cyano causes and fixes

[ironworker]

i have recently had an outbreak of cyano. my nitrates are undetectable and all other params are in range. i dont have phosphate test so unknown there. i have started dosing mb7 also. my coral seem very happy including the few sps peaces i have. can any one help, i will be changing somewater this weekend.

 

[lpslover]

Do check your phosphates and silicates. If they are not 0 and have not been 0 for at least a couple weeks put your energy into decreasing those first. If those aren't the issue the other four causes I've encountered are:

1) Old lightbulbs (As they age the spectrum can shift, which can lead to more favorable lighting for cyano.)
2) Some carbon sources tend to favor cyano outbreaks (I had to quit using Red Sea's NO3PO4X for this reason and switch to VGV.)
3) Poor oxygenation and/or insufficient water flow in the area(s) where the cyano is concentrated. (Amazing what moving or adding a powerhead can do.)
4) Immature tank. (If the tank is less than 1 year old, and you've ruled out all the above, keep it under control with manual removal and be patient.)

Good luck!

 

[robert]

I've posted this before - so I'll just post the link: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-aquarium-discussion/90291-cyanobacteria-problem-nitrate-2.html#post990089

Your nitrates being undetectable may be contributing to your problems with cyano. Its really not that big of issue to have elevated nitrates. You've probably already see this video: Aquariums - David Saxby's Reef Aquarium (extended version) - YouTube. It's a remarkable tank and at the time this video was made, his system was testing 5ppm nitrate. So a little nitrate isn't going to hurt your tank like everyone thinks.

Cyano dominates, especially in new tanks, because it doesn't need nitrate/ammonia to grow. It get its nitrogen and carbon from the atmospheric gases dissolved in the water - carbon from CO2/carbonate and nitrogen from N2. The only thing it needs is phosphate and there is usually a good source of that from gravel and/or rock (esp dryrock) in the tank.

Actually if you increase your nitrogen (nitrate), you'll increase the ability of other non-nitrogen fixing algaes and bacteria a chance to compete with the cyano. Ideally you want to maintain a ratio greater than 16Nitrogen to 1Phosphate otherwise cyano has the edge.

I have actually found it helps to dose nitrate to a new tank to get it through the cyano phase quicker.

 

[Pkunk35]

I've posted this before - so I'll just post the link: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-aquarium-discussion/90291-cyanobacteria-problem-nitrate-2.html#post990089

Your nitrates being undetectable may be contributing to your problems with cyano. Its really not that big of issue to have elevated nitrates. You've probably already see this video: Aquariums - David Saxby's Reef Aquarium (extended version) - YouTube. It's a remarkable tank and at the time this video was made, his system was testing 5ppm nitrate. So a little nitrate isn't going to hurt your tank like everyone thinks.

Cyano dominates, especially in new tanks, because it doesn't need nitrate/ammonia to grow. It get its nitrogen and carbon from the atmospheric gases dissolved in the water - carbon from CO2/carbonate and nitrogen from N2. The only thing it needs is phosphate and there is usually a good source of that from gravel and/or rock (esp dryrock) in the tank.

Actually if you increase your nitrogen (nitrate), you'll increase the ability of other non-nitrogen fixing algaes and bacteria a chance to compete with the cyano. Ideally you want to maintain a ratio greater than 16Nitrogen to 1Phosphate otherwise cyano has the edge.

I have actually found it helps to dose nitrate to a new tank to get it through the cyano phase quicker.

What this guy said! Some good info there that I never knew!

Is your tank new? New tanks will inevitably get Cyano. Siphon it out when you see it, keep up with WCs, its really not a big deal and it will go away.

If you really want to be active in terms of killing off the cyano you could use a product like Chemi Clean that is reef safe and works fairly well, just don't forget to WC.

 

[reefer209]

l wouldn't use chemi clean in my tank. if i can fix or control a problem with water changes and maintaining good steady parameters, that is the route that i would take. if i can't test for it, i don't add it to my water. i have used chemi clean in the past, back when i first started and didn't know any better. it did work, but now with the way i approach any issues that i might be having i take a more " natural" route instead of the easy way out.