Spirulina what is it, and what does it look like

[twilliard]

Hi members and visitors of R2R!
I have a great question for all of you.
What is spirulina and what does it look like in your tank?

On top of that what does spirulina thrive on?

These answers might just surprise you

 

[cloak]

Isn't it just a blue green Cyanobacterium that sometimes shows up in our tanks?

 

[twilliard]

No its not a bacteria.

 

[scfurse77]

I'm guessing it's like red version of Diatoms?

 

[hybridazn]

Isn't it just a blue green Cyanobacterium that sometimes shows up in our tanks?

No its not a bacteria.

Spirulina is classified as a cyanobacteria. To grow it the water needs to be high in alk and ph should be a tad higher.

 

[GMay]

From Wikipeida
Spirulina is a cyanobacterium (blue-green algae) that can be consumed by humans and other animals. There are two species, Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima.

Arthrospira is cultivated worldwide; used as a dietary supplement as well as a whole food; and is also available in tablet, flake and powder form. It is also used as a feed supplement in the aquaculture, aquarium and poultryindustries.

 

[twilliard]

Now this is what I am after!
You are correct had to throw in a little twist in this.
Makes people think.
Now tell me what it looks like in a tank?

 

[twilliard]

I'm guessing it's like red version of Diatoms?

So close!
This stuff is amazing at fooling aquarist
Soon I will show you all what it looks like.
Still no answer on what they thrive on..

 

[hybridazn]

Chelated iron...


They look like tiny, tightly wound Springs under a scope. By eye it's green water lol

 

[twilliard]

I'm growing it right now and it's red
I will have information soon just wanted to know how much people knew about spirulina

 

[scfurse77]

So close!
This stuff is amazing at fooling aquarist
Soon I will show you all what it looks like.
Still no answer on what they thrive on..

Fish poop.

 

[twilliard]

Well not so much..
Spirulina is not well known by the common tank owner.
I am here to prove withought doubt that it looks just like cyanobacteria

 

[brandon429]

Spirulina is soylent green

 

[Naiad]

Stop toying with people twilliard lol. Cynobacteria have multiple chlorophyll types. Depending on the wavelength of light it is grow in it will take on different colors. Red blue or green are most common. Blue Green algea like spirulina are generally green under most conditions but can turn red. That's why sometimes members of our cuc will eat "cyno" and sometimes they wont. Different species of cynobacteria. Some are yummy and some are deadly. All look the same to my naked eyes.

 

[hejjo]

My emerald crab was eating cyano like it was cotton candy lol. No one else eats it so it must be the bad cyano [emoji17]

 

[Psiber_Syn]

This?

 

[Scottsquatch]

Come on Todd, give us the low down already!

 

[GMay]

Green like this. It is a blue green cyano that grows in a filamentous form.

 

[Scottsquatch]

Yeah, that's what it is all right, but Todd is sure to have some interesting twist or factoid. Otherwise he wouldn't be drawing us in. (Yells WILLIARD! Long and drawn out like as I shake fist at the sky)

 

[Psiber_Syn]

I use it to feed baby brine shrimp that I grow but I don't grow it just use the powder