Help Identifying this algae

So are we giving this a positive identification as cyano? Also the critters I have coming from reefcleaners state that they will eat cyano if that is what I have.

 

Its cyano, and all you need is some more movement in your water column. What size tank and whats the total GPH of all pumps?

 

I've never seen green cyano. Not saying it doesn't exist but it's always been redish purple in my tank.

 

The blue-green color of cells (cyan means blue-green) is due to the combination of green chlorophyll pigment and a unique blue pigment (phycocyanin). However, not all blue-greens are blue-green. Their pigmentation includes yellow-green, green, grey-green, grey-black, and even red specimens. The Red Sea derives its name from occasional blooms of a species of Oscillatoria that produces large quantities of a unique pigment called phycoerythrin. In the arid regions of Central and East Africa, flamingos consume vast quantities of Spirulina, and their feathers derive their pink color from carotene pigments in filaments of Spirulina.


The blue-greens are microscopic life forms that exhibit several different types of organization. Some grow as single cells enclosed in a sheath of slime-like material, or mucilage. The cells of others aggregate into colonies that are either flattened, cubed, rounded, or elongated into filaments. Actual identification of cyanobacteria (blue-greens) requires microscopic examination of cells, colonies, or filaments, although experienced aquatic biologists can usually recognize Microcystis (colonies look like tiny grey-green clumps) and Aphanizomenon (green, fingernail-like or grass-like clippings).



Chemicals are widely used to prevent the growth of nuisance algae, and the commonest one being copper sulphate. A number of other algicides are phenolic compounds, amide derivatives, quaternary ammonium compounds and quinone derivatives. Dichloron aphthoquinone is selectively toxic to blue-greens. The hazards of using toxic chemicals indiscriminately in the natural environment are well documented.
Biological control is in principle possible, though not always practical and as effective. Invertebrates like cladocerans, copepods, ostracods and snails are known to graze on green algae and diatoms. Daphnia pulex has been reported to feed on Aphanizomenon flos-aquae while present in the form of single filaments or small colonies but avoid large raft-like colonies. The copepod Diaptomus has been implicated in the grazing of Anabaena populations in Severson Lake, Minnesota.

Micro-organisms (fungi, bacteria and viruses) appear to play an important part in regulating growth of blue-greens in freshwaters. Certain chytrids (fungal pathogens) specifically infest akinetes, other heterocysts. Bacterial pathogens belonging to the group of Myxobacteriales can effect rapid lysis of a wide range of unicellular and filamentous blue-greens, though heterocysts and akinetes remain generally unaffected. Viral pathogens belonging to the group of cyanophages exhibit some degree of host specifity. Phage AR-1 attacks Anabaenopsis, phages SM-1 and AS-1 are effective against the unicellular forms, Synechococcus and Microcystis, Phage C-1 lyses Cylindropermum, and the LPP-1 virus is effective against strains of Lyngbya, Phormidium and Plectonema.

The long-term approach is no doubt the systematic removal of major nutrients.

and i did not write this