgae there at the moment). No harm seems to be done by any of them although I've noticed the red stuff will show up on any damaged area of coral pretty quick.

Are there different colors of cyano and spirulina?

Yes cyanobacteria can be different colors.
The typical is red then you have blue/green and then green.
You may have different shades of color depending on available light spectrum.

 

[saltyhog]

What about the dark, almost black color?

I just suctioned it all out yesterday while doing a water change but I'll do your test on the red stuff when it comes back.

 

[twilliard]

What about the dark, almost black color?

I just suctioned it all out yesterday while doing a water change but I'll do your test on the red stuff when it comes back.

That dark I will bet is green under the scope but almost a black to the eye.

 

[ReefQueen]

I tried this on some of my cyano, granted I didn't measure out 2 cups and just kind of dumped some peroxide in there lol. This is what I have after about an hour.

The cyano is starting to get a greenish color and the water is turning a pinkish hue. The pics colors are a little off, it is more of a pastel pink color IRL. I really don't know what we would all do without you @twilliard

 

[twilliard]

I tried this on some of my cyano, granted I didn't measure out 2 cups and just kind of dumped some peroxide in there lol. This is what I have after about an hour.

The cyano is starting to get a greenish color and the water is turning a pinkish hue. The pics colors are a little off, it is more of a pastel pink color IRL. I really don't know what we would all do without you @twilliard

Yes indeed that is cyanobacteria
This process is so easy for people to identify cyanobacteria
If it was spirulina it would not change the color of the water
This should be a test kit! Hmm makes me think

 

[buckeye82]

You are welcome! A lot of time and effort goes into all this and it makes me happy to see positive results.

Todd, thanks for this test. I have spirulina. Chemiclean is in route. I'm familiar with the causes of cyano and how to try and prevent but not versed on spirulina. Any info on what it thrives off of and what could be out of balance to cause it to take over? Thanks Jeff.

 

[twilliard]

Todd, thanks for this test. I have spirulina. Chemiclean is in route. I'm familiar with the causes of cyano and how to try and prevent but not versed on spirulina. Any info on what it thrives off of and what could be out of balance to cause it to take over? Thanks Jeff.

Spirulina is another cyanobacteria
They live off the same elements as cylindrospermum cyanobacteria
This bacteria (spirulina ) is highly active under the microscope.
So it comes down to the same principles just another attack approach.
Make sure your substrate is clean as to not produce too much sulfides.

 

[redina]

I have done the test and I believe it is not cyano. How do I know if it is spirulina or dino? And why is the dark red disappeared from the sample?

 

[twilliard]

If the sample was too small for the volume used you will not see the water turn red.
From what I am seeing in your test since it turned green, it is not spirulina.
It is cylindrospermum cyanobacteria

 

[SandJ]

Is there a way to tell them apart under the microscope?

 

[twilliard]

Is there a way to tell them apart under the microscope?

Yes you can identify the difference under the scope

 

[mtfish]

I am starting to win the battle with my cyano after close to three weeks of treatment with H2O2.. I have a scope at work and it looks to be about 95% cyano and 5% spirulina. Interesting to me is that there was a major benthic diatom population in my mattes. Twillard, have you seen this in the many samples you have looked at?

 

[Csi]

Yes you can identify the difference under the scope

Hello Todd,

Thank you for your fantastic work in this and other threads.

I have just bougth a microscope; is it possible for you to publish here some scope pictures of cyanos, dinos and diatoms, in order to help me diagnose my aquarium problems?

Thank you

 

[twilliard]

I am starting to win the battle with my cyano after close to three weeks of treatment with H2O2.. I have a scope at work and it looks to be about 95% cyano and 5% spirulina. Interesting to me is that there was a major benthic diatom population in my mattes. Twillard, have you seen this in the many samples you have looked at?

Yes I do see this quite often. They can live mutually together. In cases like this it will take a month to clear the tank as a person would be dealing with 2 different treatments.

Hello Todd,

Thank you for your fantastic work in this and other threads.

I have just bougth a microscope; is it possible for you to publish here some scope pictures of cyanos, dinos and diatoms, in order to help me diagnose my aquarium problems?

Thank you

I will see what I can dig up. I have many shots on my laptop.

 

[Csi]

Yes I do see this quite often. They can live mutually together. In cases like this it will take a month to clear the tank as a person would be dealing with 2 different treatments.




I will see what I can dig up. I have many shots on my laptop.

Thank you

 

[Csi]

Thank you

Hello again Todd,

Please don't forget to put here some of your pics.

Thank you

 

[pl2002]

Hello Todd,

I am so glad that I found your post! I will do the test tomorrow. I am wondering if hydrogen peroxide dosing is the way to go, will it kill beneficial bacteria also? What about inverts such as shrimps and urchins that I have in the tank? Thanks again.

 

[A+Aquatics]

This is extremely intriguing to me.

 

[revhtree]

Thanks Todd!

 

[fab]

I wrote this as the first step in cyanobacteria control and eradication to my final writeup

Where can I read your final writeup? And will you update it with revisions as you learn more?
fab