How to eliminate cyano

[timmyrules]

Hi guys, after watching some you tube videos, I am SUPER confused. Is cyano in my tanks because there is to little nutrients or to much? And, how do I get rid of it?

 

[Fenral]

The Short Answer is yes. But it's often part of the natural progression of things. The best way I have found to eliminate it is to counterbalance it with life that will eat it or out-compete it and thus progress the cycle. A cleaner crew + a hearty dose of copepods jump-started my newest tank past that mess. Also, you may find dosing things like live phytoplankton can also reduce the uglies, as they are really efficient at locking up the nutrients (while still making it Bio available for consumption by other things.)

 

[timmyrules]

I feel really dumb asking this…but is this live phytoplankton?

 

[Fenral]

Most likely not. The stuff does not tend to live very long in such a container. I grow my own. You can buy the stuff, though, alive from a few places, and it's generally shipped like live goods (i.e., heated/refrigerated). Edit: You also should not feel bad about asking anything; it's not like they are clear about the labeling on much of the stuff in this hobby.