Ok well here is the story… I have been having a slight cyano (greenish variety) outbreak for the past week and a half or so. I killed the lights for 2 days a couple days ago and it kicked the algae’s butt, but it seems to be coming right back. So to those of you that have dealt with it before, how do you manage it? My nitrates are around 20, which I’m working on getting down, but they have always been around there and I havent had this problem before. Any suggestions?
Cyano is a bacteria so the lights trick doesn’t usually work too well. Chemi-Clean is an antibacterial which is why it is so effective.
Generally added flow keeps it from having anywhere to take root and grow, frequent water changes, less feeding etc. All the same things we do for normal algae blooms - that’s the standard advice anyway.
I’ve seen hermits and snails advertised to eat it - I think reeftopia sells some that way.
Honestly though - I’ve had it a few times and just used chemi-clean - as long as you follow the directions VERY carefully it does not harm anything else.
[quote=“Cdangel0, post:2, topic:766”]
Cyano is a bacteria so the lights trick doesn’t usually work too well. Chemi-Clean is an antibacterial which is why it is so effective.
Generally added flow keeps it from having anywhere to take root and grow, frequent water changes, less feeding etc. All the same things we do for normal algae blooms - that’s the standard advice anyway.
I’ve seen hermits and snails advertised to eat it - I think reeftopia sells some that way.
Honestly though - I’ve had it a few times and just used chemi-clean - as long as you follow the directions VERY carefully it does not harm anything else.[/quote]
Ok, good to hear from someone that it actually doesnt kill all the other stuff… that was what I was kind of worried about…
[quote=“Cdangel0, post:2, topic:766”]
Chemi-Clean is an antibacterial which is why it is so effective.
Honestly though - I’ve had it a few times and just used chemi-clean - as long as you follow the directions VERY carefully it does not harm anything else.[/quote]
I disagree with your first statement but agree with the second.
If it were antibacterial it would also kill all the good bacteria in the rock and sand and you would cycle again. This does not happen. One of the recommendations for chem clean is to add an additional source of O2 for your livestock. I was thinking it was some sort of peroxide (Hydrogen or other wise) but it does work.
I believe it is erythromycin based. It does work, but it is a temporary fix for an underlying problem. IE too much nitrate, not enough flow, overfeeding, inadequate clean up crew etc. Try cutting down on the feeding and phosban and charcoal has worked for me.
I have not changed my water in over a year. No Cyano.
RUSS
Agree with just about everything that has been said. The under lying problem will be there and if you pull out 99% of it by siphon or slow it’s growth by messing with the lights it will still be present somewhere and the nutrients will still be there and it will just grow back in time if you continue everything else as normal. Possible to add some different macros to the tank that will grow faster? More frequent water changes. Look at the type of foods and how often you feed. What is the TDS of you’re RO unit.
I would avoid using the any chemicals to take it out. Although I know many people who have used it with no problem at all, it doesn’t address the problem. Cyano is something that is present in tank water 99.9% of the time. Just takes the right conditions for it to grow more.
Jon
I had it once and used the chem clean and it was gone. No problems
[quote=“russellqueen, post:5, topic:766”]
I have not changed my water in over a year.[/quote]
WOWSA!
Im thinking that flow might be a large part of the problem. I ordered two Sure Flow maxi mods that should help to fix that problem. I’m also guessing that I overfeed. I feed every other day, but when we do feed its a good amount. I am thinking of setting up a 10g refugium… just looking for some parts that I have laying around. That will probably be set up by next week and im sure that would help. I basically know what the problems are, and what is probably causing it, I was just wondering how you all fix it. Basically I had seen the chemi-clean but wasnt sure about using it. Im thinking that when I get the maxi mods and refugium up and running, I may use the chemi clean and also kill the lights for a few days. That along with a large waterchange will probably make a HUGE differance.
I will check because I think I have half a bottle left
Tried to post all this on my handheld while watching the news tonight, but was unable to post.
"Carefull with those mod kits. Â I have always heard about them and how much flow they kick, but never saw it till Premium came around and it was easy for me to pick one up on my way home from work. Â
I have one in a 75 and the fish have trouble chasing food on the oppisit side of the tank. Â I have yet to plce in corals, but I would say 70% of the tank is in high flow. Â
Even with flow I would say change things slowly. Â Even change for the better should be done slowly. Â
Speaking of change… I’m sure no one will be online right now. Â You’ll all glued to your TVs. Â "
Would also like to say admitingly in that high flow 75g tank I have cyano. Flow may help slightly, but if the nutrients is their one thing or another will grow off of it and if it doesn’t Nitrites will continue to build until they reach toxic enough levels to kill SPS, LPS, inverts, fish, and softies.
What type of food are you feeding? DIYS mix? Dry? Frozens?
Jon
I am feeding a mix of frozen as well as some flake. We vary between rods food, frozen spirulina brine, frozen mysis, sometimes a little frozen baby brine or reef plankton, and a variety of flake foods. Usally they get frozen 2x a week and flake 1x a week or so.
You guys all make me think I feed way too much. I feed every night, sometimes I skip a night.
I would think if you had some macro algae in your sump or fuge that would grow off of whatever the cyano is growing off of and try to wack down the cyano as best you can so the macro algae has a chance to suck up the nutrients, I would figure a combo attack would work pretty well?
i would like to try some macro in my tank just to see if it changes anything. i really dont have any major algea problems> just slight discoloring of sand and crushed coral sand bed and sometimes a slight brown film on glass as if a cycle is starting agian> but to try to see if it helps with tank in any way verses what i am doing. i have been doing the same thing for 2 + yrs with good results. the only thing i seem to lack is a very fast growth rate. i do see a fair growth rate and want to see if using macro or any other algea in a hob fuge will help. this would be a new experience for me so i am doing alot of listening and reading. so if anyone has to trim thier macro i would like to purchase some to try.
IanH it’s good that you’re feeding that often and depending on you’re fish many people would tell you to feed more often. With overfeeding often it’s the amount of feed you feed each time that is the problem and not how often. Ideally you’d be putting in a tiny little bit every hour for each fish, but for most of us that just isn’t practical.
Martin if you’d like to try some macros you could attempt it in many different ways. You could make/buy a HOB fuge or do all the plumbing to connect another tank/tub or you could grow some right in your tank. I’d suggest some chaeto if you’re going to grow it in a separate area, but perhaps some money plant or red dragons breath if you’re going to grow something in the display.
I would highly warn against the use of caulerpa. Some species in the genus caulerpa are ok, but many are illegal in certain states and even worse these algaes can over grow and shade out you’re corals making you’re tank just solid green. They also have been shown to put out chemicals in the water that stunt the growth of both corals and fish.
Unfortunately I don’t have any macros I will be trimming any time soon, but I am sure there are several people that will post with some. Ken more then likely will have a little bit he can trim.
Sorry if we got side tracked on you’re thread Icy.