4 Months Up and Running

Empress · Aug 31, 2016

My tank is only 4 months old. I've been through the diatoms and the green hair algae stages. They are completely gone (thank you clean-up crew).

But now I have cyano on my sand bed. Is this a part of the cycling stage as well? Will this cyano go away on its own like others? I have done 3 water changes in the last 3 months thus far. But it keeps coming back.

midtnmike41 · Aug 31, 2016

I started my tank with dry rock and I did go through a cyano outbreak a few months in. It only lasted maybe two months. I would do more frequent smaller water changes. I used a rubber band to hold a toothbrush to my siphon tube and sucked out what i could during water changes. Worked well for me.

Empress · Aug 31, 2016

Anybody??? I'm pretty new at this and want to do this right the first time. Thanks for any and all advice.

Empress · Aug 31, 2016

midtnmike41 said:
I started my tank with dry rock and I did go through a cyano outbreak a few months in. It only lasted maybe two months. I would do more frequent smaller water changes. I used a rubber band to hold a toothbrush to my siphon tube and sucked out what i could during water changes. Worked well for me.

Wow! What an awesome with the toothbrush! So your cyano went away by just doing water changes? And siphoning?

midtnmike41 · Aug 31, 2016

I tried to change about 10% weekly. I'm not sure it went away becasue of the water changes but they sure didn't hurt. It's more than likely just a phase your new tank is going through. I wouldn't worry about it. Things happen slow in these tanks, don't try to fix it in a day. Just clean out what you can and give it time. Things will balance out.

Empress · Aug 31, 2016

Yeah I would rather do water changes because it's more natural than dosing a bunch of chemicals. I think that's why so many people have problems with algae. Dumping man-made chemicals in the water isn't the solution. My opinion for what it's worth. Thanks for making me see that. [emoji4]

saltyfilmfolks · Aug 31, 2016

midtnmike41 said:
I tried to change about 10% weekly. I'm not sure it went away becasue of the water changes but they sure didn't hurt. It's more than likely just a phase your new tank is going through. I wouldn't worry about it. Things happen slow in these tanks, don't try to fix it in a day. Just clean out what you can and give it time. Things will balance out.

+10
Double check your feeding schedule too. The ugly phase, is caused by the biofilter not being very strong. it takes time to come up to speed. Proper nutrition and slow addition to the bio load is recommended because of this. With a slow bio filter it leaves extra unprocessed nutrients floating or binding in the tank.
keep in mind even though the algae has been eaten its still in the tank. Imo its a good thing but something to keep in mind.
AS.......
Im not one to chase numbers but I am one to know what they are. with so few water changes its likely the No is a bit high. you can lower it with WC. Po wont change with a WC.
Have you considered a refugium yet? it removes or exports extra nutrients evenly and out competes most algae and cyano bacterias for the excess nutrients not being used by the corals.

midtnmike41 · Aug 31, 2016

Are you running GAC and GFO? If not I would, cant hurt. I had really high phosphates at first due to not curing my dry rock and over feeding. Water changes are great but only do so much for nutrient export. At this stage of a new tank I would watch nitrates and phosphates. Water changes can keep nitrate in check but the GFO will keep phosphate low. Check both often!

Empress · Aug 31, 2016

There's no fish in the tank yet, just corals, snails, an urchin and 3 cleaner shrimp. Got a fuge in a 55 gallon sump with chaeto and I just made a turf scrubber (maybe 2 weeks ago). It's growing brown stuff at the moment. So I'll be happy to take advice and do more water changes. I don't do drugs and don't want my livestock to either. Both my phos and nitrates are near zero per Hanna. That leaves me to believe that the tank is still cycling since I have cyano.

midtnmike41 · Aug 31, 2016

Empress said:
There's no fish in the tank yet, just corals, snails, an urchin and 3 cleaner shrimp. Got a fuge in a 55 gallon sump with chaeto and I just made a turf scrubber (maybe 2 weeks ago). It's growing brown stuff at the moment. So I'll be happy to take advice and do more water changes. I don't do drugs and don't want my livestock to either. Both my phos and nitrates are near zero per Hanna. That leaves me to believe that the tank is still cycling since I have cyano.

I wouldn't consider GAC and GFO "drugs", they are just filter media that remove things, not add things. If you are running a fuge and an ATS you can probably get by without. ATS is something I have always wanted to try just never have done it. Sounds like you are on the right track then. Just wait it out!

saltyfilmfolks · Aug 31, 2016

yup. I think youll have to keep ghost feeding so the good bacteria out does the bad. theres a lot to be said about the nutritional and bactrial process of fish poop and pee, without those the cycle can stall.

the Granular activated carbon I like its a fairly passive absorption media. I recommend GFO in LOW amounts IF needed. IF. because its an aggressive binder. But a fuge will work just as well or IMO better!.

midtnmike41 · Aug 31, 2016

Get some fish in that tank. It's time! At least one. Sounds like you have put a lot of work into it, enjoy it.

midtnmike41 · Aug 31, 2016

I tried a fuge and just couldn't export enough with the space I had. I am confined to the space under a 90 gallon (48x18) space. I am having better luck running GFO,vinegar dosing, and skimming. although i have recently cut back drastically on the carbon dosing, and plan on weening my tank off, down to less than 10ml a day. My nitrate issues seemed to have disappeared. I believe this is due to better feeding habits. If I had the space I would run a large fuge instead. Just not an option for me.

saltyfilmfolks · Aug 31, 2016

midtnmike41 said:
I tried a fuge and just couldn't export enough with the space I had. I am confined to the space under a 90 gallon (48x18) space. I am having better luck running GFO,vinegar dosing, and skimming. although i have recently cut back drastically on the carbon dosing, and plan on weening my tank off, down to less than 10ml a day. My nitrate issues seemed to have disappeared. I believe this is due to better feeding habits. If I had the space I would run a large fuge instead. Just not an option for me.

yea when done right it does work. they are each just a different technique.