Blackout, round 2?

[severum mama]

Well, it's been 5 and 1/2 days since I started the blackout in my 20 gallon, so a minute ago I took off the comforter and did about a 75% pwc. The blackout killed a lot of the cyanobacteria, but not all of it. There's still some growing on my lace rock that I can't scrape or suck off. Someone mentioned in my other blackout post that I may need to do this more than once to get rid of it, and I think that I do. My question is, should I start the next round tonight after my fish eat for the first time in 5 days, or should I wait a couple of days or something? TIA

 

[nitrous]

i did the same in my tank and it was 4 days and all gone that i could see but now it was somewhat back again but i removed the small spots

 

[shawmutt]

I've only been able to permanently get rid of cyano by using erythromycin, commercially available at a lfs as maracyn. It's gotten to the point where I pop the pills in at first sight of cyano, and it's gone until the next time I start up a tank.

 

[Devilishturtles]

You could also try adding in a powerhead and pointing towards your substrate. Cyano hates low flow areas.

 

[severum mama]

I've only been able to permanently get rid of cyano by using erythromycin, commercially available at a lfs as maracyn. It's gotten to the point where I pop the pills in at first sight of cyano, and it's gone until the next time I start up a tank.

I'd thought about that, but would rather use Maracyn as a last resort. I treated a different tank for cyano with Maracyn a while back, and went through a mini cycle as a result, and then the cyano came back anyway after a while. I've never heard the powerhead idea before, but unfortunately I am flat broke until payday next week. Could I just try another blackout? Would it be ok to start tonight before much more of it grows back?

 

[Devilishturtles]

Should be fine to start tonight. This fish will only hate you a little bit.

FWIW, I had a major cyano problem in my sw tank. I did a 50% water change and increased the flow with another powerhead, and I haven't seen it since. Cyano thrives in low flow areas, so you may consider that to prevent another comeback.

Antibiotics to treat cyano should be used as a last resort. From what I've read from others, its a temporary fix only. Unless you fix the conditions causing the cyano, it'll just come back.

Best of luck.

 

[severum mama]

Cool, thanks. I'll start again tonight.

 

[igongora]

looks interesting, but I what is a black out?

 

[Devilishturtles]

looks interesting, but I what is a black out?

A black out is simply blacking out a tank, usually with a dark material, and starving the algae of light. With no light to grow, algae, or in this case photosynthetic bacteria, will die off. It's an easy way to rid a tank of algae (most of the time) without adding chemicals or fish.

 

[igongora]

Black out would work if my water in turning green??

 

[igongora]

If I blackout a tank and with fish in it?

 

[Devilishturtles]

Yes, blacking out will work with green water. And yes, you can do it w/ fish in the tank. To do it properly, cover the tank w/ a thick blanket or similar. Leave it there for 4-5 days. Don't peek or feed the fish. Do a 50% water change before, and right after the blackout.

The fish will be fine.

 

[igongora]

Ok.. I will blackout my tank. thanks..