Cyanobacteria fix?

ArowanaLover1902 · Dec 17, 2017

I've been having these annoying algae problems, first a huge bubble algae outbreak, and now cyano. It's growing over the sandbed, its the only problem in my tank, my corals and fish are perfect, as is everything else. I do weekly waterchanges and am pretty on top of my filtration changes. The thing is I run a full time refugium, it doesn't grow algae very well though, I don't know why it isn't eating whatever the algae is. It's just nasty red slime algae, none of my cleaning crew is eating it either. Any suggestions?

Ashish Patel · Dec 17, 2017

I have this yellow slime growing on my sand the past few weeks. I also had a smell which prompted me to remove my mud, 50% sand, replaced carbon, did 3 waterchanges but the slime/smell persisted. Nutrients as always tested near 0 so was not sure what else to rule out!

Then it hit me - Frozen food ! I ran out of LFS reef frenzy and been using this large bag of frozen mysis which I had gotten from TBS aquatic close out sale. It did thaw out in my car a bit but never thought much of it. Turns out it does smell slightly funky frozen and I believe this to be my issue.

If you have high nutrients then this is likely you issue in controlling slime. Never overlook anything in this hobby I am still learning this after many years!

ArowanaLover1902 · Dec 17, 2017

I don't use frozen food, I barely feed at all, all I use is Kent's microvert and phytoplankton in very small amounts

Ashish Patel · Dec 17, 2017

How bad is you cyano problem?

Ashish Patel · Dec 17, 2017

Need more information on your tank. Might just be normal process for your tank!

1. How old is your tank?
2. Do you test Nitrate/ Phosphates? if yes what are you parameters?
3. Livestock.
4. Dry rock or LR?

ArowanaLover1902 · Dec 17, 2017

Ehh medium bad, its growing across the sand bed, the tank is a year old, I haven't tested in a bit, last I checked (two weeks ago I think, everything was fine, N and P were at 0). Livestock is 2 clowns, a royal gramma, and 2 small yellow watchman gobies. It's all live rock and very health/diverse, lots of little critters and pods.

Ashish Patel · Dec 17, 2017

Its difficult to say.. Only time I tend to get cyano is from food and phosphate spikes. If the tank is healthy It should pass... if it gets worst siphon top layer of sand and that should reduce its strength some..

Mike220 · Dec 17, 2017

I have almost the same problem. Will find out what is caught.

ArowanaLover1902 · Dec 18, 2017

Yeah I've been doing manual removal, its still growing though. I've removed almost every visible part of it from the sandbed twice now. I really need some more creatures to stir up my sandbed, I use to have a pistol shrimp that protected every inch of sand in the aquarium, he hated algae (except macroalgae, which he actually farmed and would use in his lair), but he was killed by my peppermint shrimp.

krbnsol · Dec 18, 2017

I did the manual removal for a month with not much luck. I did the lights out attempt as well - which sort of worked but ultimately it came back. I just switched out my RO/DI filters and hoping that helps out long term. Short term, I gave up and went with Chemiclean. That stuff doesn't mess around and am now on day 2 post application. Skimmer looks like like a fizzing soda can.....but its worth a shot.