Erythromycin & anaerobic bacteria in sulfur reactor

[skr791346]

I'm dealing with persistent green cyanobacteria that's starting to spread from sand to all over the rocks and bothering corals now. Tried non-chemical methods to eliminate naturally but doesn't seem to be working but getting worse.

Parameters:
no3: 5 ~ 7, po4 0.02 ~ 0.06

I wanted to use chemi-clean to wipe it out. I'm running a sulfur denitrator. Will it hurt anaerobic bacteria population in the sulfur denitrator as well?

 

[ndrwater]

I don't think so, but I'm not Randy.
Chemiclean is indeed erythromycin. When used per the manufacturers instructions, it works well.
Not 100% sure how it might effect a denitrator, but.. the IS anaerobic activity within live rock and in areas of a deeper undisturbed sand bed.

 

[Kenneth Wingerter]

The bacteria you're likely trying to culture in the reactor (Thiomicrospira, Thiobacillus, etc.) are mainly gram-negative. Erythromycin is mainly active against gram-positive bacteria, so you're probably okay. Been a week since you last posted, so maybe you've already taken one measure or another.... But let us know (if you dose ChemiClean) if you detect any effect, or not.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Sorry, I do not know.