Burgundy algae outbreak!

[shogun1964]

My live rock is being coveted by this stuff to the point it is covering my favorite sponge. I have a 60 gallon long with about 15 hermit crabs that love the stuff but caint seem to make a dent. Any help before it covers everything?

 

[Hitman]

That’s cyno bacteria.
What’s your water parameters?
How old is the tank?
and how’s your water flow?

 

[shogun1964]

Nitrate and potassium are 0, Alk is 0.5, Calcium 500. No protein skimmer until next week.

 

[shogun1964]

9.5 on the alk

 

[Hitman]

How old is the tank?
What’s your Phosphate?
What do you have for water flow?
How big is your tank?

 

[shogun1964]

Tank is about a year and a half, I have 4 power heads

 

[Hitman]

Size of tanks and what gph are the powerheads? Some of the big factors of cyno is lack of water flow, high nitrates with low or no Phosphate, poor lighting and the list goes on. I’m just trying to get the needed info to help you out.

 

[Joshua2598]

Research this stuff called chemi clean for a last resort

 

[shogun1964]

Thanks, I will give it a shot

 

[Erica-Renee]

I would not use Chemiclean.. Most chemicals only put you on a Cycle of Dependency.

Cyano can be handled effectively with proper filtration, Water changes, Increased flow and Changing out Micron filter pad or socks daily.
Since you have it so bad
1. Prep for a large water change
2. Install 50 micron filter socks or as dense as you have.
3. Using a Hose and a Bucket Vacuum as much of it as you can off the rocks and sand bed.
4. Using either a power head in your hand or a turkey baster ( power head is best what i use ) Blow the rocks clean.
5. Do your water change before it settles again..
6.Increase flow aiming the power heads at rock work and sand bed as much as you can without a sand storm.
7. Change out the Filter media as needed to collect the debri from water Column..
8 Do this every few days until its gone.

GET A Good steady maintenance routine that keeps it gone and stick with it.. It will help other things as well not just the Cyano..

Good Luck

 

[lapin]

+1 to the above.
If you just now got cyano after 1 1/2 years then something changed and caused it to grow. Perhaps you can ID the cause and correct it. It can come back if the cause is not found.
Chemicals work and dont work. They can kill off your unwanted cyano and also good bacteria. Chemicals can leave your tank in good shape or a mess.
Get your skimmer going.
Cyano also needs light to grow. A good cleaning in the evenings will help.
Note; If you have coral they need nitrate and phosphate to grow. You say you have none but if you have coral and they are not dead then you have some. You might think about new test kits.

 

[Subsea]

Start with siphoning out the cyno carpet as nutrient export. This did not happen overnight. You may want to evaluate your maintenance protocoal.

 

[Joshua2598]

Also someone once told me that if any cyano survives the chemi clean it becomes SUPER CYANO. Classic bacteria.

 

[Subsea]

Also someone once told me that if any cyano survives the chemi clean it becomes SUPER CYANO. Classic bacteria.

This is a very real possibility.

I can document super flat worms that are immune to standard dosages of Flatworm-X. When I move stuff from my 25 year old tank, I either use hydrogen peroxide or 20 fold dose of Flatworm X.