HELP! Cyano won't go away!!!

Lowefx · Jan 13, 2017

Hello everyone. I have a 120g about 5 months old using ZEOVIT products. I started with dry sand and dry rocks. I do not overfeed and my lights are on a short time schedule. I also have 2xmp40s, and 2xkoralias moving the water around. Bioload is "extreme" with one small naso and a shrimp. With the KZ products I've recently tried Coral Snow (CS) and Cyano Clean (CC). Recommended 10 days, I went about 16 and didn't notice much of a change. I know there are other good products on the market and I'm looking for some feedback on some that work very well. Also asking if anyone else that uses ZEOVIT, what other products worked will with no ill effect. Thanks for the help #reefsquad !

Diesel · Jan 13, 2017

You treat it for cyano but are you sure it's cyano and not spirulina?

@twilliard

jsker · Jan 13, 2017

I had been fighting red cyano for months and decided to use one of the cyano removers and boy was I happy, and the system is not clean. If you do go that route make sure you run a air store in the DT, the cyano cleaner depletes the oxygen in the system. You skimmer will overflow, just pull the top off the skimmer and let it overflow for 48 hours. Follow the direction on the box closely

Lowefx · Jan 13, 2017

jsker said:
I had been fighting red cyano for months and decided to use one of the cyano removers and boy was I happy, and the system is not clean. If you do go that route make sure you run a air store in the DT, the cyano cleaner depletes the oxygen in the system. You skimmer will overflow, just pull the top off the skimmer and let it overflow for 48 hours. Follow the direction on the box closely

What product was it?

Lowefx · Jan 13, 2017

Diesel said:
You treat it for cyano but are you sure it's cyano and not spirulina?

@twilliard

Just Google it, definitely not it.

thabizness · Jan 13, 2017

I had spirulna and thought it was cyano for a LONG time before I looked at it with a microscope... I increased flow, cut back on feeding, reduced lighting period, dosed vinegar, dosed Vibrant, siphoned it out and it always grew back and laughing at my attempts to stop it.

I dosed Chemiclean. I took the skimmer cup off, added a long airstone, pointed the returns to the surface, added a mj1200 powerhead to the sump, turned up my mp40s for more flow. 48 hourse later my sand bed was clean. 24 hours after that my skimmer was back on line.

Chemiclean worked for me...

Lowefx · Jan 13, 2017

thabizness said:
I had spirulna and thought it was cyano for a LONG time before I looked at it with a microscope... I increased flow, cut back on feeding, reduced lighting period, dosed vinegar, dosed Vibrant, siphoned it out and it always grew back and laughing at my attempts to stop it.

I dosed Chemiclean. I took the skimmer cup off, added a long airstone, pointed the returns to the surface, added a mj1200 powerhead to the sump, turned up my mp40s for more flow. 48 hourse later my sand bed was clean. 24 hours after that my skimmer was back on line.

Chemiclean worked for me...

I may give that a try. Are you using Zeovit in conjunction with chemiclean?

Diesel · Jan 13, 2017

Lowefx said:
Just Google it, definitely not it.

Not it what?

thabizness · Jan 13, 2017

I am not using zeovit but in my research I saw threads about people using that method and it worked. The biggest issue is that u have to add more than normal circulation/flow because chemiclean does suck up O2. You will also need to do at least one large water change after treatment. Your skimmer will go nuts but just take the cup off. Good luck.

jsker · Jan 13, 2017

Lowefx said:
What product was it?

Here you go link

Lowefx · Jan 13, 2017

Ultralife? I'll look into it.

Empress · Jan 13, 2017

thabizness said:
I had spirulna and thought it was cyano for a LONG time before I looked at it with a microscope... I increased flow, cut back on feeding, reduced lighting period, dosed vinegar, dosed Vibrant, siphoned it out and it always grew back and laughing at my attempts to stop it.

I dosed Chemiclean. I took the skimmer cup off, added a long airstone, pointed the returns to the surface, added a mj1200 powerhead to the sump, turned up my mp40s for more flow. 48 hourse later my sand bed was clean. 24 hours after that my skimmer was back on line.

Chemiclean worked for me...

I have a cheap microscope that I would like to use to distinguish cyano from spirulina.

First off, how would I remove a piece of the bacteria/algae from the sand bed without pulling up too much of the sand? Is it ok if some of the sand gets on the slide? Under what power is it best to view?

Second question is what should I look for? How would I know which is which? Do you have a picture or drawing that would help? Do they look totally different from each other or are they very much the same?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm absolutely fascinated by this microscope and would love it put it to good use. Thank you!

Diesel · Jan 13, 2017

Without knowing for what you dealing with it's hard to treat.
You have a 50/50 chance, Vibrant will go after your spirulina and Ho2o will treat your cyano.

thabizness · Jan 13, 2017

I used a old syringe that came with a test kit to suck up some and placed on the slide. Honestly it took a few tries to get get a cyano mat with little sand on the slide. I then checked Google and confirmed with Twillard on the images.

thabizness · Jan 13, 2017

Here is the image that Twillard confirmed for me. Look for the spirals.

Diesel · Jan 13, 2017

Easy test is to get some so called cyano out your tank and put it in a clear cup.
Add 3ml of Ho2o to that and swirl for a few seconds
Let it stand overnight, if color change on the red stuff we talking cyano if not its spirulina.

Lowefx · Jan 13, 2017

Diesel said:
Easy test is to get some so called cyano out your tank and put it in a clear cup.
Add 3ml of Ho2o to that and swirl for a few seconds
Let it stand overnight, if color change on the red stuff we talking cyano if not its spirulina.

By h020, do you mean hydrogen peroxide and if so, isn't that h202? I just need clarification.