Cyano and Low nutrients

[cyberCoder]

Hi

My tank is more than 1 year old now and there are three fishes and some corals. Started with dry rock and the rocks have quite some coralline algae now.

I have tried to dose reefroid , amino acid etc. And in the past 6 months, I have had multiple times of Cyano issues. Recently, we moved and as part of the move, we replaced most of the water and everything survived the big move.

Amazingly, after move, the first few weeks the tank looked so much better , clean, clear.

I started dosing amino acid and reefroid and I started noticing Cyano again.

Yesterday I noticed that nitrate went to 0 and Phosphate at 0.17 .

I decided to dose nitrate just tiny bit to make it 1.

After 12 hours, this morning , nitrate was at 1 and phosphate went up to 0.25

I didn't do more. And after another 8 hours, right now, the tank has 0.5-1 nitrate and 0.01 phosphate.

What would you recommend to do? Should I just keep normal feeding ? I feel the tank maybe too low at nitrate and phosphate? Or it's better to leave it that way , keep feeding instead of dosing to adjust ?

 

[BigRed78]

How is the flow in your tank. Cyano flourishes in a low flow environment.

 

[cyberCoder]

I added a video as well and please take a look if that works. I have a MP10 and a Nero 5. I believe both of them are at 70%. The flow seems to be quite strong, but I really don't know what's considered as good flow. Wondering if it's the placement issue.

 

[Sdot]

Its intresting, i find if my phosphates are to low or out of ratio of nitrates i get cyano. I am feeding more to raise my phosphates and the large patches of cyano i had is going away. Its the neatest thing.

 

[ThePurple12]

Since you noticed it when you started dosing AA, maybe stop dosing.

The good thing about cyano is that it usually (IME) goes away over time if you don't do anything.

 

[SPR1968]

Ideally you want nitrates at around 5-10 as this will help avoid issues such as Cyno, but keep your phosphate locked down very low at less than 0.03 and this will avoid many other problems

Im not sure how phosphate dropped from 0.25 (very high) to 0.01 in a few hours unless it’s maybe test error potentially?

If you can, maybe add a few more fish and start feeding them which will help increase the nitrate levels naturally, and in the meantime look at increasing the water flow around all affected areas.

 

[PBar]

Just another small remark other than flow:
I’ve seen multiple reports of amino dosing and cyano.
I’m not sure if your system is mature enough or with sufficient corals... such that amino is needed.
I would stop amino or at least decrease a lot the dosage.
Remember, it will take some time to go away.
Check if there is any dead spots in the tank in terms of circulation - if so, increase the flow.
Next to that: stop the amino for a month and see what happens.
Good luck!

 

[PBar]

By the way, I can’t see the video...

 

[Rickybobby]

Just another small remark other than flow:
I’ve seen multiple reports of amino dosing and cyano.
I’m not sure if your system is mature enough or with sufficient corals... such that amino is needed.
I would stop amino or at least decrease a lot the dosage.
Remember, it will take some time to go away.
Check if there is any dead spots in the tank in terms of circulation - if so, increase the flow.
Next to that: stop the amino for a month and see what happens.
Good luck!

Interesting I’ve been dosing aminos weekly and have had nothing but problems with cyano

 

[PBar]

@Rickybobby: Again, I don’t want to state something without deeper analysis ... but it might have some correlation, specially if the system is not loaded with colonies or not mature enough.
The number of reports are probably not negligible, but the rule could be true for other additives.

Anyway, interesting enough, last week I heard also Aaron stating similar thing in a interview (Reefdudes).

 

[cyberCoder]

I need to learn how to show the video. Attached yesterday. Trying again now.

 

[cyberCoder]

uploading the video again by using the "Insert Video" button . And I also used the "Attach file" option, must be duplicate

 

[cyberCoder]

Please let me know if the video works now or let me know how to enable the video? Sorry by the many posts !

 

[cyberCoder]

Here is what i have done today :

1) Bought two fishes today and they are in QT now ( i have a 15 gallon QT system ), it's completely dry , set it up again 2 days ago wanting to add fishes too. This would make my fish count to 5.

1.1) Bought 5 more snails and put them into the display tank. I had only 1 Turbo snail before this.

2) Started adding a feeding in the morning. This morning around 11AM before feeding, the parameter is 0.05 Phosphate and 0.5 - 1 Nitrate . I use Hanna checker ultra low phosphate checker and Nyos Nitrate test kit.

3) I then fed the fish around 1130am.

4) Just checked the parameter again, pretty much the same 0.05 Phosphate and 0.5-1 Nitrate ( more on the 1 side ) .

5) Just fed again ,

6) I noticed that the cyano worse than yesterday. Has some string and tiny thicker patch then before.

 

[MabuyaQ]

Amino's are superfood, but is only usefull in a full grown reeftank full of corals. In any other tank it is superfood for bacteria, often not the good kind.

 

[PBar]

@cyberCoder:
At least on my side, I still can’t see the video
Try to post a picture...

Taking into account your description and specially the statement that the tank was much better when you moved... I suggest you to stop dosing Amino and reefroids for now.

Cyano will probably increase in the next few days, that’s normal. Not long ago you were probably feeding them with this supplements.
All actions and changes that you‘re doing now, will take some time to play a role in the tank.

Don‘t worry to much with the results from the test kits (this is a whole other discussion).
I believe that the probability of you having cyano due to excess nutrients is higher than due to low nutrients.

So just keep the regular maintenance and feeding the fishes without the supplements for a couple of weeks... maybe a water change could be helpful soon.

Don‘t forget the picture!

 

[cyberCoder]

Thanks. I was surprised to see how clear the tank was and how white the sandbed was too right after the move.

I have skimmer only. I used to run GFO and even a DIY Algae scrubber. I stopped doing so a few months ago. I am probably just overthinking and not having enough patients. And you are right, i was dosing them before and had much worse Cyano issue back then.

The key is really as what you said excess nutrient or not enough.

I feel I definitely had issues to confirm.

 

[cyberCoder]

Posting video Video of tank and see if this works

 

[jsker]

Quick question; when is the last time the RO/DI filters were changed?

 

[cyberCoder]

Quick question; when is the last time the RO/DI filters were changed?

didn't realize it's been "so long". I just checked, they are set up end of April 2020. The Anion seems to be almost all "used". I couldn't find my TDS meter anymore, and just check the inline TDS meter on the filter. I don't really trust that meter enough, but right now that's the only thing I have. It shows water TDS IN = 7-8 , and TDS OUT = 0. I will change the Anion though, seems to be done.