Cyanobacteria problem.. help

[Angelo Fatica]

What are you using for filtration?

I'm using media baskets right now I took out the sponges and stuff and all I'm using is carbon and filter floss because I have been hardcore cleaning and want to catch all the algae and crap going through I usually have sponge, floss and chemi pure elite media in the back compartment

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Ok good. You'll want to make sure you Hernandez lots of funky stuff in the floss and change it often. Make sure your not getting a big build up of funk in the back chambers. Its what they call a nitrate factory.
Plus it'll blow back into the display.

Make sure you have plenty of snails in there to clean up for you.

Something is fueling the cyano. Po4 nitrates , dissolved organics or high co2. Generally.

 

[Angelo Fatica]

I just tested and everything is dang near perfect. My best guess would be po4 but my issue is trying to figure out why. I am going to go to one of my lfs tomorrow to see any aid and go to another and better one Monday to see if they have anything better

 

[Murica]

About a year running, I can't stand bare bottoms, is there a reason?

Sand holds lots of nutrients in it. No sand, no excess nutrients. I had cyano and went bare bottom, zero issues with practically everything now

 

[Angelo Fatica]

Sand holds lots of nutrients in it. No sand, no excess nutrients. I had cyano and went bare bottom, zero issues with practically everything now

I don't know, I think that would be my last resort because I love having sand I would do a deep clean of it but I don't want to disturb bacteria in there or release any harmful bacteria into the tank

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Sand holds lots of nutrients in it. No sand, no excess nutrients. I had cyano and went bare bottom, zero issues with practically everything now

I don't know, I think that would be my last resort because I love having sand I would do a deep clean of it but I don't want to disturb bacteria in there or release any harmful bacteria into the tank

IMO yes. Sand holds too much poo.

IME sand should be a Dsb or shallow enough to clean easily.
That's actually my only critics on this tank. The sand isn't quite right for a Dsb , and too deep to clean
You don't have to worry about disturbing bacteria. It's tiny and stick to every thing.

It's leaving sand alone and letting it build up detritus that becomes the problem.
Or disturbing it after a long period and stirring up that detritus.

 

[Angelo Fatica]

Quite honestly though I've been wondering if I should just break down my 40 gallon planted freshwater breeding tank and sell my all in one and just convert everything. I know it sounds nuts but I'm running out of room with corals and would like to see them grow out more. I also want to keep some of my old favorite fish (melanaurus, puffer, yellow tang, stuff like that) and honestly it would seem better if I could have more space for filtration and even a hob protein skimmer.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Lol.
I had black sand in my biocube and wound up with massive cyano.

Upgraded.

Cyano made when me do it.

 

[Angelo Fatica]

Lol.
I had black sand in my biocube and wound up with massive cyano.

Upgraded.

Cyano made when me do it.

It's tempting to just go back to my first ever set up, I had a 30 gallon long tank with t5s and hob skimmer and filtration and honestly I kept some of the coolest fish I just want to go back the only thing holding me back is buying t5 set up. They're expensive!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Chasing the dragon.
Sigh.

 

[Angelo Fatica]

Chasing the dragon.
Sigh.

?

 

[Sherman]

If no skimmer just change water more frequent. In the long run u still need a skimmer to export yr nutrient fast

 

[Angelo Fatica]

If no skimmer just change water more frequent. In the long run u still need a skimmer to export yr nutrient fast

I hear ya that's what I've been doing recently

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

?

It's an old saying.

 

[Mindi]

Everytime I've experienced this problem, it was due to low flow rates. Once I added 2 Koralia water circulation pumps, problem corrected itself within a couple weeks. I have a 75 gal display. I use the 1500gph sized pumps. I try to never band-aide problems with chemical quick fixes. Hope this helps - good luck.

Me too...only thing I have every improved it with is more water movement. I used Boyd ChemiClean and killed both my Sarcophytons. Of course I may have made a dosing error but I am very careful with things like that and double checked it... it did not fix the Cyano either.

 

[dsh92056]

What type of water are you using and what do you get it from

 

[Angelo Fatica]

What type of water are you using and what do you get it from

Distilled water, store

 

[Sherman]

Bottled water ? Just ensure tds is zero

 

[xjiang7]

Definitely get a skimmer. Red slime can feed on organics if you see lots of them that's probably what's going on. Try to syphon them out during water change and replace your active carbon more frequently

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Distilled water, store

Bottled water ? Just ensure tds is zero

Bottled water won't be zero tds. Minerals are added for flavor. I've seen some tanks do ok on bottled water and some that don't. IMO it's a 50/50.