What is this stuff

[Calebb8133]

Just walked past my tank and saw this... I have no idea what it is. The fish seem fine.

Any ideas

 

[James M]

The left side is a black sponge. Invasive
Right side looks like a start of a bacteria bloom

 

[Calebb8133]

The left side is a black sponge. Invasive
Right side looks like a start of a bacteria bloom

Should I take the rock out and dry it out?
Is it dangerous

 

[Hemmdog]

I’d take that fake ship out first. Not surprising there’s tons of cyano algae around it, they leech phosphates, they are fine for freshwater.

 

[aquariumcarecenter]

Both spots look like cyanobacteria to me, which is almost always conditional and due to nitrates and/or phosphates. There are a few common medication based products that can be added to kill off the algae but certain steps need to be taken before and after dosing to ensure it is going to be used safely. These products typically just act as a bandaid and kill off the algae until it returns again.. I would recommend testing for nitrates and phosphates to get an idea of where they're at and working to lessen them both. You can manually remove the algae by siphoning it out during a water change, it will most likely continue to grow where ever it lands so I wouldn't just brush it off into the water. I would only use the products marketed towards cyano removal as a last stitch effort.

 

[Calebb8133]

I’d take that fake ship out first. Not surprising there’s tons of cyano algae around it, they leech phosphates, they are fine for freshwater.

Never heard that before.
It has been in the tank for ever!

 

[Calebb8133]

Both spots look like cyanobacteria to me, which is almost always conditional and due to nitrates and/or phosphates. There are a few common medication based products that can be added to kill off the algae but certain steps need to be taken before and after dosing to ensure it is going to be used safely. These products typically just act as a bandaid and kill off the algae until it returns again.. I would recommend testing for nitrates and phosphates to get an idea of where they're at and working to lessen them both. You can manually remove the algae by siphoning it out during a water change, it will most likely continue to grow where ever it lands so I wouldn't just brush it off into the water. I would only use the products marketed towards cyano removal as a last stitch effort.

Is the medications safe for inverts? I have an Anemone in there and it could be quite difficult to take him out

 

[DSC reef]

I do see cyano but the black is sponge. Medications like mentioned above should be a last option. Cyano is bacteria. Your nitrate/phosphates will have something to do with it or a bacterial imbalance. Medications are basically antibacterial.

 

[Calebb8133]

I do see cyano but the black is sponge. Medications like mentioned above should be a last option. Cyano is bacteria. Your nitrate/phosphates will have something to do with it or a bacterial imbalance. Medications are basically antibacterial.

So I am getting rid of all the algae in my tank?

Wouldn't that make the tank unbalanced because I thought algae eats nitrates and with no algae the nitrates would go super high right?

Also I am sick with a bad cold should I be reaching my hand in the tank at all?

 

[DSC reef]

Cyano is actually bacteria. Your nutrient export, like a skimmer, water changes should handle the nutrients.

 

[Calebb8133]

Cyano is actually bacteria. Your nutrient export, like a skimmer, water changes should handle the nutrients.

So I will have to do water changes like every week?

What medicine should I use? And it's the medicine invert safe?

 

[DSC reef]

I would not use medicine in the tank. Cyano can be controlled through proper maintenance, filtration, etc.

 

[kiMxD]

I'd use Chemiclean (medicine). Some people are against it because it's a medicine but I personally never had an issue with it.
My line of thought is always:
• Will chemiclean cause anything worse than what I am putting up with now? If yes, then don't use it. If no, then use it.

Matter of fact, I just used chemiclean about three/four weeks ago, got rid of an insane cyano bloom within a day. Did three 25% water changes every two days after that, no Cyano, everything is happy in my tank (SPS only and some nems) and no problems from the use of medicine.

 

[Calebb8133]

I'd use Chemiclean (medicine). Some people are against it because it's a medicine but I personally never had an issue with it.
My line of thought is always:
• Will chemiclean cause anything worse than what I am putting up with now? If yes, then don't use it. If no, then use it.

Matter of fact, I just used chemiclean about three/four weeks ago, got rid of an insane cyano bloom within a day. Did three 25% water changes every two days after that, no Cyano, everything is happy in my tank (SPS only and some nems) and no problems from the use of medicine.

Are all of these things invert safe?

 

[Calebb8133]

I would not use medicine in the tank. Cyano can be controlled through proper maintenance, filtration, etc.

So the tank will take care of it? I should just do water changes?

 

[DSC reef]

No, the tank will not take care of it. I'm saying cyano can be fought many ways and I prefer to not use antibiotics. Many ways to run a reef. We fought off cyano by routine water changes and using additional bacteria like Dr. Tim's waste away. Balanced nutrients, siphoning out cyano during water changes, good nutrient export through skimming, filtration. Many people have good success using red slime removers.

 

[Calebb8133]

No, the tank will not take care of it. I'm saying cyano can be fought many ways and I prefer to not use antibiotics. Many ways to run a reef. We fought off cyano by routine water changes and using additional bacteria like Dr. Tim's waste away. Balanced nutrients, siphoning out cyano during water changes, good nutrient export through skimming, filtration. Many people have good success using red slime removers.

I do water changes every 2 weeks and am going to do one next week. Should I be doing the every week for a shot time?

 

[James M]

Just siphon out the cyano everytime you do a water change.

 

[Calebb8133]

Just siphon out the cyano everytime you do a water change.

The thing I do water changes with has a hose and pump. Thould I put the hose near the rock and scrape the stuff up?

 

[James M]

With the siphon of the hose you really don’t need to scape it, it should just come off.