What is Cyanobacteria in Reef Aquariums?

Cyanobacteria is a phylum of prokaryotic bacteria (single-celled microorganisms whose structure lacks a nucleus) that can become a real plague in reef environments. Photosynthetic, cyanobacteria feed primarily on light and nitrogen, corresponding to dissolved organic matter. In the form of red algae patches, it has a strong proliferation capacity, making it very difficult to eliminate. Cyanobacteria can quickly prove dangerous for your tank and its inhabitants, smothering your corals and releasing toxins potentially lethal to your invertebrates and fish. Discover, through this article, the origins of cyanobacteria, the causes of its proliferation, and the different methods to eliminate it from your reef aquarium.

Where Does It Come From?

The causes of appearance, as well as proliferation, of cyanobacteria in a reef aquarium can be numerous. Here is a list of best practices to adopt to prevent the appearance and expansion of cyanobacteria in your tank.

• Make sure not to use overly enriched salt. Using enriched salt for your seawater changes is potentially a good idea to maintain biologically balanced levels of fundamental elements and trace element rates suitable for corals. However, overly enriched salt promotes the appearance and growth of cyanobacteria, which feeds on its nutrients.
• Provide sufficient flow in your aquarium. Flow in a reef aquarium is very important and should absolutely not be neglected to avoid promoting the appearance or expansion of cyanobacteria. It is recommended to circulate between 30 and 40 times your tank volume per hour. Be careful to distribute the flow evenly throughout all areas of your aquarium.
• Check the NO3/PO4 levels in your aquarium water. Maintaining a balanced level of nitrates and phosphates in a reef aquarium is essential to avoid being overrun by cyanobacteria. Excellent nutritional sources for cyanobacteria, NO3/PO4 must be regulated to stop its progression and expansion. Feel free to discover our blog article dedicated to regulating nitrates and phosphates, by clicking here.
• Use lighting appropriate for your tank. Lighting plays an important role in the appearance and proliferation of cyanobacteria in reef environments. As you read above, cyanobacteria correspond to a phylum of prokaryotic bacteria (photosynthetic single-celled microorganisms), which means they feed on light to develop. It is therefore important to use lighting appropriate for your tank and not to under- or over-light it.
• Monitor the quality of your RO water. It is important to verify that the RO water used for water changes and evaporation compensation contains no nitrates/phosphates and is also free of silicate. Feel free to test these levels directly on your RO water.
• Use food appropriate for your population. Using quality food and not overfeeding a reef aquarium is fundamental to avoid providing an additional nutritional source to cyanobacteria. Feed your fish and crustaceans in multiple portions and don’t forget, if you opt for frozen food, to rinse it thoroughly to limit phosphate input into your tank.
• Choose a skimmer appropriate for your aquarium. The skimmer is one of the most important factors to prevent the appearance or development of cyanobacteria. Sufficiently powerful skimming of your aquarium will allow you to eliminate organic matter before it transforms into nitrates and phosphates present in the water, thus depriving cyanobacteria of this nutritional source.

Too Much Cyanobacteria in Your Tank? What Are the Risks?

Sometimes called “red plague,” cyanobacteria represents significant visual pollution and can have serious consequences for your reef aquarium and its inhabitants. Here are the four main problems encountered with cyanobacteria in reef environments:

1. Significant visual pollution. The presence of cyanobacteria in a reef aquarium represents a major source of visual pollution. Giving, incorrectly, a dirty and poorly maintained appearance to your tank, cyanobacteria appears in the unappealing form of slimy red algae patches. As a passionate aquarist, it will become increasingly difficult to admire your reef aquarium without focusing on the cyanobacteria present in it.
2. Sustained and exponential growth. Cyanobacteria is a bacterium that has, in reef environments, the capacity to be resistant and very invasive. Once present in your tank, it will develop rapidly and cover sand, live rock, and corals in a short time.
3. Coral suffocation and RTN. Cyanobacteria is a bacterium that has the characteristic of possessing a large number of filaments, which trap particles and organic matter from your water. Once present on corals, cyanobacteria will release locally a very high dose of phosphates, lethal to corals. Under stress, corals will then develop rapid tissue necrosis, also called RTN (a highly contagious disease in which coral tissue detaches from the coral skeleton).
4. Release of potentially lethal toxins. As seen previously, cyanobacteria filaments capture organic matter and other pollutants from your aquarium that transform into phosphates, which are gradually released into the tank. At the same time, cyanobacteria develop their own toxin composed of synthesized metabolites, called cyanotoxin. Slowing coral growth, cyanotoxin also represents a significant physiological risk, particularly regarding osmoregulation (the ability of marine organisms to regulate internal fluids), for your fish and crustaceans.

How to Eliminate Cyanobacteria from Your Reef Aquarium?

Anti-Cyano Symbio® is a product composed of a unique formula of 7 marine bacterial strains, combined with a set of bio-enzymes and living microorganisms, specially selected for their ability to trigger the biological elimination process of cyanobacteria present in your reef aquarium. An effective, natural, and safe solution for your tank and its inhabitants, Anti-Cyano Symbio® directly attacks the base of cyanobacteria, the prokaryotes, and not its surface, thus guaranteeing comprehensive and lasting action.

To view the product sheet for the Anti-Cyano Symbio® Kit, please click here.