Boyd Chemi-Clean Aquarium Treatment – Safe Cyanobacteria Remover

Chemiclean by Boyd Enterprises removes cyanobacteria stains — the dreaded red slime — from reef, marine and freshwater aquariums. The formula works within 48 hours by oxidizing trapped organic sludge, and it is safe for fish, corals, invertebrates and nitrifying bacteria when the directions are followed exactly.

Boyd's featured video walks through a complete Chemiclean treatment, from dosing to the final water change.

What Chemiclean treats — and what it does not

Boyd is specific: Chemiclean cleans stains from red, black, blue-green and methane (bubble) producing cyanobacteria. It will not treat hair algae, string algae or diatoms — those call for fixing the underlying cause instead.

Two sizes depending on your water volume

• 2 g — treats up to 300 gallons (1,135 L) — manufacturer code CC02
• 6 g — treats up to 900 gallons (3,407 L) — manufacturer code CC06

Each container includes the micro measuring spoon. Lost yours? Boyd states it measures 0.15 cc — about 1/32 teaspoon, or 100 milligrams.

Official directions

1. Increase oxygen levels with heavy aeration or a large air stone.
2. Turn off UV sterilizers and ozonizers, and remove Chemi-pure or carbon during treatment.
3. Keep the protein skimmer running — it may need adjusting, or the collection cup removed, to prevent overflow.
4. Maintain normal water flow with pumps and powerheads.
5. Dissolve 1 level scoop per 10 gallons (38 L) in a cup of aquarium water, then pour the solution back in, dispersing it evenly.
6. Allow up to 48 hours, then perform a 20% water change.
7. Turn UV and ozone back on, and replace the Chemi-pure or carbon with fresh media.

For heavy infestations, a second treatment is allowed: complete the 48-hour water change first, then repeat the full cycle as many times as needed. Chemiclean can also be used monthly as regular maintenance.

A skimmer foaming heavily during and after treatment is normal — it is pulling the Chemiclean residue out of the system. This settles down within a few hours to a few days.

Our advice

"It's always easy to reach for a treatment to fix algae like cyano. Before you go there, make sure you've made the corrections first: a treatment is a patch, it doesn't stop the problem at the source. If you treat without fixing the root cause, the cyano will come back. To learn more, read our blog article." — Stéphane, Aquarium ReefSolution

Cyanobacteria in reef aquariums: understanding the causes and preventing their return

Complementary products

Treatment requires heavy aeration — a Bubble Mist air stone does exactly that job. And since Boyd asks you to remove chemical filtration during treatment and replace it with fresh media afterwards, keep a Chemi-Pure on hand for the restart.

Frequently asked questions

Is Chemiclean reef safe?

Yes — Boyd has tested it with thousands of fish and invertebrates with no adverse effects, provided the directions are followed exactly: level scoop, never dump the powder directly onto corals, never turn off pumps, and keep heavy aeration running through the whole treatment.

What is the Chemiclean dosage?

For the powder: 1 level scoop per 10 gallons (38 L), dissolved in a cup of aquarium water and poured back evenly. Allow up to 48 hours, then do a 20% water change.

Does Chemiclean kill all types of algae?

No. It targets cyanobacteria stains specifically — red, black, blue-green and bubble-producing types. It will not treat hair algae or diatoms.