Chemiclean Experience

JSB · May 11, 2012

OK, so I have done just about everything I know of to beat this cyanobacteria short of Chemiclean. I have great flow, low (2ppm) Nitrate, low (.02ppm) Phosphates, I have reduced feedings, frequent water changes, yada, yada, yada, but this crap won't go away. So, I have decided to try chemiclean, even though that goes against my usual practices.

I have a couple of questions that maybe you folks can help me with. First, I see that some people say use a pump and airstone to aerate during the treatment, however, the product directions make no mention of it. Is this some homespun wisdom, or what? Wouldn't the falling water being pumped all over aerate the water?

Second, for those of you who have used it, any ill affects or horror stories to share?

Thanks in advance.

Onebaldman · May 11, 2012

Sorry I can't be any help, but I would like to say that I would just about trade you that cyano outbreak for my brown button polyp outbreak.

Good luck, I've been trying to keep up just in case this ever did come up. Thanks for keeping us informed as to what isn't working so far...

david1 · May 11, 2012

what are u u sing *** lights and how old are they

jonbar1 · May 11, 2012

I used it once in a nano full of mostly LPS. A few corals looked stressed for a couple days and my Cyphastrea got a few nickel sized dead spots from it. It grows back very quickly so that wasn't too bad. I only would use it for fish only after that experience. The bubbler is to add oxygen to your tank since chemiclean apparently removes oxygen from the water while its working. I seem to remember it driving the skimmer crazy for a while even after the massive water change so be aware if you use one.

Honestly the best way I know of to fight it after your params are good like you have is to get a Fighting Conch or two depending on your tank size to eat what's on the sandbed and target whats on the rock when you do water changes. When conchs are smaller they are ravenous for cyano! Mine is now big and not as voracious but still spends all the time he is awake chowing down on what he can find in the sand.

aslmx · May 11, 2012

Have you tried lights out for 3 days?

JSB · May 12, 2012

Thanks all. I went back and read the directions, and they do in fact say use an airstone. Not sure how I missed it the first time. Base on a lot of googling, I went ahead and treated with the chemiclean yesterday at 4pm. This morning at 7am there is a 98% reduction (non-scientific) in cyano. If the lights, don't fire it up again today, I will probably pull it out early with water changes and carbon tonight.

As for the lights, they are rather new LEDs, and I haven't tried lights out for 3 days. I think next time I will put that in my bag of tricks.

Thanks for your input.

revhtree · May 12, 2012

I have used it many times in the past with no ill effects. I also have never used and air stone.

ritter6788 · May 12, 2012

The problem I have with using chemicals to treat cyano is that if you kill all the cyano then there is nothing to use up extra nitrates and phosphates. Cyano can be a good thing in your tank. It's an indicator that nutrients are too high. Cyano will absorb the extra nutrients which can hinder coral growth.

To answer your question though, I used it once with no issues. I only used about 1/2 the recommended amount.

JSB · May 12, 2012

ritter6788 said:
The problem I have with using chemicals to treat cyano is that if you kill all the cyano then there is nothing to use up extra nitrates and phosphates.

That's why I run a bio pellet reactor. It was beginning to grow on some of my SPS, and I had tried most of the natural methods over the last 4 months and it was only getting worse.

Thatgrimguy · May 12, 2012

It makes your skimmer go nuts and can take up to a week and a half for it to be able to be used again... That was my only trouble with it, though once it was gone, it was never able to take hold again.