Can't get rid of Cyano

[madtownguy]

So I've been having Cyano problem now for a long time. My chiller broke so originally I thought the high temperatures were bringing it. Finally got a new chiller and that didn't solve the problem. I tried getting a nitrite reducing type filter thing which again didn't work. I just don't get it. I did purchase a skimmer but it doesn't work well this is a nano cube tank so I think skimming isn't going to be in my future. I don't have a ton of corals either, especially now that I've had this Cyano problem. Maybe I need to do daily water changes for a week, I don't know I've never had a problem like this in past tanks. And after 25% water change the tank still gets Cyano the next morning. I'm ready to turn it into a Cyano tank... sorry if I've used the wrong terminology at all

 

[brandon429]

change whole sandbed for new and fix it

forego sb altogether

 

[gashunk]

@twilliard can better assist you with cyano better then anyone else here on the forums first need a positive Id if it's cyano try to suck some up and put in a cup with about 8 oz of tank water and then add 1ml of h202 the norm otc kind into the cup of cyano of the water bleeds red it's cyano if it doesn't it's something else! That's about my extend on iding it thogh

 

[twilliard]

If it doesn't its spirulina
Now this is based on the typical findings of members tanks. Must keep in mind there are many different species and one may have a unique species.
As I typically state microscope inspection is the best route to go.
Thank you @gashunk as I like to stay on top of cyano-bacterial problems.

 

[HRBP]

How is the flow in the part of your tank that has the issue? I've found if I have cyano in my tank if I increase the flow in that part it can't take hold and disappears in a few days as it can't hold onto the surface. May not fix it but it's basically a zero cost option to see if it works.

 

[gooicide]

I'm also having a cyano problem. There's not much on the rocks, but I have a huge patch of it on my sand bed. One spot in my tank used to be a hideous cyano-y mess, but it just kind of cleaned itself up on its own. As for the rest, I've tried bigger water changes, redirecting the flow, and I only recently got my first fish in the tank so overfeeding isn't the problem. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[brandon429]

We have a 100 page cyano thread by TW it's all sandbeds presenting

no bare bottom ones are in the cyano thread. Tells me it's nutrients and sinks for both SP and cyano or maybe some bare bottom ones will post by page 200

 

[shoelaceike]

Do a 2-3 day black then water change. If that doesn't work you can go chemical route but if the above works well its the much safer option

 

[twilliard]

Do a 2-3 day black then water change. If that doesn't work you can go chemical route but if the above works well its the much safer option

Chemiclean is only effective against the spirulina genus

 

[Ike]

We have a 100 page cyano thread by TW it's all sandbeds presenting

no bare bottom ones are in the cyano thread. Tells me it's nutrients and sinks for both SP and cyano or maybe some bare bottom ones will post by page 200

I have a plenty of cyanobacteria in a bare bottom tank...

 

[madtownguy]

Mine is on the sand and on the rocks. It's in very high flow areas also. It goes away at night but then comes back when the lights are on. https://www.google.com/search?q=cya...ei=SB7sV5K-H4XWe6W3oaAL#imgrc=vOvngHuflRK05M:

Looks exactly like link above.

 

[madtownguy]

Went to do the hydrogen peroxide test but realized I keep iodine in the house not hydrogen peroxide... dang it

 

[shoelaceike]

Chemiclean is only effective against the spirulina genus

Whats the other type?

 

[gashunk]

Whats the other type?

Cyano and spirulina are two different strains

 

[gashunk]

So therefore that's why chemiclean only works against spirulina and not cyano bacteria

 

[shoelaceike]

Cyano and spirulina are two different strains

Spirulina is a kind of cyanobacteria as far as I know

 

[brandon429]

I know there's always statistical outliers... But it was interesting in the hundred page thread there weren't any themes of bare bottom users

For sure a tank with po4 loaded rock can pull it off, and any tank I shined my old out of date planted tank MH bulb 6500 k, that would bring out cyano in most tanks as cyano and spirulina are common for us depending on who hitchhiked in

The takeaway is that sandbeds commonly cause it, and rockwork is less common nutrient sink

 

[lion king]

Once you go through the gambit of the classic reasons and fixes for cyano, do this. If you are using leds, turn off your red, yellow and green leds. Red especially has been know to feed cyano, and in nature doesn't even penetrate to the reef. If your leds has warm white(yellow) less than 8k, these can cause problems with cyano and algae also. The green I'm not sure of, but this worked for me. You also will need to manually remove as much as possible and clean your filter socks.

 

[twilliard]

You also can have cylindrospermum cyanobacteria which is another genus of bacteria. There are many forms however of this group.

 

[Ike]

I know there's always statistical outliers... But it was interesting in the hundred page thread there weren't any themes of bare bottom users

For sure a tank with po4 loaded rock can pull it off, and any tank I shined my old out of date planted tank MH bulb 6500 k, that would bring out cyano in most tanks as cyano and spirulina are common for us depending on who hitchhiked in

The takeaway is that sandbeds commonly cause it, and rockwork is less common nutrient sink

But how many people keep bare bottom tanks nowadays; one in ten maybe?