Algae ID needed

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Laure, Aug 9, 2009.

  1. Laure

    Laure Cyano Terminator

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    Hi
    I need help identifying this algae. It is tangled up in the moss. It kinda looks like blue green algae (BGA) - cayanobacteria, but there are also thin strands that is probably some green filamentous algae. Could also be a combination.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  3. Zafgak

    Zafgak Old fart

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    Hi Laure - Looks like cyano to me - cyano will create filaments when settled but I dont think it creates long ones
     
  4. OP
    Laure

    Laure Cyano Terminator

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    So I know its been a bit quiet today, but if there are no other posts then I assume everybody is in agreement that its cyano. I also know it has multiple causes, the main ones being:
    1. Low water circulation - doubt it, but there may be a possible dead spot or 2. It has also been shown that cyano does not necessarily infest the dead spot. It may originate there, though...
    2. High NH4 - unlikely. But I haven't tested NH4 in a while...
    3. Low NH3 - 10ppm at most recent test. A week ago was 20ppm. Interesting...but plant growth has taken off quite a bit in this past week too, so this may be expected. But there is the counter argument that cyano appears, not as a result of low NH3, but when NH3 hits 0 (Tom Barr)
    4. High PO4 - controversial. Many algae web sites quote high PO4 as a possible cause, however, as far as I can tell on various forums, nobody has ever managed to induce cyano by adding too much PO4.
    5. High disolved organics - possible. I have a few dead and decaying leaves after my tank rescape. A few plants didn't enjoy spending a week in a bucket. But they all have new leaves and growth is pretty good at the moment. Perhaps I need to get stuck into just clipping off every single old leave that has a dead spot or two. New ones are forming quickly enough anyway.
    6. Low O2 - shouldn't the fish be the first bio-indicator of this condition?

    Any thoughts? All in agreement that this is cyano and if so, any good recommendations? I have Seachem Purigen which I can place in the filter to absorb the disolved organics. How long should I leave it in the filter?

    I started a 3-day blackout today. The plants are all healthy, as mentioned above, the growth is great, so they won't take much of a knock. I will do a good vacuum and 50% WC after the blackout. Anything else? I want to stay away from treating the cyano with antibiotics. I actually want to address the cause, as plant growth is good and the cyano should die naturally once I adress the imbalance issue.

    Just some tank info:
    1. 300L with 1200l/h external cannister, spray bar 2 cm under water surface, causing good movement on surface without creating splashing or bubbles
    2. Fairly heavily planted. Plants include java and taiwan moss, ammania gracilis, limnophila sessiliflora, riccia fluitans carpet, 3 swords, a few crypts, 7 anubias nana, plenty of ceratopteris cornuta, java fern, 6 large aponogeton crispus, some hairgrass (eleocharis sp), heteranthera zosterifolia, cabomba green
    3. Dosing with Prof Dirk's fertilizer
    4. 4 x 54W T5 bulbs and 1 x Osram Fluora T8 bulb (21400 lumens; 19 lumens per sq inch)
    5. No CO2 - using Happy Life Happy Carbo (same as Excel or Easy Carbo)
    6. Small fish load: 6 clown loaches, school of 10 cardinals, 2 SAE, 3 otocinclus
    7. Feeding - could be considered heavy, but I don't ever see any food going to waste

    Regards
    Lauré
     
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2009
  5. Zafgak

    Zafgak Old fart

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    Looks like you have everything in hand - let us know how it looks after the blackout..
     
  6. OP
    Laure

    Laure Cyano Terminator

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    Bga

    I will let you know how it goes...
     
  7. Ruan

    Ruan Wooden Spoon

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    Good luck, sounds like a sticky mess.
     
  8. High-wash

    High-wash Pleco

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    Good Luck dude
     

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