Cyanobacteria (Blue-green Algae) - About and How to Get Rid of It!

Cyanobacteria is a type of bacteria that inhabits most waterways and certainly likes to live in an aquarium given half a chance. It can grow incredibly quickly under ideal circumstances and can be a bit of a nuisance to get rid of.
Its also known as bluegreen algae - but its not actually an algae as it has no true nucleus.

[@callenclarke371]

Wonderful content! Why isn't this channel more popular? Some of the best aquarist content on KZbin. Keep going! You're raising the bar!

[@ezez7034]

I don’t often comment but this is genuinely a really good video. You brought sound biological logic before each of your points. I’ve been keeping fish for a while, which means I’ve been watching videos for a while, and this is one of the best.

[@tinymenagerie]

Thank you, that's really kind of you to say :)

[@bettaworld5427]

It's like playing chess with algae, we need to keep them in check. Balance balance balance, thats what were trying to achieve. You should try microorganisms too, build a complete system

[@ashenwalls3558]

I really appreciate the way you approach this subject! I have a corner of my tank being overgrown with cyano and now I have a better understanding of how to counteract it!

[@chrispeters2645]

Often people get into fishkeeping as a novelty pursuit "Ooh, look at the pretty fish" but when something goes wrong and tanks start to lose their looks and appeal, many of us initially look for quick fixes using chemicals and/or clean up crew. I like the way you explain the causes and science of the issue and your approach to dealing with it. I've come across the saying "we don't keep fish, we keep water" a number of times and it's true. We call ourselves aquarists, after all. Like you mention at the end of the video, these glass boxes with a bit of nature in them can often provide welcome relief from other aspects of life and (sometimes) there's as much enjoyment to be had from figuring things out as from when they're running smoothly. Edit: hmm, a bit philosophical today apparently.

[@francischeefilms]

It's a big problem for sure. We use phosphate sucking exchangers on marine tanks and have found this helps a lot but your tank/s you show here are really thriving with cyanobacteria and maybe diatoms too. Good solid information.

[@FishPieTV]

Great tip on the turkey baster! I’ve got a tank I’m currently struggling with cyno, just gave it a pre baste before water change. Saved me damaging the plant leaves sucking them up the siphon ! Thanks v much

[@nospoon4799]

I had a lot of success removing this with blackout boards for a few days. I remove as much as possible manually first then blackout the tank. Plants cope just fine with this.

[@enkiimuto1041]

I am having them on an aquarium with a pleco and shrimp lol, unfortunately algae won't win there t-t

[@ladysingstheblues2285]

Appreciate your attention to detail and your informative videos. Keep up the great work!

[@gardian1701]

Listening to your videos is not only educational but also therapeutic! 👌 I get a lot of Cyano covering my sand substrate in 24 hours. I think it thrives in silicate.

[@joshuanovakowski8293]

God i wish this video came out sooner. I had this kill off my 75 gallon tank and was absolutely heart breaking. None of the fish stores had any idea what to do. Thank you for putting this out there

[@forwaitfor]

I am currently struggling with cyanobacteria. Like the explanation in the video, I have also planted fast-growing plants without using medication, and I am waiting for these plants to quickly grow and hopefully win the battle. Currently, it seems like the cyanobacteria is winning. The leaves and stems of the plants are completely covered by cyanobacteria, and even the roots of the floating plants are covered by cyanobacteria. Some of the floating plants are even extending their stems above the water surface, trying to find a way to survive. I considered using a siphon to manually remove the cyanobacteria, but I was worried that the small baby shrimp would be sucked out along with it, so I couldn't use that method. However, I got a hint from this video. I have decided to use a strong water flow with a pipette, to forcefully blow away. I hope the situation in my aquarium improves. Thank you for the informative video.

[@tinymenagerie]

Hello sorry for the late reply. Hopefully you are winning the battle with cyano, though i know its a loooooong battle, that stuff is persistent. To avoid accidentally capturing baby shrimp you could try giving the cyano a good blast with a turkey baster to dislodge it from the surfaces its on, get a bit of flow in the tank so that its suspended in the water then scoop it out with a small net. it was one of the many things i resorted to in order to remove it.

[@PaekSukis]

By far the best advice on how to deal with cyno. Subbed!

[@druvak]

I love how you say "fissshhhh" and "sssoup". Also very informative video. Thank you

[@tinymenagerie]

.... I do!? Funny how you never notice these things in yourself :D

[@TheRugghead]

Should I stop fertilizing the water column?

[@toesone]

Ye

[@Raizk_]

I stopped fertzing the water with liquid fertilizers and my MASSIVE algae bloom stoppwd

[@VoidToForm]

gosh this stuff is a pain in the butt, I am fighting a real nasty infestation that I have ignored for about a month too long, thanks for the information. on another note, do you do the podcast "The Allusionist"

[@mclayne444]

I just removed that same fast growing plant from my tank as well as an over-abundance of floating plants and then boom! Cyanobacteria is now taking over. What a mistake! Going to be adding more plants back in now. This video is very helpful because I was two steps away from buying antibiotics not really thinking about how that is a very drastic solution...

[@jamessmith84240]

Ultra Life Blue Green Slime Remover - Works like a dream

[@frankpalacios6021]

Where did you purchase and how much to use...of all my tanks my 10 gal is a challenge?

[@tracys.6033]

I found on Amazon. Directions on bottle.

[@robodad_]

Could any of these methods be used to treat blue aelge blooms in the uk?

[@plantlover69]

Great approach to BGA! I'll add some fast growing stem plants, thanks for the tips

[@423HC]

I had an outbreak, and the medicine I ordered came in today. I was about to dose the tank, but after watching your video, I’m elbow deep in the water picking the evil stuff out with a syringe. Good content!

[@St0rmy_Seas]

Thank you for this video! I'm. A beginner and you've explained the nature of this bacteria more efficiently and in more detail than most articles about it. I have fluval stratum substrate as well and I'm almost 100% sure that's what's causing my outbreak. Unfortunately, I acted upon one of the misconceptions of removing it and got a new filter with a stronger flow to reduce how much was "latching on" to surfaces in my aquarium. I am now seeing it in new places in the fish tank. Safe to say, when you explained this, I deflated 😭 I'm going to get more plants to try and outcompete it, but are there any phosphate removing treatments or products you could recommend?

[@SandroWtz]

Interesting video! Thanks for that. If I may make one remark: antibiotics should not be used, not only for environmental/ecological reasons, they kill also the beneficial bacteria in your filter and aquarium. As a result,. the entire nitrogen cycle in your tank will be interrupted, with all consequences.

[@theunbrokenaquarist]

Thanks for this, off to buy some fast growing plants :)

[@kevinpowell7948]

Great information and video. Algae is a super organism, nature always finds a balance. 🍀

[@starboyar]

Awesome video I am currently battling some.

[@acquiredtastefrankiestyne996]

Excellent video thank you

[@thegamechanger2058]

Floating plants are the key to beat all algae forms

[@Lynnekotr]

Thank you so much! I’m going to try your suggestions.

[@hinuhinan2434]

This is so well done. You just got yourself a subscriber.

[@coachfrankie1112]

Great video. Definitely going to try.

[@JoshPhoenix11]

Does this mean its actually Cyanide Bacteria? A Cyanide molecule attached to a bacteria?

[@deathproofduck6897]

Cyan is a colour, basically it means blue-green. Cyanide is so called because it contains a mineral which is blue-green under certain conditions. Cyanobacteria is blue-green.

[@JoshPhoenix11]

@@deathproofduck6897 I hadn't thought of that. I was thinking that seeing as though the cheapest and most common form of vitamin b12 supplement is called Cyanocobalamin (CyanoB12), because it has a cyanide molecule attached to the b12 molecule (cobalamin), that it might have been a similar thing.

[@richardboyton2620]

Hi, Can cyan appear black?

[@chia_pet7121]

You lost the cyanobacteria, AND lost six pounds? That's win/win. : )

[@no-knickers-emma1112]

This is why I like your channel Lauren. You show the bad side of Aquarium keeping. Your aquarium is in a temporarily ugly state and you are treating it through various methods instead of shutting it down. Other channels just show pristine tanks with easy to remove algae like dust or hair. Limnophia is the ultimate easy fast growing plant. I have it but prefer Hygrophila Polysperma because it doesn't send out runners like Limnophia. You simply trim and replant. You can then keep your aquarium tidy. I also plant my Crypts in pots which are buried. This way the runners are contained and you can form a lovely bush. Whether its true or not but Hillstream loaches are suppose to eat cyanobacteria.

[@tinymenagerie]

Thanks Emma! To be honest, and I know it's a bit sad, but I love watching 'fish room tour' vids, just because you can normally spot the ugly tanks in the background as the presenters skim past them. Keeps me sane knowing they are human too :D I really like the look of hygrophilla polysperma with it's chunkier leaves, and I did buy some a while back, couldn't keep it alive though, maybe I will give it another shot in my new tank.

[@drScorp1on]

Surprisingly good information taking into account that in the world of freshwater aquaria there is so much disinformation.

[@finnwiggles28]

Was hoping for another 'TM' video! How do you think floating plants would do against CB? They grow fast and block some light.

[@bettaworld5427]

Duckweed will outcompete cyano

[@DeborahStephenson]

Why would you headline Cyanobacteria and then in parenthetical call it blue-green algae? Since you obviously know they are not the same thing, why confuse the issue further by using this erroneous title? Not all cyanobacteria are harmful either. The common Nostoc Commune is not toxic to anything--plant or animal--and is even eaten by humans in some Asian countries. Let's be accurate please!

[@deathproofduck6897]

Cyanobacteria is also called blue-green algae. It is a misnomer but in common use.

[@selfactualizer2099]

UK/ˈæl.giː/ US/ˈæl.dʒiː/ Its pronounced al*GEE