Re: Diatom Bloom

["David K. Bowers" <david@paltalk.com>]

I got quite a heavy cyanobacteria culture going on a 20 long when I
converted it to a planted tank and placed a 55 watt power compact over it.
My cabombas were covered in the slime as was the heater.  I removed the
slime by throwing away the plants and cleaning the heater, did a big water
change, added a whole lot more plants to take up the extra nutrients and
haven't had a problem since.

Regards,

Dave

> Cyanobacteria are not algae, but they look and act much like some types of
> true green algae. They are commonly referred to as blue-green algae and
> sometimes as "slime" algae. They form a very dark-green (sometimes almost
> black) film that can spread out and blanket anything that doesn't get out
of
> its way.
>
> Like true green algae, cyanobacteria also bloom in response to heavy
> nutrient loads, and in thriving tend to remove these excess nutrients from
> solution. The important difference is that blue-green algae produce
poisons
> (known as cyanotoxins) that can and will kill fish and other aquatic life.
> Not to cause a panic, as physical removal of the cyanobacteria mats and
> regular water changes will protect most fish even in the face of an
ongoing
> bloom ("infection"). However, left unchecked, the poisons will accumulate
> and the fish will eventually get sick and die.
>
> I'm not sure whether the fish die as a direct result of the toxins, or
> indirectly as a result of opportunistic infections attacking weakened
fish.
> Probably either, depending on the age, species, and overall health of the
> fish in question. I do know that fish, clearly heavily stressed and "sick"
> in the presence of a heavy blue-green algae bloom, can make quite quick
and
> dramatic recoveries when the bulk of the algae is removed and the water is
> 50-80% changed.
>
> One reason I felt I needed to speak up here was Bonny's statement that her
> tank is brightly lit. When I think of diatoms, I think of the brown film
> ("brown algae") that tends to grow in the back corners and other low light
> situations rather than under bright light. I may be wrong here. Others
with
> more knowledge feel free to correct me.
>
> I do know that cyanobacteria can grow under fairly modest light, but can
> also thrive in bright light, even full, direct sunlight.




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