Cheato lighting durinng lights out for algea control

[CMO]

Going to be doing a 3 day lights out to try and curb a cyano outbreak. Should I also turn my cheato fuge light off during this period or leave it on a normal or adjusted cycle?

I understand this is not a long term fix etc etc. My nitrates are zero and have been. Phosphates according to Triton show slightly elevated but have always been near zero according to 2 separate Hanna checkers at .00-.01 ppm (difference due to testing method from what i understand which some have said hanna is a more accurate measure of bio available Po4). I started running GFO about 2 weeks ago but cyano is still rampant. Not sure what caused this but really don't think it's nutrient related so hopefully lights out will be a good solution.

Running Triton and don't want to go the chemiclean / water change route unless I absolutely have to.

Thanks

 

[Brew12]

Going to be doing a 3 day lights out to try and curb a cyano outbreak. Should I also turn my cheato fuge light off during this period or leave it on a normal or adjusted cycle?

I understand this is not a long term fix etc etc. My nitrates are zero and have been. Phosphates according to Triton show slightly elevated but have always been near zero according to 2 separate Hanna checkers at .00-.01 ppm (difference due to testing method from what i understand which some have said hanna is a more accurate measure of bio available Po4). I started running GFO about 2 weeks ago but cyano is still rampant. Not sure what caused this but really don't think it's nutrient related so hopefully lights out will be a good solution.

Running Triton and don't want to go the chemiclean / water change route unless I absolutely have to.

Thanks

I would leave the lights on in the fuge. You may get some extra cyano growing there but I doubt it will be much. And you aren't going to eliminate all of the cyano from the tank anyway so having some won't matter.

If you aren't seeing improvement after the lights out, I would start increasing how much GFO you are running. Remember you are measuring what is left in the water.

How much do you have in your tank in the way of rotifers, copepods and amphipods? They all eat cyano and can help keep things in check as long as conditions aren't too good for the cyano.

 

[cracker]

I did a period of lights out . worked well for me. I have 2 faint patches after a couple weeks. However I had only fish so went 8 days ,lights out. Took care of diatoms as well.
s for your question I left the ref light on some even kinda shines up through the bottom glass in a couple bare spots. Worked fine.

 

[CMO]

I would leave the lights on in the fuge. You may get some extra cyano growing there but I doubt it will be much. And you aren't going to eliminate all of the cyano from the tank anyway so having some won't matter.

If you aren't seeing improvement after the lights out, I would start increasing how much GFO you are running. Remember you are measuring what is left in the water.

How much do you have in your tank in the way of rotifers, copepods and amphipods? They all eat cyano and can help keep things in check as long as conditions aren't too good for the cyano.

Sounds good. Yeah, I started running GFO about a week and a half ago so hopefully that will help prevent another outbreak post blackout. However, the GFO has doubled my alk dosing requirements (Triton) so I'm not thrilled with that.

I had pods everywhere until I added a tiny baby mandarin. Now they are pretty sparse and the mandarin tippled in size in a month, so either he eat most of them or something took them out. I was feeding medicated food with metro for a few weeks so maybe that was it. But regardless, I didn't realize pods eat cyano. I'll try and restock the population in that case.

Thanks

 

[Brew12]

However, the GFO has doubled my alk dosing requirements (Triton) so I'm not thrilled with that.

Why is this a bad thing? It is known that PO4 can inhibit coral growth. Increased alk dosing requirements may be a sign that your coral growth is picking up.
If you think you are precipitating it out, you may want to check your Mg levels.

 

[CMO]

Why is this a bad thing? It is known that PO4 can inhibit coral growth. Increased alk dosing requirements may be a sign that your coral growth is picking up.
If you think you are precipitating it out, you may want to check your Mg levels.

I guess it's not all bad, but it's caused a fair amount of instability in alk over the past week or so as I try and find the new equilibrium level with my Triton dose. For the first time with this tank, my corals don't look too happy which I think is either a function of the GFO/alk swings or battle with cyano. I think i'm dealing with Calothorix cyano btw which has blanketed my rocks with algea and bubbles. I've been blowing it off at the end of everyday for about 2 weeks now.

But i guess the biggest thing that has me worried with GFO doubling my core 7 Triton dose is what it will do to the balance of my elements. They've been tracking spot on with monthly ICP tests but I fear some elements may build up with this increased dosing required by GFO.

Considering my corals looks a bit angry and the moment and my alk dropped by 1 dkh immediately following turning on the GFO, I unfortunately don't think this caused by coral growth.