Molybdenum

[OceanL0ver]

Randy,
My recent triton test revealed 3 x normal molybdenum. My tank is also having cyano. How can I lower? Carbon, metasorb, water changes? Any help greatly appreciated

 

[OceanL0ver]

Doesn’t necessarily need to be Randy if he’s busy. Anyone?

 

[dragon99]

What did the triton ICP recommend? I think the only way to reduce Mo is water changes.

 

[OceanL0ver]

Sorry I forgot they add a help section. It says water changes with triton pure.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I doubt it is a problem and it is unlikely to be driving the cyano, but metasorb or other metal binders may work. The complication is that trace elements can exist in many forms, and not all act in the same way toward things like binders.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Are you adding molybdenum? If not. I might look for metal parts in contact with the water. Is any other metal elevated?

 

[OceanL0ver]

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

With zinc elevated too, I'd continue to look for metal parts in the water, but I don't consider either value an emergency.

 

[OceanL0ver]

I add Red Sea colors/trace elements. I’ve never had cyano and it’s bad. Nitrate 20 ppm. Phoshate level is on triton test (normal)

 

[OceanL0ver]

The only metal in contact with water would be pwerheads. Mp 40. So no magnet. Also return pump and skimmer motors. Nothing else I’ve torn my sump down looking. Any help with the cyano?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Cyano is often best dealt with by more flow, reduced organics, manual removal, and as a last ditch, antibiotic treatment.

 

[OceanL0ver]

Ok Randy. Thanks for your replies. I thought maybe I found the reason I was getting cyano after triton test came back saying increased molybdenum causes cyano. I’ll just increase flow, feed less, and manually remove.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok Randy. Thanks for your replies. I thought maybe I found the reason I was getting cyano after triton test came back saying increased molybdenum causes cyano. I’ll just increase flow, feed less, and manually remove.

I'm always bothered when people say elevated anything "causes" cyano (or algae). Like any photosynthetic organism, it needs enough of lots of things to survive, and more of any one of those things does not likely make it grow out of control.

You need vitamins to grow. If you take way more vitamins than needed, do you grow faster? Not usually.

 

[OceanL0ver]

Do I need to be careful with metasorb? Will it strip beneficial metals/elements