Back at it! Peroxide vrs cyanobacteria

[DannyB]

I would like to mention so far all the samples sent to me from members are conclusive for cyanobacteria
This has opened my eyes seeing the large scale problem of cyanobacteria in our reef tanks.
Here is a question to following members..
How long have you been battling this problem?
All readers input helps me to put this together
A 2 week cure

Also can members tell me what methods you used to help combat the issue.

I have been losing the battle for about 18 months. There have been some times I was on the winning end but most of the time i have been on the losing end.

I did the normal, increase flow decrease nutrients. 55G tank, added 2 WP25s and got my nutrients to undetectable levels on Salifert tests.

Tried blackout for 3 days, covered the DT with a blanket and kept my fuge lights off.

Increased flow more, added XF130 Gyre.

Started using ZEO full line.

Used KZ Cyanoclean along with KZ Coral Snow and A Balance as suggested on KZ forum.

Mulitple times of manual removal with these other methods.

 

[reefwiser]

My cynao issue was due to dosing or should I say over dosing. Always fun finding the dosing limits of your aquarium.
So I used KZ Cynao Clean and KZ Coral Snow to clean all that up. Took a week to resolve the issue.

 

[cryotek74]

I would like to mention so far all the samples sent to me from members are conclusive for cyanobacteria
This has opened my eyes seeing the large scale problem of cyanobacteria in our reef tanks.
Here is a question to following members..
How long have you been battling this problem?
All readers input helps me to put this together
A 2 week cure

tank started up Nov 1 with virgin rock and sand(neither ever in tank or ocean). cycled for 2 months then added a couple chromis and demsel. My cyano started 2 months ago. i let it go since I thought it was coraline algae, i was wrong. I used Chemiclean 3 weeks ago which help but it came back. So watching this thread for info to decide what is best treatment going forward.

 

[twilliard]

Thank you guys for this information!
This is where I am headed with this study. People can battle this day and night for months on end.
The typical treatments just don't kill it on the micro level.
Cyanobacteria is SMART
It will adapt to its surroundings
Now it's time once and for all to stop this bacteria in the home aquaria and even further.
I believe with all the data gathered that this can be beat in 2 weeks or less.

 

[cowboy]

tank started up Nov 1 with virgin rock and sand(neither ever in tank or ocean). cycled for 2 months then added a couple chromis and demsel. My cyano started 2 months ago. i let it go since I thought it was coraline algae, i was wrong. I used Chemiclean 3 weeks ago which help but it came back. So watching this thread for info to decide what is best treatment going forward.

Yea I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised when the final wright up comes out. I know on my tank I have been more than happy with the results.

 

[Jwalker814]

Can definitely say dosing 1ml/10g once a day dosn't do much....

Also if u have cleaner shrimp, I would be careful how u dose. I had one swim right up to my return thinking I was feeding and got a full dose of H2O2.... swam away looking drunk, next morning he was dead...

Partially a mistake on my part but he swamp up almost simultaneously and there was nothing I could do.

 

[choff]

Have read about an oxydator and I tend to agree but finding one for sale that is not a mini for a small cube or a w for a pond has proven difficult so far. I will find one someday but decided to try over the counter H2O2 3% for the major problem I was having it worked great. Long term may be a different story but I'm very happy with the results so far.

I just received my W today and as long as you have room in your sump the instructions say for up to 250L tanks (~60g) you just run 1 catalyst with 6% H202. The unit scales up on size based on the number of catalysts and pct of H2O2 from 6% to 30%. I'm guessing you could go lower than 6% if you were still concerned it would be too much.

Amphibious, who has posted on this thread sells them and It's my understanding he might be the only active seller of the product in the US. Not sure what sizes he actually has besides the W. Great customer service, answered my many questions and shipped fast.

I'm undecided on what strength H2O2 and number of catalysts I'm going to run on my 290g (~1,100L) system, but initially I'm going to start out low. I do have an ORP probe to help keep an eye on things. I feel much better about using this than dosing directly to the tank.

I'm hoping to eliminate a small persistent cyano issue that I've been battling for quite some time. I'll post any results I get.

Best,
Mike

 

[Duke4Life]

I may switch my t5s and leds around 2 see if I get the same issue on my other half. Just wish there was something like a cyano scrubber for those of us that aren't dosing fans.

 

[twilliard]

I think a writeup on h2o2 in general may be required on my part.
So can fellow members tell me what h2o2 is and it's properties. How is it derived and what breaks the bond of hydrogen and oxygen? (Resulting in h2o)
I read of a shrimp loss.. the dilution ratio is too wide spread it was not the cause unless higher than 3% peroxide.
If h2o2 doesn't even kill pods then the poor shrimp had other issues. Sorry for the loss.

No catalyst is required when h2o2 is introduced into saltwater. The water is the catalyst.

 

[twilliard]

I may switch my t5s and leds around 2 see if I get the same issue on my other half. Just wish there was something like a cyano scrubber for those of us that aren't dosing fans.

It's a bacteria, an adaptable bacteria

Again members.. please read this basic understanding of cyanobacteria
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanobacteria

 

[Jwalker814]

I think a writeup on h2o2 in general may be required on my part.
So can fellow members tell me what h2o2 is and it's properties. How is it derived and what breaks the bond of hydrogen and oxygen? (Resulting in h2o)
I read of a shrimp loss.. the dilution ratio is too wide spread it was not the cause unless higher than 3% peroxide.
If h2o2 doesn't even kill pods then the poor shrimp had other issues. Sorry for the loss.

No catalyst is required when h2o2 is introduced into saltwater. The water is the catalyst.

99% sure it was the cause. He swam right into the stream of 2.4ml. Almost immediately I noticed a behavior change. He began looking as if he was drunk. Swaying. Having difficulty swimming. Just didn't look like he was in a good state of mind.

 

[twilliard]

99% sure it was the cause. He swam right into the stream of 2.4ml. Almost immediately I noticed a behavior change. He began looking as if he was drunk. Swaying. Having difficulty swimming. Just didn't look like he was in a good state of mind.

2.4ml?
Sorry.. not the cause of his death if 3% h2o2

 

[Duke4Life]

And here I thought aiptasia was my biggest pest, ahhh wrong answer lol

 

[cowboy]

99% sure it was the cause. He swam right into the stream of 2.4ml. Almost immediately I noticed a behavior change. He began looking as if he was drunk. Swaying. Having difficulty swimming. Just didn't look like he was in a good state of mind.

To see if im understand you are using 99% Reagent grade H2O2, Or the shrimp was hit with 99% 2.5 mils of 3%H2O2.

 

[twilliard]

Now if that shrimp ingested straight peroxide that would be an issue.
All dosing as stated is in high flow areas to dilute the h2o2 before making direct contact with any lifeforms

 

[twilliard]

And here I thought aiptasia was my biggest pest, ahhh wrong answer lol

Those are a whole other battle!

 

[Jwalker814]

I feed and dose with two different syringes. One is an infant 3ml with readings at every .5ml and the other is a hypodermeric without the needle. It reads .1ml up to 3ml.

The infant is for direct feeding and the hypodermic is for chemicals.

I was dosing (before this thread) 3% walmart swan brand h2o2.

The shrimp swam right up to the tip as I injected the tank with the h2o2.

Had 2 cleaners. They were mating. Been in the tank for over a year. Other livestock are one midnight domino, chromis, watchman, crabs n snails.

 

[Jwalker814]

Now if that shrimp ingested straight peroxide that would be an issue.
All dosing as stated is in high flow areas to dilute the h2o2 before making direct contact with any lifeforms

That's what I'm thinking he did as he litreally swam to the tip of the syringe as I was injecting the h2o2.

 

[twilliard]

Yes if he was introduced straight into peroxide that would be no good.
If you dose h2O2 dose in a high flow area like in front of a powerhead.

 

[Jwalker814]

Yea Im going to add it directly in from if my return. But I have since stopped.

Gonna order my intank media basket to help with filtration before I have a ton of die off.