Cyano with correct paramoters

Nano101 · Oct 19, 2016

I am starting to see cyano, but everything is testing well. Ammonia 0, nitrites 0, Nitrates around 10. 0 phosphates, and using 0 TDS RO/Di water. Wondering if I overfed and the cyano is absorbing the nitrates and still giving me low readings. Lots of waterflow (33x per hour). Am treating with boyd's red slime remover and have taken out my chemipure and added aeration for the time being. Any other advice? I've never seen cyano start so soon withing given paramaters. thoughts?

beaslbob · Oct 19, 2016

Cyano is thriving off the bioload not the input water.

Try killing the lights until it dies off and then resume with 1/2 lighting and adjust until the good stuff (corraline, corals, macros) thrive (mor light) but the cyano doesn't (less light)

Also try macro algaes or a refugium/algae turf scrubber.

my .02

Nano101 · Oct 19, 2016

beaslbob said:
Cyano is thriving off the bioload not the input water.

Try killing the lights until it dies off and then resume with 1/2 lighting and adjust until the good stuff (corraline, corals, macros) thrive (mor light) but the cyano doesn't (less light)

Also try macro algaes or a refugium/algae turf scrubber.

my .02

I have a small fuge with a bit of chaeto in it. I will trying backing off on the lights, and feed the corals less phytofeast. I bet it's overfeeding? My lights are on 8 hours a day peaked at 12.5k, but ramp mostly at 20k in mornings and evenings. Pretty similar settings to what I see other AI customers using

beaslbob · Oct 19, 2016

If you have an external fuge with chaeto, then try killing you display lights while still keeping the fuge it. Cyano should die off in a few days.

Cutting back on feeding would be a good idea also. But the big, initial shock of darkness will go a long way to long term cyano relief.

my .02

Nano101 · Oct 19, 2016

what about my corals without lights?

Nano101 · Oct 19, 2016

lights out starting tonight

Nano101 · Oct 20, 2016

will running 1% output at 20k suffice as a "blackout"?

beaslbob · Oct 20, 2016

corals do need lights but cyano will die off first. then the corals will really pep up with the lights back on.

IMHO it's all about finding the balance.

my .02

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 20, 2016

Nano101 said:
I am starting to see cyano, but everything is testing well. Ammonia 0, nitrites 0, Nitrates around 10. 0 phosphates, and using 0 TDS RO/Di water. Wondering if I overfed and the cyano is absorbing the nitrates and still giving me low readings. Lots of waterflow (33x per hour). Am treating with boyd's red slime remover and have taken out my chemipure and added aeration for the time being. Any other advice? I've never seen cyano start so soon withing given paramaters. thoughts?

How old is the tank?
Chemiclean is a big step, so by treating you mean you dosed and then redosed after the water change?
There has been and I cant prove an No Po imbalance that cyano likes, but it was chasing my tail trying to balance that to remove it. I wound up removing it by normal husbandry.
If the chemiclean didnt work, test to see if its actually Spirulina, not cyano. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/positive-identification-of-cyanobacteria.253287/

if its a newer tank, yes, your almost directly feeding the cyano as other bacteria,(bio filter) and algaes have not yet established themselves.

Nano101 · Oct 20, 2016

Tank has been running for a month, cycles 2-3 weeks in. I used all dry sand and dry rock so probably not a lot of bacterial filtration yet. I do have some Chaeto in the rear fuge, but just a small bit. The cyano isn't that bad. Probably 30% water changes once a week I would think would clear this up. Hoping so. Just one dose of chemiclean, 36 hours ago. Noticably bettter, and had lights off all day. I will do a water change two days from now. I just have never seen cyano start so early in a cycled system, was surprised. Too much Rod's and Phytofeast probably. I probably don't need more than a few drops per week, and very little Rod's. I only have 3 small fish. I've been trying to bounce back some baby RBTAs that have been stunted for near a year.

Paul B · Oct 20, 2016

That is normal in a 4 week old tank. Don't worry about it. Do not put any more Chemi Clean, Mr. Clean or anything else in there. After this is gone you will probably get hair algae. Same advice.

sil40sx · Oct 20, 2016

I'm no expert, but I believe if you started the tank with dry rocks and dry sand, you haven't seen the ugly phase yet. It is just started,..

I wont be surprised if your tank is not completely cycled yet.

Nano101 · Oct 20, 2016

sil40sx said:
I'm no expert, but I believe if you started the tank with dry rocks and dry sand, you haven't seen the ugly phase yet. It is just started,..

I wont be surprised if your tank is not completely cycled yet.

I started with some seachem prime, avoided diatoms alltogether this time around. Was hoping I was through the worst if it

sil40sx · Oct 20, 2016

I see other people get algae bloom after a couple months, sometimes even after a year.

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 20, 2016

Nano101 said:
Tank has been running for a month, cycles 2-3 weeks in. I used all dry sand and dry rock so probably not a lot of bacterial filtration yet. I do have some Chaeto in the rear fuge, but just a small bit. The cyano isn't that bad. Probably 30% water changes once a week I would think would clear this up. Hoping so. Just one dose of chemiclean, 36 hours ago. Noticably bettter, and had lights off all day. I will do a water change two days from now. I just have never seen cyano start so early in a cycled system, was surprised. Too much Rod's and Phytofeast probably. I probably don't need more than a few drops per week, and very little Rod's. I only have 3 small fish. I've been trying to bounce back some baby RBTAs that have been stunted for near a year.

I agree w paulb. and you, no bio filter. and CC does kill of a lot of other bacteria we dont even know if its benificial. But I do believe the chemiclean is to be followed up with an immediate wc.

pretty surprised you got BTA"S in there so soon.

the cycle should not be confused with the appearance of algae and cyano and diatoms. IMO. nothing to do with it. they just happen close to the same time.
and yea with dry rock and sand it may take some time to establish the bio filter.