Cyanobacteria in aquarium

When it was discovered the dis!nc!on between prokaryo!c cell (cell without nucleus)
and eukaryo!c (cell with nucleus), it was found that the living organisms currently
called "cyanobacteria" were not true algae. Cyanobacteria are in fact, the only
prokaryoc organisms capable to do oxignic photosynthesis1.
Main features of cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria (badly named "green-blue algae") are unicellular organisms. They
are able to perform photosynthesis and there- fore synthesize their own food
(autotrophs). Like the true aalgae, cyanobacteria haavve chlorophyll and also a set
of secondaary pig- ments: phycocyanin, alophycocyanin (blue pigment) and phycoerythrin (red pigment). These laast pigments, have the func!on of capturing
energy from the light that is then absorbed by the chlorophyll-a. All of these
photosynthe!c compounds are not enclosed in membranes by waay of chloroplasts
(as in true algae), are sca##ered in the protoplaasm of the cell. Cyanobacteria have
cell wall surrounded by a mucilaaginous layer (viscose) composed of
mucopolysaccharides aand pec!nics acids. The protoplasm of cyanobacteria
presents among other organelles: ribosomes, vaa- cuoles, granules of poliglucanos
and ciaanocina.
Many species of cyanobacteria present a mixed metabolism. They, not only are able
to ge- nerate organic compounds through photosynthesis, also can x atmospheric
nitrogen (N2) dissolved in the water. This last process is performed by
cyanobacteria using an enzyme which breaks the molecule of the gas nitrogen and
forms ammonium (NH4+), which is al- ready directly metabolized as food. Both
processes are incompa!ble simultaneously (the enzyme used in nitrogen xa!on is
inhibited in the presence of oxygen), therefore cyano- bacteria carry out
photosynthesis during the day and xa!on of nitrogen by night.
Cyanobacteria have played a key role in how life evolved on Earth, given that they
belong to the original group of living organisms, responsible for the massive
presence of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere.
Cyanobacteria in the aquarium
An organism that is able to survive during the day with a little bit of light and that
s"ll feeding at night with nitrogen from the atmosphere (nitrogen dissolved in the
water), does not seem to
need much addi"onal help to se!le in an aqua"c environment as
it is a freshwater or marine aquarium. They are in fact almost
always present although not detect them at a glance. The problem
comes, when in the aquarium there is a signicant imbalance
by excess of energy: chemical (excess of organic carbon, nitrates,
phosphates, silicates) or light (excess of luminous radiation).

In marine aquariums for example, in a natural process of "maturing", we would

observe as some surfaces and especially the substrate is moderately colonized by a
so$ mono-laayyer of brownish algae, due to ini"al coloniza"on by diatoms2 (these
aall- gae does not present great requirements in terms of the level of luminous
radia"on and take advantage of the silicon availaable in the aquarriums water for
its incorpora""on into their cell walls). In a baallanced aqquaarium, the situa"on
would be stabilized in a few weeks. On the contrarry, if the energy sources
men"oned above abound, a second wavve of cyanobaacteria (and later or simultaneously another of laamentous green algae) will be developed.
Cyanobacteria arre able to rmly be aa!acched to virtually any surfa- ce inside the
aquarrium (including living "ssue). There they grow,

IIt is not alwaays easy to determine that groups or species cons"tute the "biological
pollu"on" of an aquarium. O$en bacteria, cyanobacteria and "true algae", share the
invasion and the complex tapestry that can cover the sand at the bo!om, the rocks
on the substrate, "ssue of corals and sponges and even colonize the body of shes
like seahorses (Hippocampus spp).

are reproduced aann

d produce extraacellular polymers from each

As a general rule, not rigorous, can be considered that the viscous layers of reddish,
brownish

single cell to the xing surfaace. Over "me, they will form a consis- tent layer like a
microbiological structure ("biolm"). This structu- re is the "greenish or brownish
lm" we are aaccustomed to seeing on the substrate, plaants or rocks in aquariums
with high levels of pollu"on annd unbaalanced in its energy balance.

or black shades correspond to cyanobacteria (though the same species may have
dierent
appearances under dierent ligh"ng spectra or nutrients), while arborescent
appearance in greenish layers typically correspond to invasions of lamentous

algae, where are frequent genus Debersia and Bryopsis, which in turn are not easy
to dieren#ate from cyanobacteria of the genus Lyngbya.

Also, in presence of silicon in excess, a tapestry of diatoms (true algae) may be

cons!tuted and replace and "bury" a rst coloniza!- on of cyanobacteria. Some!mes
the scenario is complicated furt- her, when together with cyanobacteria and
diatoms, is conrmed under the microscope the massive presence in the water of
the aquarium of pelagic algae (dinoagellates). The la er are more dicult to control
than the groups men!oned before, given that not required for survival or nitrogen or
phosphorus. They survive simply with the calcium carbonate from seawater.

How to control its massive expansion in the aquarium?

The rst ques!on would be: how to control the "what"?. As we saaw in the previous
sec!on is not always easy to know what we're deaa- ling and frequently the invasive
biolm not always corresponds to a single group of organisms. When set up plaans
to deal with a mass- sive colonizaa!on, we should know whether we face a "plant" a
"bacteria", a "dinoagellate" or several of them simultaneously. A good way to
staart the diagnosis is to inves!gate which is the source of uncontrolled energy. For
example, if we nd high levels of silica-

Let's see now, some ac!ons to control this type of "pests" in aquarium :
Eliminate zones prone to be colonized changing its condi!ons. It is generally
observed that the

tes (levels 0.2 mg / aare abb

le to trigger massive coloniza!on) we

areas of the aquarium with void or weak stream of water show accumula!on of
detritus and

may suspect that we are faaccing with a coloniza!on of diatoms. Al- though in this
case, it should be meaasured not only the level of silicates in the aquaariums water
but aalso measure the same para- meter in the freshwaatter used. This
recommenda!on is because the diatoms incorporate very quickly the silicon
available in the aqua- rium water and some!mes the level of silicattes in the
aquarium is not alarming but the fresh waater used to replenish the evaporated
water or the sea salts used to make marine water present meaning- ful levels of
silicates

are the anchor points of coloniza!on, especially if those areas are exposed to strong
light. Ge- nerate moderate water ows in every corner where usually accumulate
organic debris will hinder the establishment of the rst colonies in these vulnerable
areas.
If pests are developed usually in an aquarium that has an ecient ltra%on system,
we should
stake out a reduc!on in the number of specimens maintained (biomass) and / or in
the quan!!es of supplied food and see if the tank is stabilized at lower energe!c levels.

Few measures are more eec"ve in the control of "biological pollu"on" of the
aquarium, as a maintenance protocol that in- cludes frequent par"al renewals of
water. In marine aquariums is recommended renewals of wter between 15 and
20% weekly, which in the case of freshwater aquariums can be bet- ween 30 and
50%, depending on the level of biomass maintai- ned.
If you have no inten"on of cleaning mechanical lters two or three "mes a week, do
not put . The opposite is just accumulate organic detritus in an area of high ow of
well oxygenated wa- ter and thus enhance the nitrica"on aat maximum level. The
same basic argument, serves to recommend make the greatest possible eort in
acquiring the best "skimmer" and the best an"- phosphates resines.
Management of the pest through the ligh"ng, if it is of cyaano- bacteria, a useful
thought is remember that "invasive" species is not a plant and that it may even
prefer colonizaa"on zones that are not the most intensely lit. However, it is
demonstrated its anity for the oraange-red region of the spectrum, ie the longer
wavelengths of the visible spectrum. This should lead us to take two decisions: First,

we should use lamps which radiated energy is focused more towaards the "blue"
spectrum ( between 450 and 300 nm), which would match lamps charaacterised
by an co- lor temperatures of 8000 to 10000 K for marine aaquarriums. IInn
freshwater aquariums, not opt for laamps below 6000 K. Secon- dly, not delay in
excess the replacement of the lamps with new ones, given that in some
technologies (uorescent especially), the old lamps show its radiaated spectrum
shi*s towards the "red".

Inn all types of pests, a good op"on is always the physical elimina"on of the
colonies, whenever we keep in mind that "remove" isn't the same than " to move".
We must catch and remove qui- ckly outside the aquarium, great por"ons of
invasive tapestry. We must therefore, not simply shake it and transport it to the
circula"ng water column, because in this case we only make that empowerment the
capability of the pest for invading new areas of the aquarium
IIn the case of an invasion of pelagic algae (dinoagellates), where the dras"c
reduc"on of nitra- tes and phosphates, as already referred, does not resolve the
problem, the use of UV-C lamps and ozonators are preferable op"ons.
In the case of benthic algae, most algaecides are using as ac"ve principles, copper
or potassium permanganate.
The use of an"bio"cs in the case of cyanobacteria, is known that it can be eec"ve
(due to its condi"on of gram-nega"ve bacteria), but carries the danger that a dose
not enough high, could lead to develop an strain resistant to the an"bio"cs used. On
the other hand, have to take into account, that the recommendable an"bio"cs are
broad-spectrum and therefore also eliminated the nitrifying bacteria beds
(Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter) in our aquarium.

Erythromycin and Tetracycline are the most frequently used an!bio!cs in these
cases. It is obtained good results by provi- ding a single dose of 200mg /40l and
proceed two days post to change at least 50% of the aquarium water. Others
alterna!ve treatments described in the literature using hydrogen peroxide (3%) at a
dose of 40g / 50l.
In general its observed that cyanobacteria have a behavior in the aquarium, which
could be described as a "vital hysteresis"" in rela!on to the source of energy (food)
that made themm aapp-- pear, in the sense that a once well established, eveenn ii
tthhee "s!mulus" disappears (the food source is eliminated almost completely ),
they will remain alive and eevveenn tthheeiirr ccoolloonnyy mmaayy grow. Against
this background sommeewwhhaatt ddiissttuurrbbiinngg aa nnaall conclusion

seems we are ablee ttoo eexxttrraacctt:: iinn tteerrmmss oo ccyyaannoobbaacc-teria, "be$er safe than sorrrryy""..

Works cited
Welsh,DT (1994), Microbiall Mats: structure, development.., NATO Series G,E.
Sciences VOl 35
Nielsen LP et al (1994), Denitricaa#on, nitrica#on, and nitrogen assimila#on in
photosynthe#c micro- bial mats, LJP Caaume"e (eds)
Gamble S. (2002), Algae Curse: a new view, F.A.MM..A magazzine 2002-07

Notes:

Note1: Oxygenic photoosyntthesis is the most widespread type of photosynt- hesis

in nature. In this mooddaalliittyy wwaatteerr aaccttss aass tthhee pprriimmaarryy
eelleeccttrroon ddoonnoorr,, releasing oxygen (O2). There are other phottosyntthe!c
organisms among bacteria and archaebacteria bbuutt ddeevveelloopp ootthheerr
ttyyppeess oo pphhoottoossyynntthheesis, iinn which the electron donor
compound could be an sulde or hydrogen ins- tead of water.
Note2: Some authors (Stock & Ward, 1989) found that bacteria arre really the rst
se"lers of the substrate followed rapidly by the appearance of a mono-layer of
diatoms. Coloniza#on culminates witth the appeaarance of lamentous green algae
a"ached to the frammework of bacteria, cyanobac- teria and diatoms.