jps1981
New Member
Hey, guys. Thanks in advance for your time. I have been sticking to this guide (HOW2REEF: The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium) since I started my aquarium around February of 2015. I am stuck at the "Stage 5: Cyanobacteria" section:
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Stage 1: Ammonia Cycle [...]
Stage 2: Nitrite Cycle [...]
Stage 3: Nitrate Cycle [...]
Stage 4: Diatoms [...]
Stage 5: Cyanobacteria
"Cyanobacteria will now begin its course. Again you will let the slime just do its thing. This will be the nastiest of the stages. Cyanobacteria can gross some people out, especially if they catch a whiff of it. It is best to leave it be. It will start to clear up eventually. The clearing of the slime makes way for yet another stage."
Stage 6: Green/Brown algae [...]
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This stage really came on hard right after we moved the tank to a new house back in October 2015, and it's been going strong ever since. The guide doesn't say how long it's supposed to last. It's been about 3 months, not counting what started a month or two before the move. I am getting concerned at this point.
It's a 30g FOWLR. Between 5-10g water changes every 2 weeks with a teaspoon of Kent Marine Essential Elements. The levels (API Master Test Kit) are all great and in safe ranges. Nitrate drifts between 10 and 25 between changes. Salt level is fine. pH is padded up to 8.3 as needed (every 6 weeks or s0). Temperature always reads around 77f. Current is provided by 2x 450gph powerheads. Fed 1/4tsp frozen bits from LFS 1x per day. Light is a Finnex Stingray. The fish seem to do well enough. Small community of a pistol shrimp, 2x clowns, a firefish, 3x snails
... anyway, point being, the husbandry seems fine. But the Cyanobacteria's long term persistence has me concerned.
Any thoughts? Thanks again.
-------------------------------------------------
Stage 1: Ammonia Cycle [...]
Stage 2: Nitrite Cycle [...]
Stage 3: Nitrate Cycle [...]
Stage 4: Diatoms [...]
Stage 5: Cyanobacteria
"Cyanobacteria will now begin its course. Again you will let the slime just do its thing. This will be the nastiest of the stages. Cyanobacteria can gross some people out, especially if they catch a whiff of it. It is best to leave it be. It will start to clear up eventually. The clearing of the slime makes way for yet another stage."
Stage 6: Green/Brown algae [...]
-----------------------------------------------------
This stage really came on hard right after we moved the tank to a new house back in October 2015, and it's been going strong ever since. The guide doesn't say how long it's supposed to last. It's been about 3 months, not counting what started a month or two before the move. I am getting concerned at this point.
It's a 30g FOWLR. Between 5-10g water changes every 2 weeks with a teaspoon of Kent Marine Essential Elements. The levels (API Master Test Kit) are all great and in safe ranges. Nitrate drifts between 10 and 25 between changes. Salt level is fine. pH is padded up to 8.3 as needed (every 6 weeks or s0). Temperature always reads around 77f. Current is provided by 2x 450gph powerheads. Fed 1/4tsp frozen bits from LFS 1x per day. Light is a Finnex Stingray. The fish seem to do well enough. Small community of a pistol shrimp, 2x clowns, a firefish, 3x snails
... anyway, point being, the husbandry seems fine. But the Cyanobacteria's long term persistence has me concerned.
Any thoughts? Thanks again.
