Cyano bloom question

[MTBake]

My newest tank has been running since 12-15-19. So around 10 weeks old as of now.

It has quite the cyano bloom going on right now. Should I do anything about it? Or let it run its course? I've had my fair share of cyano issues in the past. But never anything quite like this.

Btw, I did put a sample under a scope. It is not dinos and definitely cyano.

Any tips are appreciated.

Pics;

 

[Brad Waddell Wrath's Reef]

Holy crap! lol. I would run Chemiclean but that is just a band aide. This is a nutrient issue. You need to figure that out. What are you Parameters?

 

[MTBake]

This is the worse I've ever seen. Wondering if I should syphon some out? Or perhaps 3 days lights out?

No3 is typically around 1-2ppm. Po4 is checked with the Hanna ulr Phosphorus checker. That is typically super low. Under 5ppb usually. 35 ppt salinity. RO/DI with 0tds has been used fr ol m the get go.

Not really testing alk, ca, or mg right now. There's not much in the tank to create demand for those 3.

I do have a UV I could try. But this stuff doesn't seem to budge when the lights go out. It's there all night long. So I'm not sure how effective UV would really be against this.

It's definitely not getting better. Started 2 weeks ago after I had a diatom then gha bloom.

 

[lmm1967]

check your Mg - it's anecdotal at best but I've noticed a correlation (maybe) to low Mg and an onslaught of cyano in 2 of our tanks.

 

[MTBake]

check your Mg - it's anecdotal at best but I've noticed a correlation (maybe) to low Mg and an onslaught of cyano in 2 of our tanks.

That's actually not a bad idea. I do use a salt mix that runs on the low side of acceptable. I'll post results. Might as well do alk and ca while I'm at it.

 

[Spare time]

This is the worse I've ever seen. Wondering if I should syphon some out? Or perhaps 3 days lights out?

No3 is typically around 1-2ppm. Po4 is checked with the Hanna ulr Phosphorus checker. That is typically super low. Under 5ppb usually. 35 ppt salinity. RO/DI with 0tds has been used fr ol m the get go.

Not really testing alk, ca, or mg right now. There's not much in the tank to create demand for those 3.

I do have a UV I could try. But this stuff doesn't seem to budge when the lights go out. It's there all night long. So I'm not sure how effective UV would really be against this.

It's definitely not getting better. Started 2 weeks ago after I had a diatom then gha bloom.

If you do UV, try and get a wavemaker to blast it off the rocks so it gets suspended in the water column

 

[Spare time]

It might be good to use some prime if you do chemiclean since there is so much (unless those two interact badly somehow). Tbh those images are kinda cool looing XD

Out of curiosity what light (and if applicable, settings) do you use?

 

[MTBake]

If you do UV, try and get a wavemaker to blast it off the rocks so it gets suspended in the water column

I was thinking of using a mj 1200 to blast it all off the rocks and sand. Still on the fence if I should syphon some out first. I have 35 gallons of ready to go salt water. Plus, I could just syphon through a sock and send the water into the sump as well.

 

[MTBake]

It might be good to use some prime if you do chemiclean since there is so much (unless those two interact badly somehow). Tbh those images are kinda cool looing XD

Out of curiosity what light (and if applicable, settings) do you use?

250 watt halide. 20k radium bulb.

 

[MTBake]

check your Mg - it's anecdotal at best but I've noticed a correlation (maybe) to low Mg and an onslaught of cyano in 2 of our tanks.

Well, I got the mg test done. Got 1140ppm. So I tested it again. And got the same number. Going to test the alk and ca and dose the levels that need it to get them closer to nsw.

 

[Brad Waddell Wrath's Reef]

Well, I got the mg test done. Got 1140ppm. So I tested it again. And got the same number. Going to test the alk and ca and dose the levels that need it to get them closer to nsw.

Super low mg. I try to keep mine around 1350.

 

[MTBake]

Super low mg. I try to keep mine around 1350.

Agreed. I have never tested it on this tank because it's still new and there's only 2 small sps frags that I took out of my other system to test the waters in the new setup. I was kinda shocked to be honest. Going to correct it. Alk is at 8.3dkh and ca is at 420ppm. Not going to adjust those. Going dose mg to 1400 over the next week or so. I'll most likely need to keep an eye on alk and ca from here on out.

 

[MTBake]

I think I need to order another batch of mg mix from BRS.

Look at how much I need to add to get it to where I want it

 

[Spare time]

I think I need to order another batch of mg mix from BRS.

Look at how much I need to add to get it to where I want it

Thats why its nice that their 1 gallon making packets are super cheap. I am a huge fan of their alkalinity as basically 7 or 8 bucks (or however much it is) makes a gallon of alk solution

 

[MTBake]

Thats why its nice that their 1 gallon making packets are super cheap. I am a huge fan of their alkalinity as basically 7 or 8 bucks (or however much it is) makes a gallon of alk solution

I have loads of their sodium bicarbonate, soda ash, and calcium chloride. Only have a half gallon left of the mg mix mixed up and ready to go. Should get me close to where I need to be. My 40 breeder doesn't seem to use much mg, so I have never stocked up on it.

After adding 50ppm total of the mg mix, some of the cyano is lifting off the sand. Haven't seen that happen yet in this tank


The sand was solid red when I posted this earlier. I have done nothing other than raising the big 3 closer to acceptable ranges. Not sure if it's just a coincidence at this point or not.

 

[brandon429]

MT you know we could rip clean this into total submission in one run, why the hez

tank looks huge though, how many gallons

 

[dwest]

I would get the big 3 good, siphon out, and then let it run its course.

 

[Dan_P]

My newest tank has been running since 12-15-19. So around 10 weeks old as of now.

It has quite the cyano bloom going on right now. Should I do anything about it? Or let it run its course? I've had my fair share of cyano issues in the past. But never anything quite like this.

Btw, I did put a sample under a scope. It is not dinos and definitely cyano.

Any tips are appreciated.

Pics;

Use ChemiClean. Follow the directions. This might be all you need to get your system back on track. You will not finesse your way out of this infestation.

 

[MTBake]

MT you know we could rip clean this into total submission in one run, why the hez

tank looks huge though, how many gallons

Red Sea Reefer 525xl. So 109gal display.

 

[brandon429]

thats a tad big agreed. just remember if you want to slay it, you could draw off the water in two brutes, slay the substrate back into compliance/cloud free rinse 1000% and reinstate the water.

maybe draw off the clean top eighty gallons, leave 20 in the tank to catch all the crud as you disassembly clean

totally clean sand in tap, rocks in saltwater, wipe down the walls with peroxide towel and reassemble. the tiny bit in the drawn off water wont matter.

re use 80% top decanted water, plus 20% new.