Cyano?

[Alanna102499]

Hey All,

Can you take a look at the video, is this Cyano? If so best way to eliminate? If not what is it and how do I remove it. Again tank was taken over in April was a 18 month established tank... Here are my parameters as of yesterday (didn’t test today)

I have just gotten an RODI System, I was getting Sea Water from Petco and using RODI from a LFS. I was thinking of a 3-4 day blackout and a 30% WC this week to eliminate. Yesterday I scraped the sand a little to get some of this out of the tank... Today even worse than yesterday, in deep black with Blue lights and maroon with white lights. Appreciate anyone’s expertise!

 

[Spare time]

Either diatoms or cyano. If it is stringy at all or has airbubbles coming off like snot then I would think dinos especially because your tank is nitrogen and phosphorus starved.

 

[Alanna102499]

Either diatoms or cyano. If it is stringy at all or has airbubbles coming off like snot then I would think dinos especially because your tank is nitrogen and phosphorus starved.

Ok, yes has bubbles on top of it. Stringy and clumpy is how I would describe it. I was under the impression Nitrate should be under 1 and Phosphate as low as possible. I’m guessing I should stop the NOPOX for a while and start to over feed to get these numbers back up, where is the “sweet spot” for each?

Should I blackout? Get Chem-Clean or something? Just waiting on my TDS meter that is arriving on Tuesday to check the new water I’m starting to make for the WC. I can do the water change by Wednesday...

In the meantime I’ll start Researching, thank you for your response.

 

[Poof No Eyebrows]

Try over feeding a bit and compete blackout for 3-5 days. If it is dynos that will make a very visual dent in your problem.

 

[Spare time]

Ok, yes has bubbles on top of it. Stringy and clumpy is how I would describe it. I was under the impression Nitrate should be under 1 and Phosphate as low as possible. I’m guessing I should stop the NOPOX for a while and start to over feed to get these numbers back up, where is the “sweet spot” for each?

Should I blackout? Get Chem-Clean or something? Just waiting on my TDS meter that is arriving on Tuesday to check the new water I’m starting to make for the WC. I can do the water change by Wednesday...

In the meantime I’ll start Researching, thank you for your response.

Corals need nitrogen and phosphorus. They are the building blocks of DNA and other parts of life. Aim for nitrates at 5-20. Higher is ok but some sps can become brown looking. Phosphate should be accessible meaning higher than 0.00 but less than 0.1. Most people stick between 0.03 and 0.1. you can dose nitrate and phosphate or feed heavy until its up. You can also lighten the amount of nopox being dosed.


Dinos typically occur when nitrate and phosphate reaches 0 or near 0 as the microbiome in the tank is significantly disturbed (meaning much of it dies off and can't reproduce) Dinos are for some reason able to survive in these conditions. If the dinos seem to dissapear at night, a UV sterilizer might work, otherwise I would just get the nitrates and phosphates up and start from there. If it doesn't go away after a few weeks of that, then try to dose competition (such as pns probio, live phyto, or other microbes).


If you have any more questions feel free to message me or reply here

 

[Alanna102499]

Thank you... Started to over feed now, will lower NOPOX to 1/2 of recommended amounts, started 3-5 day Blackout this am. My RO/DI broke last night so I need to find a fitting or buy a new one now. So I can do WC on Thursday / Friday.

 

[Spare time]

It may be a good idea to dose some amino acids or reef energy if you are doing a blackout. I have never done a blackout so I don't know how well individual coral types last but feeding them could help them cope.

 

[Marc2952]

Ok, yes has bubbles on top of it. Stringy and clumpy is how I would describe it. I was under the impression Nitrate should be under 1 and Phosphate as low as possible. I’m guessing I should stop the NOPOX for a while and start to over feed to get these numbers back up, where is the “sweet spot” for each?

Should I blackout? Get Chem-Clean or something? Just waiting on my TDS meter that is arriving on Tuesday to check the new water I’m starting to make for the WC. I can do the water change by Wednesday...

In the meantime I’ll start Researching, thank you for your response.

Man NOPOX is the worst its what caused me to get dinos aswell. Keep your phosphates around .1 and nitrates at 10 and with time they will slowly lose the battle to other bacteria.

 

[Marc2952]

It may be a good idea to dose some amino acids or reef energy if you are doing a blackout. I have never done a blackout so I don't know how well individual coral types last but feeding them could help them cope.

If its dinos then amino acids will just make it worst, they love that stuff.

 

[Dan_P]

Hey All,

Can you take a look at the video, is this Cyano? If so best way to eliminate? If not what is it and how do I remove it. Again tank was taken over in April was a 18 month established tank... Here are my parameters as of yesterday (didn’t test today)

I have just gotten an RODI System, I was getting Sea Water from Petco and using RODI from a LFS. I was thinking of a 3-4 day blackout and a 30% WC this week to eliminate. Yesterday I scraped the sand a little to get some of this out of the tank... Today even worse than yesterday, in deep black with Blue lights and maroon with white lights. Appreciate anyone’s expertise!

For an accurate diagnosis, you will need a microscope to examine the material. The last time that I had a patch like this I carefully scooped a small amount of the brown film with the underlying sand, trying to preserve the structure. In my my case what I found was algse filaments growing in the sand, knitting the sand grains together. On top and amongst the grains I found diatoms and dinoflagellates. I assume that the cause for this messy golden brown sand was the green hair algae which created a nutrient rich environment that encouraged diatom and dinoflagellate growth. Mexican turbo snails was my solution to deal with what seemed to be the root cause. The sand has improved, but not white as snow yet after about 3 weeks (there is not a bit of algae left in the tank)

 

[vetteguy53081]

Reduce light as you have, check on phosphate level and STOP use of noPox which is fuel for dino and Cyano. Siphon lightly and if needed, use zeofood by pohls or ChemiClean

 

[Alanna102499]

Thanks all, day 3 of the blackout. Over feeding adding AB+ for Coral Nutrition and stopped NoPOX... Looks a little lighter on the surface so we will see. I think I will go with the ChemClean option. Plan is Friday to do Water change vacuum and re-light.
I miss my tank :-(

 

[Spare time]

If its dinos then amino acids will just make it worst, they love that stuff.

I was going to try and find any info as to whether or not dinos can uptake free-form amino acids since they do not consume matter

 

[Spare time]

Thanks all, day 3 of the blackout. Over feeding adding AB+ for Coral Nutrition and stopped NoPOX... Looks a little lighter on the surface so we will see. I think I will go with the ChemClean option. Plan is Friday to do Water change vacuum and re-light.
I miss my tank :-(

Chemi clean won't do anything for dinos