Is this algae coloration good???
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Salty-Noob
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That pad I have in The back if my biocube???
Why are we just focussing on RO? You could be using 0 TDS RO water and still get cyano through improper filtration and/or overfeeding. Do the following:
1. Big Water Change - 20-25%. Use RO water (verify its good with a TDS meter, they're cheap) to mix your salt in. Vac up all the cyano and detritus you can find.
2. Wet Skim - Set your skimmer to so it pulls a lot more wet material out. I don't know what skimmer you have, so I can't help you in doing this.
3. Run a phosphate absorber. Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO) seems to be a favorite. You can so this in one of 3 ways listed in terms of effectivness: 1. Via a reactor (the TLF reactor will be fine) 2. via a cannister filter or 3. via a filter sock in the sump or in the line of filtration somewhere.
4. Cut back on your feeding while the bloom continues.
5. Increase the waterflow inside the tank.
6. Do another big waterchange in a week being sure to get any additional cyano and detritus.
That should get your started on the way to fixing the problem.
1. Big Water Change - 20-25%. Use RO water (verify its good with a TDS meter, they're cheap) to mix your salt in. Vac up all the cyano and detritus you can find.
2. Wet Skim - Set your skimmer to so it pulls a lot more wet material out. I don't know what skimmer you have, so I can't help you in doing this.
3. Run a phosphate absorber. Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO) seems to be a favorite. You can so this in one of 3 ways listed in terms of effectivness: 1. Via a reactor (the TLF reactor will be fine) 2. via a cannister filter or 3. via a filter sock in the sump or in the line of filtration somewhere.
4. Cut back on your feeding while the bloom continues.
5. Increase the waterflow inside the tank.
6. Do another big waterchange in a week being sure to get any additional cyano and detritus.
That should get your started on the way to fixing the problem.
I think you are confusing cyano with diatoms!
I ask about ro water because cyano is bacteria not algae it dosnt feed on phosphate it feeds on silicate
oceanparadise1
The Coral Dudes
Now granted, I've been out of the hobby for 10 years, and perhaps the science has changed but...
1. Diatoms feed on silicate. Read the first paragraph of this article by Dr. Homes-farley : Feature Article: Silica In Reef Aquariums ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog
2. Cyano eats nitrates and phosphates and is helped by low flow. Silicates play a very small role in what cyano eats. Description, Causes and Cures for Red Slime Algae (Cyanobacteria)
So... what am I missing?
Just to drive my point home, there was a thread on that "other" reef board regarding people trying to use Cyano as a nutrient (read as Phosphate, Nitrate, and other crap) export mechanism similar to what's being done with the Algal Turf Scrubbers.
Now the reason people see 0 Phosphate during a Cyano bloom is that its all tied up in the Cyano.
Now the reason people see 0 Phosphate during a Cyano bloom is that its all tied up in the Cyano.
thartsockpg
Community Member
you use RO water do do a water change. RO stands for reverse osmosis. you need to have a RO unit or buy the RO water to get it. it is the most pure form(has zero TDS(total disolved solids) in it. mix the salt into the RO water for at least a few hours before you change the water.
also from what i know cyano eats phosphates and nitrates not silicates. it does not feed off of light either since it is a bacteria not a algae.
do lots of small water changes around 7-10 gallons and cut down on feeding. lets say feed every other day and make sure your fish eat all the food you give them. if they do not eat all the food then you are over feeding.
hope this helps i know cyano is a very hard thing to overcome. best of luck!
also from what i know cyano eats phosphates and nitrates not silicates. it does not feed off of light either since it is a bacteria not a algae.
do lots of small water changes around 7-10 gallons and cut down on feeding. lets say feed every other day and make sure your fish eat all the food you give them. if they do not eat all the food then you are over feeding.
hope this helps i know cyano is a very hard thing to overcome. best of luck!
Salty-Noob
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Thanks for all of your guys input now I know I can mix the RO and saltwater to do my water changes (correct me if I'm wrong). Feed less and more water changes
Salty-Noob
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So if I get saltwater already there's no point in getting RO!!!
Eric B
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What kind of flow and what do you have making the flow inside of your tank. All statements above are good advice but the only time I have ever seen a cyno outbreak in a tank is mainly due to lack of flow in the tank. I would agree that your phosphates and nitrates are probably a little high as well but if you continue with water changes and increase the flow in the tank you should see the cyno go away.
You 2 questions above are correct you can use RO to mix your saltwater for water changes and if you buy saltwater from an aquarium store already mixed I would also get some RO as that is what you will use in order to top off the evaporation from the tank. You always want to fill the evaporation as the water evaporates but the salt in the water does not causing salinity swings in the tank. Hope that answers some of your questions.
You 2 questions above are correct you can use RO to mix your saltwater for water changes and if you buy saltwater from an aquarium store already mixed I would also get some RO as that is what you will use in order to top off the evaporation from the tank. You always want to fill the evaporation as the water evaporates but the salt in the water does not causing salinity swings in the tank. Hope that answers some of your questions.
