cyanobacteria..

[caroldaisy3]

..not sure if this is what is in my tank or not. There are patches of light green, almost powdery looking patches on the top of the silica sand in my tank. Would this be cyanobacteria? if so how am i suddenly getting it and what can be done?

[DennisP]

That would be cyano.

You can try all sorts of stuff: black outs, something else, or antibiotics.

I am sick of my cyno, its now appeared in both my tanks so... also adding onto this thread - What antibiotics to use?

[phoenix44]

Furan is all good.

Erythromycin works too.

[DennisP]

Where do I get these?

[phoenix44]

-.-

Furan from is fish shop.

Any other broad spectrum antibiotic from your doctor as they are prescription only.

[caroldaisy3]

What causes this awful cyano problem? I have not even had it in my tank for ages and now all of a sudden there it is.

[Joshlikesfish]

What causes this awful cyano problem? I have not even had it in my tank for ages and now all of a sudden there it is.

An inbalance of nutrients. I had it when my tank was planted. Had to use furan to stop is. Brennos had luck stopping it using ferts though

[malevolentsparkle]

I had good luck with a small outbreak with less light, more WCs, and fertilizer. give it a try before anything as drastic as antibiotics

[caroldaisy3]

if it is caused by too many nutrients i would have thought fertiliser would increase it. how do you tell if there are too many nutrients...is there some sort of water kit?

[Jennifer]

It is more about nutrient imbalance. Even if you dose with antibiotics, it will not necessarily sort out the source of your problems so cyano can re apprea or you can get other types of algae. Click here to read a thread that tells more about that.