Post-Dinos, Now Cyano: Best management without nuking?

[beesnreefs]

TL;DR version - I've got a nice outbreak of cyano pretty much everywhere on the sand. What's the best way to deal with cyano without nuke-bomb treatments like Chemiclean?

Longer version...

System is a little over 5 months old. Started with marco-rock, OceanDirect live sand, live rock and live sand from AquaBiomics. About 2 months ago my nutrients bottomed out and I got one heck of a dinos infestation. Confirmed small cell amphidinum by microscope and began treating the tank by:

• Adding several jars of Jay's Reef Bugs 7-species copepods
• Dosing live phyto daily (about 30 mL a day)
• Dosing beneficial bacteria daily (rotation of 5 mL MB7 one day, 5 mL EcoBalance the next day, 10 mL AF LifeSource mud the 3rd day, repeat)
• Dosing NeoNitro and NeoPhos to maintain 100:1 ratio (testing every morning before dosing)
• Stopped aminos
• Added 8 lbs of Tampa Bay Saltwater live rubble to sump

Over the next few weeks dinos diminished rather quickly. Then, a few weeks ago, red cyano started appearing. Here's a video of what the sand looks like today: Cyano Sand

I vacuumed as much of the cyano off the sand as I could about a week ago so this is roughly 1-week's growth now.

I've only been reefing for 3 years but one thing I've very much come to believe is the old adage, "nothing good happens fast in a reef tank." As much as possible, I prefer to go the more natural, slow and steady route. My goal is to build a healthy system that can last a long time. I do not want to use nuclear interventions like Chemiclean if I can avoid it.

With that in mind, what's the best way to deal with cyano without a nuclear attack like Chemiclean?

Do I just keep doing what I'm doing and let the system mature and equalize on its own? In other words, "JUST BE PATIENT!"

Do I go heavier on the phyto dosing?

Are there critters I could/should add to the system that might eat cyano?

Something else I'm not thinking of?

 

[Rp8]

I’ve had success battling cyano by balancing out my nutrients and raising flow
Mine started with low no3 and high po4

 

[Rp8]

What are your nutrient levels?

 

[beesnreefs]

What are your nutrient levels?

Steady Eddie now after several weeks of daily testing and dosing when needed

 

[Rp8]

“Bee patient” and maybe adjust your flow to break it up and let good bacteria on the sand bed get the chance to catch up.
Best of luck

 

[beesnreefs]

“Bee patient” and maybe adjust your flow to break it up and let good bacteria on the sand bed get the chance to catch up.
Best of luck

Thanks! I think that’s exactly what I’ll do