Cyanobacteria (Blue Green Algae): How I Removed It Naturally Without Using Erythomycin

In this one I will remove Cyanobacteria (Blue Green Algae) NATURALLY!!!! And by naturally I mean without the use of medication (Erythromycin ). I have used meds in the past to kill Cyanobacteria and it works and works in days but at what cost?? It will still kill good bacteria, so this time I will document my 5 week journey in removing it but to do that you must understand Cyanobacteria and what makes it tick and that’s the journey I will take you on.
If you haven’t subscribed to my channel please consider doing so and I’m also offering channel memberships, I would like to try to grow this part of my channel and offer members perks that include but are not limited to members only videos, shout outs and giveaways. So join me in thinking outside the box and stepping back into nature 🍃🍂🌻 #fish #fishroom #experiment #cyanobacteria

[@helenprocter6919]

I love how you explain simply yet thoroughly..

[@pattys_aquatics]

Thank you very much I appreciate that and thank you for watching 😁👍

[@jeffkane4391]

Great video! Thanks for sharing your experience, Patty 😊

[@pattys_aquatics]

Thanks Jeff, it definitely was a learning experience. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@janemarriott3389]

Good morning Patty! Thanks again for your sensible and valuable information.

[@pattys_aquatics]

Thank you very much and I appreciate your support! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@bigfishlad4847]

Great video Patty I learned a lot mate

[@pattys_aquatics]

Thanks Paul, it definitely was a learning experience for myself as well. Truly understanding what’s happening in your aquarium is a powerful weapon to have . Thanks for watching my friend 😁👍

[@douglasnoren3348]

Some thoughts…a blackout for 4-5 days can help with algae out break….when starting this type of aquarium increase the number of fast growing plants (stems and floating plants) to compete with the algae, from the beginning. That one fish( puffer) is the equivalent of 500 to 600 guppies or more., a solution for that is a bigger tank, to help dilute out the docs (dissolved organic carbons) or use filtration….anyway I enjoy your channel and keep up your search for the stable, low energy aquarium!

[@pattys_aquatics]

You know I have heard that blackouts can work and have no doubt they do they just make me leary that the plants would suffer as well. I kind of kicked myself in the butt with this tank when I first set it up, I didn’t add enough stem plants. I had plans to get a bunch which never came to reality till a couple months later and by that time the algae had set in. I then got a bunch and it was fine for a bit then boom algae again. The bottom line is my tank was extremely unbalanced but believe it’s getting to where it should be. I completely get what you’re saying with the size of the fish and other options as far as filtration or bigger tank. I don’t currently have room for a bigger one currently (maybe in the future) and when I did run filtration in this tank I did battle algae yet but the darn black beard variety.. I hate black beard 😂 Anyways enough of my rambling I think my tank has turned a corner and a few of my dirted tanks have given me some grief for a bit till they balanced out then it’s smooth sailing. I appreciate your insight and thank you for the support and watching 😁👍

[@Aquadiction]

Might have to refere back to this video, i THINK some might be forming but am not 100% sure! Thanks for the video bud, have you considered a silver flying fox Crossocheilus reticulatus for the algae on the plants? We swear by them, would clear that out in a week or two for sure! Always keep at least one in the fish room and move them around when the algae starts up, just an idea buddy!

[@pattys_aquatics]

Thank you and I s a risk to put any fish in there with the puffer. The smaller Endler guppies he doesn’t seem to care about but used to have Siamese Algae eaters in and he ate them. So as good as it sounds it’s pretty much an eventual death sentence for them😁 Thanks for watching I appreciate you😁👍

[@douglasnoren3348]

Oh, forgot to add, cleanup crew would be very helpful! Amano and neo shrimp, snails, algae eating fish….

[@pattys_aquatics]

I have the majority of those in my tanks except this one. It houses a Fahaka puffer and they all would be snacks 😁

[@UnkyjoesPlayhouse]

I have to say, I plant all of my tanks using safe-t-sorb with the FatherFish magic mix and some laterite, cap it with sand, and plant the heck out of it, I prefer HOB or in tank filters that move the water, I use 2 10watt led floods to light my tanks, I stock them with fish immediately and wait for the tank to balance it's self, I don't do any water changes unless the ammonia spikes really high "never happens unless there are dead fish", I simply top the tanks, algae comes within the first month, then the plants take over and choke out the algae, I don't test or overthink the tanks, I did that for years and had nothing but problems. My best advice is leave the tank alone and keep an eye out for excess ammonia and let it balance itself.

[@UnkyjoesPlayhouse]

P.S. I have lots of snails and shrimp to help the cleanup and some pleccos to handle the excess algae.

[@pattys_aquatics]

Absolutely nothing wrong with the way you do it. I have battled Cyanobacteria for a couple months in this tank and have used Erythomycin before with it coming back. I believe in leaving a tank alone as well but in this case I wanted to do something about it my plants may not have lasted much longer. It was completely unbalanced and can’t keep other clean up crew in there with my puffer. I also never really test water except in this case if I’m looking for answers and I honestly learned a lot about how Cyanobacteria actually works and that was extremely valuable information for myself. While I completely agree and believe in the leave it alone stance sometimes in my opinion it’s warranted to give a helping hand and in turn I learned some insight on this with it. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@UnkyjoesPlayhouse]

@@pattys_aquatics No worries, appreciate your videos and enjoy watching them, just wanted to share my method :)

[@pattys_aquatics]

@@UnkyjoesPlayhouse and thank you for sharing I think what you do is what we all should be doing , sitting back and letting nature take control and I appreciate your support and advice because it is on point 😁👍

[@aquariumdelirium]

Great video Patty The pad I used was much bigger and in a canister filter but I still had to turkey baster the clumps out But you’ve nailed it 👍👍

[@pattys_aquatics]

Thanks Mal, I found truly understanding what’s going on in your tank and understanding how Cyanobacteria works is the best weapon against it. I believe this tank has turned a corner and plants are finally outcompeting the algae. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@davidadkins8805]

Hmmm Nitrate is good?!!!my nitrates are around 40 ppm. No worries. Maybe put a couple big leaf swords in there maybe they will help suck up the nutrients feeding the hair algae.

[@pattys_aquatics]

Yeah it’s normal for my tanks. The nitrates typically don’t go above 10ppm. I have a few small swords in there just waiting for them to take off. I believe the plants are starting to outcompete the algae and the hair algae is almost all gone. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@Centraxal]

Put Hornwort in the tank. After I put Hornwort cyanobacteria disappeared

[@pattys_aquatics]

I have some in there. I have it under control now but I have little to no nitrates and my phosphates were high which was the perfect combo to create cyano. But I love hornwort and guppy grass, they are my go tos to suck nutrients out of the water. Thanks for the tip and thanks for watching 😁👍

[@Centraxal]

@@pattys_aquatics I follow you Uncle Fish regularly. I love your videos. Talk also about fishes and lighting in the tanks! ☺️

[@pattys_aquatics]

@@Centraxal uncle fish lol still like that 😂

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Hey Patty! Great vid

[@pattys_aquatics]

Thanks Eric, I definitely learned a few things with Cyanobacteria during this 5 week process. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@davidadkins8805]

Your light looks pretty intense. Enjoy your short videos . Even a months worth of recording it’s still under 30 minutes. 👍

[@pattys_aquatics]

Thank you I was a little worried being almost a half hour it would deter people from watching but I didn’t want to cut stuff out to make it shorter.😁👍

[@GCaquatics]

haha it sounds like no one really knows exactly why it comes up. oh ya it looks like its all the way through the substrate, but if its good then its good, Alex does know his stuff. Haha i was thinking use electrical tape so it still looks kinda cool. that string algae actually looks kinda cool. is there any fish that would eat it? After 5 weeks it looks like you may have fixed it, hope it keeps on the right track. video was a little long but perfect, i like the way you took us through each step. good video brother.

[@pattys_aquatics]

Thanks Gabriel, It definitely was a learning experience and something I wanted to share. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@stubbsaquatics6080]

I truly hate this stuff but hate using chemicals so this is great. I do like the natural way Good thinking on straining but it comes back quickly. I found that with a sand substrate I found that strange as that aquarium had a low fish load but had a bright light much as yours. Interesting on using the pad I have to admit I don't test Readings are excellent...stupid phosphates Funny you actually had to add nitrate... I have done a full blackout for a few days and it worked...not sure you can do that Interesting info Well laid out... Especially after shooting for 5 weeks Full view !!!

[@pattys_aquatics]

Yeah I really learned during this process the best way to get rid of it is to not only understand Cyanobacteria and understanding your tank and its chemistry. I believe it was the unbalance between the phosphates and nitrates. Not truly sure if those pads really helped or if it was the water changes and I haven’t used fertilizer again after this since my nitrates were not rising. But it’s gone and the hair algae is almost completely gone so in the end it worked.😁 Thanks for watching Chris😁👍

[@stubbsaquatics6080]

@@pattys_aquatics glad it worked out and my pleasure

[@TarasTankFriends]

Great job figuring it out and documenting it all. Glad the cyano is no more! 🙂👍

[@pattys_aquatics]

Thank you Tara! It definitely was an eye opening experience and learned a lot about how Cyanobacteria works and got a better understanding of it. Thank you for watching 😁👍

[@KentoLeoDragon]

Not sure if you mentioned it, but fallen leaves are a great source of nitrogen and phosphate, so those leaves you have in your tank as botanicals are a source of not-insignificant nutrients you might factor in.

[@pattys_aquatics]

Absolutely great point. I mentioned that they definitely could have been a factor in all of this. I believe I turned the corner and it’s balancing itself now so fingers crossed it stays that way. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@JamisRandomWorld2326]

Hello! Thanks so much for sharing

[@pattys_aquatics]

You’re very welcome, it definitely was a learning experience I wanted to share. Thank you for watching 😁👍

[@EvilxYardxGnome]

If you use an old toothbrush it'll help gather the hair algae and it's gentle on plants if you twirl it like spaghetti.

[@pattys_aquatics]

Hot dang that’s a great idea. Sounds a heck of a lot easier than grabbing it with my hands😁 Thanks for sharing and definitely will try this next time I’m in need. 😁👍

[@aquaticfanaticsuk]

It looked to me like the dirt was fueling the phosphates. I'm guessing that the soil isn't getting enough oxygen down there for the aerobic bacteria, so there's anaerobic processes going on, and they are producing gases that the cyano can utilise as soon it comes into contact with the light. It looks, and from the test kit, readings sounded like the tank was imbalanced, and the plants weren't outcompeting the algae for the nutrients in the water column. You've done a cracking job of getting the tank balanced there, mate!

[@pattys_aquatics]

Thanks Keith, I appreciate your scientific feedback and what you’re saying makes complete sense. I knew it was unbalanced and am happy it has turned a corner. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@aquaticfanaticsuk]

@pattys_aquatics it's definitely turned a corner! Those test results prove that. The water changes, fert dosing, and reduction in light were definitely the way to go! Keep up the great content, my mate!

[@pattys_aquatics]

@@aquaticfanaticsuk thanks Keith, it’s honestly nice watching this tank now without the loads of green algae 😂

[@aquaticfanaticsuk]

@pattys_aquatics Yeah, it can be stressful dealing with issues in a planted tank. I'm glad you got the numbers dialled in, and your plants will fly now! Keep the content coming, mate. I really enjoy it!

[@danishshaikh4979]

Oh man what a fight. Greatful to you, you put so much efforts and put it out there for the rest of us to see and learn. This video is gold

[@pattys_aquatics]

@@danishshaikh4979 thank you, I feel it’s easy to pour chemicals into an aquarium to fix things quick but trying to understand what causes the issue first is important in eliminating it for good.

[@danishshaikh4979]

@@pattys_aquatics True! Incredible efforts and this video is a gem

[@PhoenixRising2040]

Came for the intro music, stayed for the informative content 😊

[@pattys_aquatics]

Thank you, I appreciate that and thanks for watching 😁👍