enzoom1 Posted April 3, 2009 Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 On my red pine there's a green algae smothering it. I don't know what it's called but its not beard or string algae etc.. It like smothers the plants by encasing them inside a green slime wall. It kind of looks like a spider web that wraps around a plant to raise baby spiders in. Any help on identifying and removing this algae permanently is vey much welcomed Enzo. PS I think the same sort of slime algae is covering my glass near the bottom of the tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Sounds like Cyanobacteria does it look similar to this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enzoom1 Posted April 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Yeah thats what it looks like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Definitely cyano then. Pull off as much of it as you can, get as much out as you can, then do a complete blackout of the tank for at least 3 days minimum. Do not feed the fish during this time either. With a bit of luck that will be enough to kill it off. If not, you may have to resort to using E-mycin, a prescription only medication. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Furan2 will work also and can be bought from your local pet shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enzoom1 Posted April 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Ok thanks for your replies. Ill try to pull some off as much as i can today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 Hah!!! So that's what it is! I've only got it on near the bottom of my tank too, funny how it grows there! I've been syphoning it out, but it keeps coming back. I'll try a blackout too, and see how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 Do you notice a musty sort of smell coming off the tank? If so, thats the cyano. The other way treat it is with erthymicin (sp?) which is a prescription only antibiotic. I only would do this a a last resort as it can play havoc on your filtration etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 Please note E-Mycin is erythromycin E-Mycin is a trade name for it. There are many others but that is the most common in NZ. I just gave some roxithromycin to someone to try for their cyano. It is, like erythromycin, a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic. The Dr who gave me some assured me it will work exactly like the E-Mycin. 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkfur Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 don't syphon it with your mouth (i'm sure you wouldn't anyway) - some cyanobacteria are quite toxic to humans. You wouldn't ingest enough to kill you unless you had a good sized dose of it but it could make you a bit ill or give you a rash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 Now you tell me! :roll: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 don't syphon it with your mouth (i'm sure you wouldn't anyway) - some cyanobacteria are quite toxic to humans. You wouldn't ingest enough to kill you unless you had a good sized dose of it but it could make you a bit ill or give you a rash Hmmm. I always start the syphon with my mouth, but don't ever get any more than a couple of drips in my mouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkfur Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 google cyanobacteria to find out all about it. It harms dogs in the hutt river occasionally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enzoom1 Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Ok well it's been a while since my last post on this thread. Just tonight I have dosed the (120L) tank with 500mg approx. of Erymthromycin as directed by the internet gurus and by the friendly staff at HFF. I've been putting off doing anything with this cyano except cleaning as much as I can out once a week, and now I realise that it was a bad idea SO, I hope this erythromycin works well. :-? 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Only three 3 species are responsible for toxic blooms: Microcystis aeruginosa, Anabaena flos-aquae and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (from 3 Genera). Even the blooms caused by these 3 species are not always toxic. All the other blooming and non-blooming cyanobacteria species are harmless. The species in your tank doesn't bloom but forms mats so I'm pretty sure you are on the safe side. don't syphon it with your mouth (i'm sure you wouldn't anyway) - some cyanobacteria are quite toxic to humans. You wouldn't ingest enough to kill you unless you had a good sized dose of it but it could make you a bit ill or give you a rash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Ugh... I would really hate to think what sort of stuff I have swallowed starting the siphon I just see it as a way of building up a good resistance to bugs - no hand sanitisers or antibacterial soaps in our house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I think in the case of swallowing certain cyanobacteria, an immune resistance wouldn't really help They produce a potent neurotoxins and hepatotoxins! Ugh... I would really hate to think what sort of stuff I have swallowed starting the siphon I just see it as a way of building up a good resistance to bugs - no hand sanitisers or antibacterial soaps in our house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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