Cyano Bacteria, sponge ID?   9/29/08 Hello, <Hello> I have done a lot of reading of past questions asked of you guys. My initial questions was, What is growing on my live rock! I initially thought it was algae. <You were right>  From the reading, I now think it might be a sponge. <Understandable, but it is algae>  I have attached a picture to help me identify this growth, it is the maroon area. <From the picture it looks like Cyano bacteria.>  It is only on live rock and it is in four scattered spots in my 72 gallon reef tank. It appears to grow where old corals or zoo's have died off. I try removing it and it is like a blanket with a gray color under it. < The gray under it is most likely die off due to no light and detritus build up under the slimy sheet.>  After I peel it off it grows back in a few days. The tank has been established for 3 years, water tests are fine, only R/O water is used, bulbs are a bit old and could use replacing but I also have metal halides which are still in good life span, I have reduced feeding to reduce nutrient level, I do frequent water changes, I have a protein skimmer running, and I added more water flow by having a pump blow directly at a clump of it with no luck. Any help would be greatly appreciated as it is starting to grow over some corals. Thanks! <Read up on it here http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm? And here http://www.wetwebmedia.com/cyanocontrolfaqs.htm You could also try Red Slime remover by Chemi Clean. I've used it with success.> Melinda <Regards, Jessy>

Good eye Jes. RMF.

Possible Red Cyano, reading   9/21/08 Hi there, I have a 300 gal i have had up and running almost a year now. I have coralline algae growing all over the walls but have failed to get much on the rocks. A lot of red algae(or so i thought) has grown all over the rocks. <Mmm, red-colored... this is BGA> Which my Koran seems to nip some off, and he loves the dried packaged red algae. Upon looking at your web site i fear it may be red Cyano. Should i syphon this off, it seems to comes off easily with a swirl of water close by. <A good idea to remove as much as practical during routine water changes, but more important to set upon a plan to eliminate/deny here> My water parameters are usually great, the ph drops somewhat sometimes, but usually around 8 to 8.5. <... this is a logarithmic measure... this difference is HUGE> Nitrates are usually 0 or very low. <... all being absorbed by the Cyanobacteria...> I don't have the correct lighting right now just some fluorescents. <Part of the cause, yes> I only have two fish, a Koran and a maroon clown. Lots of hermits and snails. Will the coralline(pink purple white) take over the red slime? <Mmm, if conditions favour it> OR any other bad algaes?? Here is a photo of a piece of rock with the red Cyano. Also i have had a few black spots in the sand bed(about 4" DSB) is this from improper lighting?? Thanks for any help or suggestions, your website is great!! Thanks Dawn <Time for you to read: http://wetwebmedia.com/avoidingalgaeproblesm.htm and the linked files above re BGA. Bob Fenner>

Re: algae? Reading?   9/21/08 What should I remove to make the LPS and Montipora begin to grow?? <... Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/cnidcompppt.htm and the linked files above, and elsewhere on WWM re Acroporids, their systems, feeding...> What is the best feeding routine and food? <... see above> Also, you think raising the Salinity to .026 will eradicate the slime/algae? <... please, don't write... instead, read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/WWMAdminSubWebIndex/question_page.htm educate yourself. B>

Interesting fact/fiction about Cyanobacteria  9/13/08 Dear Crew, <Andy> I was perusing Reef Central and came across a thread on the use of red slime remover to eliminate Cyanobacteria. Whenever I see someone advocating for its use, I try to jump in and advocate AGAINST its use, explaining all the reasons for my opinion, directing them to WWM, etc. In any event, one response to this thread stated that when Cyanobacteria dies, it releases cyanide. <?> At first, I started laughing and thought "this is a ridiculous statement"--the guy is clearly confusing "Cyano" and cyanide. But, I did some research on the internet and found some sites that state studies have shown that all forms of Cyanobacteria release cyanotoxins and cyanide when they die rapidly, such as would happen when erythromycin is used. See here for example: http://www.alken-murray.com/Cyanobacteria.htm. <Mmmm> Before I searched the internet, I searched WWM for information. I found very little to confirm or debunk this statement. I did find one post by Bob addressing a poster's question about why his/her sea horses might appear to go limp after hanging onto and breaking up BGA in which Bob implied/stated that the sea horse is getting a dose of cyanide from the BGA. <Mmm, I hope not... Cyanobacteria are known to degrade cyanide/s...> However, I also found the following posted by Neale in the FW section: "BGA doesn't kill fish. The idea that it is poisonous comes from non-biologists confusing the name of the group of bacteria (Cyanobacteria) with the word "cyanide". In fact the "cyan-" part of the name refers merely to the colour. There are in fact some fish that eat the stuff, as well as snails and other invertebrates. Anyway, it is best dealt with by balancing the tank[.]" <Mmm, and I do disagree with this statement. A cursory look even on the Net will show that BGA decomposition does release deadly materials> If Cyano does in fact release cyanide into a system when it dies rapidly, this is just one more reason to never use this product. Can anyone at WWM confirm this or offer any further insight into this? <Mmm, cyanides are any triply bonded carbon/nitrogen... attached to other matter... There may be "some" cyanide in Cyanobacteria, but I warrant very little... the commonality with the names "Cyan", meaning blue is a bit confusing perhaps... but these bacteria (and indeed ourselves) have biochemical mechanisms for degrading cyanides within our tissues, not producing, or releasing such> If this is true, you might want to edit the article on BGA to make this clear to all potential users of red slime remover to drive home the point that this product is dangerous. <These products, use is indeed dangerous... for the general reasons stated... the release of toxic factors, and possible rapid reduction of dissolved oxygen. What's more, their use will not eliminate the root cause/s of BGA proliferation: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us%3AIE-Address&rlz=1I7PCTA&q=cyanobacteria+control+toxicity> Take care! Andy <Bob Fenner>

Re: Toxicity of Cyanobacteria 9/13/08 Hi Bob, <Msieu Neale> Read your FAQ answer on Cyanobacteria. I have to confess to talking from the freshwater perspective, and so far as I know there aren't any directly toxic forms that occur in aquaria. Multiple species of fish consume the stuff in the wild, e.g., Cyprinodon spp. killifish and Ameca splendens. I would certainly agree that a mass die-off of these algae -- or indeed any algae -- isn't a good thing, and quite likely oxygen consumption through mass decay is as much a threat to livestock as anything else. As for marine Cyanobacteria, quite a few are known to be very toxic indeed, apparently "hundreds of times" more toxic than potassium cyanide. http://www.interciencia.org/v21_06/art01/summary.html But I still haven't read anything that states Cyanobacteria actually contain/produce cyanide at or above the levels present in other photosynthetic organisms. <Mmm, yes... some are known to contain... "some". A bunch could be discussed re aminonitriles...> As you doubtless know, cyanide compounds are all around in the natural world, particularly plants, most famously  being quite concentrated in peach stones and almonds. Cheers, Neale <And you, BobF>