Biopellet Question - Cyano Outbreak

[ocncheffy]

Alright so I have a small Nuvo 16g with the IM desktop media reactor about half full of biopellets. Last week I had noticed my pump was clogged and the pellets had stopped moving.. I then proceeded to unclog the pump, and return the pellets to the normal tumble rate. I don't know how long they were not tumbling, but my best guess is a few days.



3 days later, I started noticing stringy algae that contained bubbles on my zoas, rocks, and sps. I figured it was an over feeding of reef roids, too strong of lighting, or overdosing on amino acids. I cut all that back and it was still just as persistent to come back the next day, and sometimes worse. I then thought about the pellets, and after half a week of dealing with cyano, I removed the whole reactor and threw the pellets away.



Within a day, my cyano was gone! It's pretty amazing to actually know the cause of an algae outbreak, as I've read some stories and people just continue to deal with the issue and never find out the cause. Does anyone here know why the pellets would all of a sudden become an issue? Is it because they were stagnant for a few days? Dead bacteria buildup?



Thanks

 

[redfishbluefish]

I don't believe the pellets were the issue. They are a solid carbon food source for the bacteria, and are not released into the water column.....like vodka and vinegar. I believe it is coincidence that the retreat of cyano was soon after removal of the biopellets.

I'd be more suspect of the reef roids (a known phospate doser) and amino acids, feeding the cyano.