Cyanobacteria Errrr! someone please help!!!

[crickit785]

I'm having problems with cyanobacteria in my axolotls tank. Today I noticed a little black beard algea aswell. I have a few plants that the cyano keeps trying to smother out but I keep spot cleaning to keep alive. I keep my nitrates low with regular water changes. Would phosphates be my problem? I haven't checked them yet because none of my local fish stores have had a test kit. Any help would greatly be appreciated!

 

[LSuzuki]

Good luck. I have a beard algae breakout in one tank (with fish) and there doesn't seem to be any way to eliminate it. 20 years ago I successfully eliminated an outbreak by just starting over - throw away all plants, clean everything with bleach, and re-cycle. I am getting ready to do that now in the tank with a current outbreak (and also I'm never buying plants again from the store that was the source of the current outbreak.)

 

[JM29]

The ratio Phosphate/Nitrate is often the problem.
Cyanobacteria grow wel for high ratio P/N.
It generally happens :
- in a new aquarium with low P and very low N - not for a long time.
- in an "old" aquarium with sand full of organic matter - it may last very long.
Water changes are not an efficient way to lower Phosphate in an aquarium.
The best solution is to clean the substrate.