Best treatment for spirulina

[l8_apex_it]

Well, I thought I had cyanobacteria (red slime & bubbles) and had been battling it for a while using H2O2 and other means but to no avail. After sending a sample for evaluation, it was determined that I had an outbreak of spirulina and not cyanobacteria. Any suggestions for treatment?

I'm not opposed to use of chemicals whether it be Algaefix Marine or other options.

For background. I have a 65 gallon tank and clearly don't have enough livestock as I'm having to dose KNO3 in order to bump up my nitrates. Both nitrates and phosphates have been undetectable. Once I started dosing nitrates, I've been keeping them about 2ppm.

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[l8_apex_it]

Beuller... Beuller

I did a treatment of Chemiclean and it went away for a few months. But it is back yet again.

 

[cromag27]

Is it possible you had a mix of spirulina and cyano? did you do a peroxide test on this latest outbreak?

 

[l8_apex_it]

Is it possible you had a mix of spirulina and cyano? did you do a peroxide test on this latest outbreak?

Based on the results of the sample I sent, it was spirulina and not cyano. Since it looks similar to previous occurrences, I am assuming this round is spirulina as well. But I could be wrong. I have not tried H2O2 this time.

 

[cromag27]

I would try it.

 

[l8_apex_it]

No real luck with the H2O2. I was doing a morning and evening treatment with H2O2. I may have to try ChemiClean again. Chemiclean seems to knock it back / eliminate it for 3 months or so, and then it returns. This is getting frustrating.

 

[Pola0502ds]

How do you have your water tested?

 

[l8_apex_it]

Tested for the spirulina? Or for other parameters?

I sent a sample to Twillard.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Can you post pics of the Spirulina?

 

[ZIGGY63]

I feel your pain, I'm having the same issue. I have used chemi clean with the same results you have had and h202 doesn't do much. I have debated on breaking down and acid bath the rocks and redoing the sand bed. Tagging along on this thread

 

[twilliard]

Chemiclean HAS to be dosed more than the manufacturers instructions. Almost double.

 

[l8_apex_it]

I have doubled previous doses based on input from LFS w/o issues. It did seem to eradicate the spirulina each time so I didn't follow up with another treatment. In hindsight it usually returns in 3 months time.
So, this next time, I will do what I have done previously with one exception I will follow up the first treatment with one more, after a 20% water change. Maybe that will deliver the final blew to the spirulina .
I have also contemplated a UV sterilized - thoughts?
I will post the photos of the spirulina when I am able.

 

[twilliard]

I am unsure UV will have much impact at the typical wattage available to us hobbiests.

 

[l8_apex_it]

Can you post pics of the Spirulina?

I'm assuming you meant the photos of the sample I sent to Twilliard? Thanks again Twilliard!!

FWIW - in the tank it looks red like cyano

 

[Neil Fox]

I'm assuming you meant the photos of the sample I sent to Twilliard? Thanks again Twilliard!!

FWIW - in the tank it looks red like cyano

Awsome! You can see how it gets its name from the spiral shape!

 

[l8_apex_it]

I feel your pain, I'm having the same issue. I have used chemi clean with the same results you have had and h202 doesn't do much. I have debated on breaking down and acid bath the rocks and redoing the sand bed. Tagging along on this thread

Have you noticed that you struggle to get your corals to grow or they die easily? I used to be able to grow frogspawn really well. But now it hangs on for a bit and then goes away.

I'm struggling with this tank of mine which has coral and rock that I've had since '96. For the life of me I spend a lot of energy on the tank and my corals don't thrive, they either just exist and others die (both LPS and SPS). In hind-site, a month or so after my last treatment, SPS and other corals seemed to be fairing better. Then I noticed the red algae back again and then realized that pretty much all of my SPS bleached fairly quickly and died.

So I started a double dosage of chemiclean tonight. I will likely finish this treatment, perform a water change and then hit it again with another double treatment.

 

[twilliard]

Have you noticed that you struggle to get your corals to grow or they die easily? I used to be able to grow frogspawn really well. But now it hangs on for a bit and then goes away.

I'm struggling with this tank of mine which has coral and rock that I've had since '96. For the life of me I spend a lot of energy on the tank and my corals don't thrive, they either just exist and others die (both LPS and SPS). In hind-site, a month or so after my last treatment, SPS and other corals seemed to be fairing better. Then I noticed the red algae back again and then realized that pretty much all of my SPS bleached fairly quickly and died.

So I started a double dosage of chemiclean tonight. I will likely finish this treatment, perform a water change and then hit it again with another double treatment.

Watch your tank closely for O2 issues

 

[fernalfer]

I believe i have the same problem. Red slimy stuff that looks like cyano and get on my corals and makes them all angry. Never ending battle. only my Hammer does well. all zoas hate it

 

[l8_apex_it]

Round 1 seemed to take out 95% of it. I will remove the rock with zoas and remaing spirulina and blast it as well as possible outside of the tank and repeat a chemiclean treatment this week.

For what it's worth, when I have used chemiclean:

• (Disclaimer - this is what I have done so far with out loss of corals, fish, and invertebrates. I am not advocating you run out and do this)
• Based on hearing of others doing this, I double the dosage
• I have a Herbie overflow and slow down the main siphon so that water flows over the emergency overflow to the point it pulls air into the sump (extra oxygenation)
• I agitate the surface of the tank more so than normal with return water
• I suck water through the air intake of the skimmer and raise the level so that the skimmer overflows into the collection cup and then down the side of the skimmer through the clean out tube (again, extra oxygenation)

For others with this - what are your symptoms? I have noticed ACANs get taken out by this rather quickly if you don't jump on it as soon as you see it. I feel as though my SPS don't grow either.

But my SPS issue may be related to vermetid snails. That is one more thing to tackle after the spirulina.