Hi, I have a 8 month old 32 gal Biocube that had a significant 4 week Cyano outbreak. I was addressing the issue "naturally" until I noticed damage to my coral. Spoke to LFS and he recommended Chemiclean for now until the root is determined.
Well, I followed the instructions but forgot about the carbon filter thats been in there for a month as part of the kit floss/carbon filter you can buy for the tank.
Treated with Chemiclean with air-stone then 20% water change after 48 hours. That was yesterday. Today, after an hour of white light it appears to be growing back at the same speed it has before after regular water change and vacuuming sand bed.
Did I mess up?
Thanks reefers!!
While somewhat expired, will have some but not total effect. Remove and continue chemiClean which is at times not a solution. Cyano generally occurs when concentrations of phosphate, nitrate and other organic compounds are too high.
Some of the most common causes include:
- Protein skimmer which fills water with tiny air bubbles. As bubbles form from the reaction chamber, dissolved organic compound molecules stick to them. Foam forms at the surface of the water and is then transferred to a collection cup, where it rests as skimmate. When the protein skimmer does not output the best efficiency or you do not have the suitable protein skimmer to cover the tank, the air bubbles created by the skimmer might be insufficient. And this insufficiency of air bubbles can trigger the cyano to thrive.
- Overstocking / overfeeding, your aquarium with nutrients is often the culprit of a cyano bloom
- Adding live rock that isn’t completely cured which acts like a breeding ground for red slime algae
- If you don’t change your water with enough frequency, you’ll soon have a brightly colored red slime algae bloom. Regular water changes dilute nutrients that feed cyanobacteria and keeps your tank beautifully clear
- Using a water source with nitrates or phosphates is like rolling out the welcome mat for cyano. Tap water is an example
- Inadequate water flow, or movement, is a leading cause of cyano blooms. Slow moving water combined with excess dissolved nutrients is a recipe for pervasive red slime algae development
I recommend to reduce white light intensity or even turn them off for 5-7 days. Add liquid bacteria daily for a week during the day at 1.5ml per 10 gallons. Add Hydrogen peroxide at night at 1ml per 10 gallons. Add a pouch of chemipure Elite which will balance phos and nitrate and keep them in check.
After the week, add a few snails such as cerith, margarita, astrea and nassarius plus 6-8 blue leg hermits to take control.
