cyano -> no lights 3 days

[kim7]

Hi all, My 20g reef tank is 2 months old and doing great with a little bit of coralline algae dots on the walls. My parameters are good and do 10% water changes weekly. But cyanobacteria is starting to grow on my substrate and rocks.
I hear that cyano is normal after cycling even with clean water (is this true?), and my water is very clean. im planning on turning off my lights for 3 days, but since my tank is near a window, it gets a bit of ambient sunlight during the day, would this still promote cyano growth?

 

[Gweeds1980]

Unfortunately cyano is pretty good at using any light! Can you put black plastic around the tank to block out all light?

If you've only got a small amount of cyano, the 3 days dark should be enough to see it off. Alternatively or as well as, you can spot treat the cyano patches with h202.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

A black out is only a band aid. You put light on it and it grows back.
There a lot more effective treatments for it that will last a lot longer.

If you can, post up your parameters and some info on the system.

 

[kim7]

A black out is only a band aid. You put light on it and it grows back.
There a lot more effective treatments for it that will last a lot longer.

If you can, post up your parameters and some info on the system.

I didn't get to test it recently, been busy , but I have been changing water a lot.

Before my cyano shows alittle I'll admit that I kinda over fed them(4fish).
But if I start controlling the nutrient import and export, will that kill the existing cyano? Or does it need some direct attack?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Adding flow is a good idea on two counts. It morning only keeps funk stirred up so it makes its way to the filters. It also decreases co2 that cyano loves and increases the ph.
If the thank is a bit new you'll have a less effective biofilter. I like to add a good diverse bacteria lit dr Tims to bolster it.

I personally am a sand cleaner. Food and poop go down and rots. Makes ammonia and also that bacteria in large amounts makes more co2.
Cyano feeds pretty directly on both. And also dissolved nutrints we read on out tests as no3 and po4.
So long term some cleaning and good flow really help win the battle.

Refugiums and such onlyhelp more.

What kind of filters are you using?
I used Aqua clears for along time. I found that I had to change the order of the sponges and floss to make sure it really trapped the dirt and extra food.

 

[Gweeds1980]

I didn't get to test it recently, been busy , but I have been changing water a lot.

Before my cyano shows alittle I'll admit that I kinda over fed them(4fish).
But if I start controlling the nutrient import and export, will that kill the existing cyano? Or does it need some direct attack?

It should control it. If I were you, id get the root cause sorted first... so to a point where the cyano isn't growing and then nuke what you've got with h202. Hopefully the conditions won't be right for it to grow back then. You'll always have cyano in the system, the trick is to get the point that you make life so difficult it can't grow

 

[kim7]

Adding flow is a good idea on two counts. It morning only keeps funk stirred up so it makes its way to the filters. It also decreases co2 that cyano loves and increases the ph.
If the thank is a bit new you'll have a less effective biofilter. I like to add a good diverse bacteria lit dr Tims to bolster it.

I personally am a sand cleaner. Food and poop go down and rots. Makes ammonia and also that bacteria in large amounts makes more co2.
Cyano feeds pretty directly on both. And also dissolved nutrints we read on out tests as no3 and po4.
So long term some cleaning and good flow really help win the battle.

Refugiums and such onlyhelp more.

What kind of filters are you using?
I used Aqua clears for along time. I found that I had to change the order of the sponges and floss to make sure it really trapped the dirt and extra food.

I actually don't use any filters other than just ~20 pounds live rock... hahaha
I actually wish to keep it that way. I've read in so many places that in a small tank like mine(20g), water changes is enough.

I think the flow is what I need, like you said, one spot of my tank has most of the cyano covering it. Also that and feeding less.

 

[kim7]

It should control it. If I were you, id get the root cause sorted first... so to a point where the cyano isn't growing and then nuke what you've got with h202. Hopefully the conditions won't be right for it to grow back then. You'll always have cyano in the system, the trick is to get the point that you make life so difficult it can't grow

I'll probably use the h202, my cyano problem isn't really that big.

 

[Gweeds1980]

I'll probably use the h202, my cyano problem isn't really that big.

Not as bad as mine was then?!?!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I actually don't use any filters other than just ~20 pounds live rock... hahaha
I actually wish to keep it that way. I've read in so many places that in a small tank like mine(20g), water changes is enough.

I think the flow is what I need, like you said, one spot of my tank has most of the cyano covering it. Also that and feeding less.

I dunno. To put stuff in and only take the bare minimum of dissolved stuff out rather than larger amounts of solids out.
It will defiantly take discipline to limit feedings and export nutrients. It has been done before though.

 

[kim7]

Not as bad as mine was then?!?!

Mine isn't as bad as those pics. Mostly on the substrate. But one time my other tank I had a few years back was worse cause I had about 8 fish in a 20g system :0

 

[Gweeds1980]

Mine isn't as bad as those pics. Mostly on the substrate. But one time my other tank I had a few years back was worse cause I had about 8 fish in a 20g system :0

If you look closely you'll spot a lovely patch of bryopsis too...

 

[kim7]

If you look closely you'll spot a lovely patch of bryopsis too...

Are these pictures what you have in your tank right now? I also have a tiny bit of bryopsis too

 

[Gweeds1980]

That's what it did look like... here's the 'after' shots... proves it can be beaten!

 

[kim7]

That's what it did look like... here's the 'after' shots... proves it can be beaten!

Nice!! Looks completely cyano free

 

[Gweeds1980]

Nice!! Looks completely cyano free

There's a little hanging on for dear life... I'll have it fine soon

 

[AquaLogic]

Unfortunately cyano is pretty good at using any light! Can you put black plastic around the tank to block out all light?

If you've only got a small amount of cyano, the 3 days dark should be enough to see it off. Alternatively or as well as, you can spot treat the cyano patches with h202.

Cyano bacteria has been found growing 600 meters under ground with no light, so plastic wrap isn't going to cut it.