cyano in the wild?

[spamreefnew]

where does it live? what does it look like in the ocean? does it have any natural predators? does it smother reefs and or corals in nature? is it found covering sandy bottoms in nature? pics? just trying to fully understand this pest we all face from time to time.

 

[disc1]

I don't think the kind we have problems with ever goes to the level that it does in our tanks in the ocean mainly because the natural phosphates are so low. So I don't think it would smother a natural reef. Cyanobacteria covers a VERY large and diverse group of organisms that live everywhere from icebergs to hot sulfur springs.

 

[greenbean36191]

Cyano is ubiquitous in marine environments. It's found in the water column, on the sand, in the sand, on rocks, and even in the skeletons of live corals. It can be found in conspicuous patches or tufts on some reefs- especially polluted ones. Lyngbya is one genus that's seen particularly often on polluted reefs and can smother corals. The mats we tend to see in the hobby are usually restricted to lagoons, marshes, and mangrove forests where there is low flow, higher nutrients, and fewer sand sifters.

 

[Dave@ARA]

Cyano is all over the place in the natural environment, (at least here in the Keys),..and it is found EVERYWHERE!,..even out at the reef line, (on the reef),..it comes and goes, in cycles,..aggressive water movement, and/or storms seems to be the big disrupter,... cleaning/clearing areas physically as well as introducing different, (I am not going to say better or worse) water conditions to the "affected" area.
I'm not smart,... and I don't know allot
This is just my opinion created from my personal dive/tank keeping experience.
Have a nice day-Dave Lackland