Calothrix

Details

Scientific Name: Calothrix spp. (cyanobacteria)
Identification: Dark filamentous cyanobacterial tufts or mats in lower-flow zones or nutrient-imbalanced areas.

Pest Management

Treatment: Manual siphon removal, flow correction, nutrient control, and correction of underlying husbandry issues.
Prevention: Maintain stable nutrient ratios, avoid detritus accumulation, and quarantine new hardscape when practical.

Description

Calothrix is a reef aquarium nuisance that can spread if early signs are ignored.

Identification: Dark filamentous cyanobacterial tufts or mats in lower-flow zones or nutrient-imbalanced areas.

Treatment / Management: Manual siphon removal, flow correction, nutrient control, and correction of underlying husbandry issues.

Prevention: Maintain stable nutrient ratios, avoid detritus accumulation, and quarantine new hardscape when practical.

Reference Photos

File:FMIB 53553 Calothrix.jpeg reference image
Calothrix microscopy plate from curated reference material. Photo credit: Emile Wuitner. Source: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).

File:Cyanobacteria in symbiosis with a diatom.png reference image
Cyanobacterial filament image representative of Calothrix-like morphology. Photo credit: Jason A. Hilton, Rachel A. Foster, H. James Tripp, Brandon J. Carter, Jonathan P. Zehr & Tracy A. Villareal. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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