Identification of Cyanobacteria - ?Spirulina

[newtosps]

Hi All,
I have been battling a bit with what I thought was cyano to no real success. Phosphate and
nitrate now balanced, dosed additional bacteria etc. so I thought I'd take a sample and look at it under the microscope. Please see pictures below.

Pic 1: Is this Spirulina? Is it true the "only" way to beat this is with Chemiclean?
Pic 2: Are these just diatoms?
Pic 3: Had a lot of these in the sample - some form of scavaging nematode? If so, not bad to have in the tank?

Many thanks
John

Pic 1

Pic 2:

Pic 3:

 

[chema]

Congratulations, very good pictures. I would say yes to the three identifications

What is the magnification in each image?

 

[newtosps]

Thanks. First two are x400 and third x200. I’m luck to have access to a good quality microscope at work. What’s the best way to address Spirulina?

 

[chema]

Thanks. First two are x400 and third x200. I’m luck to have access to a good quality microscope at work. What’s the best way to address Spirulina?

In my experience you may perform light blackouts for 3-4 days and dose massive amounts f bacteria to outcompete the cyano. Afterwards cyano usually do not come back, but it might do. For perssistant or massive infestations you may use erythromycine treatments (Chemiclean).
Cyano is present in most tanks, if not all. Whether it subsists in latent form (even expanding a little in very restricted areas) or becomes a plague, it is a question of competition with other benthonic bacteria or microalga

 

[newtosps]

Thanks very much. I don’t really want to use antibiotics. I think I’ll carry on increasing the competition with additional bacteria. Also culturing phyto and pods to add. I’ve found no quick fixes in this hobby. Current mats aren’t bad and not on corals so can wait a bit for competition to hopefully outcompete it.