RHA/Cyano

[BC1906]

Hey everyone. So I have been dealing with what I think is some red hair algae and/or cyano in my BioCube. I installed a new hydra twentysix HD but I am mainly only running the blues at 25% and the white at like 5%. I do have a tendency to over feed my fish and corals which I know is part of the problem. I currently have chemipure blue which does not appear to be taking care of the problem.

My question is, what should I get to help this problem? Would a skimmer work or should I look into a phosban reactor? I do weekly water changes of 10-20% and 40% once a month. I feed rods frozen food and my corals get reef-roids.

 

[RyanCSGO]

Skimmers can help a ton. I prefer to run a larger than "required"
I don't run a reactor, and I've seen plenty of successful tanks without them.
Personally I would definitely look into a good skimmer at the least. each tank is different.

 

[BC1906]

Any suggestions for a skimmer? Preferably one that will not break the bank.

 

[RyanCSGO]

your cube an AIO ? or do you have a sump?

 

[Diesel]

Are you sure it's cyano?

@twilliard

 

[reeferfoxx]

@twilliard Can maybe help you with this one.

 

[BC1906]

your cube an AIO ? or do you have a sump?

No sump. The only thing I have added was a media basket made out of eggcrate, an ATO, a rw4 powerhead and the Hydra 26. The only thing I am treating with is chemipure blue.

Are you sure it's cyano?

@twilliard

I am not sure if it is cyano. The stuff on the sand kind of looks like it but on the rocks it is definitely red hair algae.

 

[RyanCSGO]

theres something like this for bio cubes
http://www.marinedepot.com/Coralife...for_Aquariums-Coralife-OA82053-FIAQAA-vi.html

unless you have the room for a HOB style that is a bit larger.

 

[BC1906]

theres something like this for bio cubes
http://www.marinedepot.com/Coralife...for_Aquariums-Coralife-OA82053-FIAQAA-vi.html

unless you have the room for a HOB style that is a bit larger.

I actually do have some room in the back for a HOB if those would work better

 

[reeferfoxx]

This was my cyano thread. Kinda short but twilliard helped me ID it.

http://reef2reef.com/threads/id-please.248418/

 

[RyanCSGO]

I actually do have some room in the back for a HOB if those would work better

look up the Tunze 9002 or aquamax HOB-1 (there are several others, search "best nano skimmers")
just verify the DIMS you have available vs the skimmer your leaning towards. always better to go with a skimmer rated for more than your tank IMO.

 

[twilliard]

Thanks guys as I have been busy with my attorney today
Here is the thing about what you are seeing.
It is one of 2 things
Cyanobacteria or spirulina
Now these 2 different things have 2 different treatments
Can you rid your tank of these? Yes
Here is a test to know what you have
Take a small section of the problem area
Put that in 2 cups of tank water
Add 1ml of h2o2 to that container
Wait 24 hours
If the water turns a pink color and the tested section green it's cyanobacteria
If it doesn't do any change its spirulina

 

[BC1906]

Thanks guys as I have been busy with my attorney today
Here is the thing about what you are seeing.
It is one of 2 things
Cyanobacteria or spirulina
Now these 2 different things have 2 different treatments
Can you rid your tank of these? Yes
Here is a test to know what you have
Take a small section of the problem area
Put that in 2 cups of tank water
Add 1ml of h2o2 to that container
Wait 24 hours
If the water turns a pink color and the tested section green it's cyanobacteria
If it doesn't do any change its spirulina

So I did these steps last night and I checked it this morning before I went to work. I do not see an signs of pink in the water or the sample turing green so I believe I am dealing with spirulina. What are my options for taking care of this? HOB Skimmer?

 

[reeferfoxx]

So I did these steps last night and I checked it this morning before I went to work. I do not see an signs of pink in the water or the sample turing green so I believe I am dealing with spirulina. What are my options for taking care of this? HOB Skimmer?

Ooops i read that wrong, sorry.

 

[twilliard]

So I did these steps last night and I checked it this morning before I went to work. I do not see an signs of pink in the water or the sample turing green so I believe I am dealing with spirulina. What are my options for taking care of this? HOB Skimmer?

Spirulina is best taken care of with the use of chemiclean as I have not dug into any other chemical method for spirulina.
Spirulina is actually beneficial to take life the problem is when it gets out of control.

 

[BC1906]

Spirulina is best taken care of with the use of chemiclean as I have not dug into any other chemical method for spirulina.
Spirulina is actually beneficial to take life the problem is when it gets out of control.

I will def look into the chemiclean. I am using chemipure blue now and it does not seem to be helping much. I am also going to look at a skimmer. I don't think it will hurt to get one and hopefully will help a little.

 

[twilliard]

I will def look into the chemiclean. I am using chemipure blue now and it does not seem to be helping much. I am also going to look at a skimmer. I don't think it will hurt to get one and hopefully will help a little.

Chemipure is a carbon
Chemiclean is a medication
Having a skimmer will help remove DOC'S (dissolved organic compounds ) which will aid in the control of no3 and po4

 

[BC1906]

Chemipure is a carbon
Chemiclean is a medication
Having a skimmer will help remove DOC'S (dissolved organic compounds ) which will aid in the control of no3 and po4

So I came home and looked at the sample and the red changed to green. I don't see any pink in the water though. I just purchased an Aquamaxx HOB-1 and I should get it Thursday. Is the treatment still that chemiclean or do have any other advice since it changed color

 

[twilliard]

So I came home and looked at the sample and the red changed to green. I don't see any pink in the water though. I just purchased an Aquamaxx HOB-1 and I should get it Thursday. Is the treatment still that chemiclean or do have any other advice since it changed color

The pink will be dependant on the size of the sample.
You have the common cyanobacteria
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/back-at-it-peroxide-vrs-cyanobacteria.241002/

I would start there

 

[BC1906]

The pink will be dependant on the size of the sample.
You have the common cyanobacteria
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/back-at-it-peroxide-vrs-cyanobacteria.241002/

I would start there

Thanks. I got to about the 18th page so far. What did you conclude the dosing should be? Still 1:10?