Treatment options for cyano?

[Miami Reef]

@Dan_P @taricha @ScottB

What causes cyano in aquariums? How do we remedy it?

Does cyano go away on its own, or is chemi clean the only solution for it?

I personally dealt with cyano in a tank that didn’t seem to go away until I dosed chemi clean. I feel reluctant to recommend anyone to dose this chemical, even though it worked for me.

I know Paul B has cyano is his 50+ year old tank.

What causes it? How do we treat it?

 

[Miami Reef]

Here’s an example of an anonymous user who I’m trying to help.

I see diatoms and what looks like cyano. I’m sure there are other things mixed in, but I can’t tell from the smaller microscoped pictures towards the end.

 

[Sean Clark]

OK so I will probably take some flack for this. I am a strong advocator for standard 3% Hydrogen Peroxide. I feel that it is far less aggressive than Chemiclean. It will not make your skimmer go crazy and it works. I am sure there are guides here, but my recipe is 2.5ml/gallon, evaluate after 24 hours. dose again if needed. Done. Odds are at your anonymous user levels a second dose will not be needed.

 

[Simon Reefing]

OK so I will probably take some flack for this. I am a strong advocator for standard 3% Hydrogen Peroxide. I feel that it is far less aggressive than Chemiclean. It will not make your skimmer go crazy and it works. I am sure there are guides here, but my recipe is 2.5ml/gallon, evaluate after 24 hours. dose again if needed. Done. Odds are at your anonymous user levels a second dose will not be needed.

I like Hydrogen as well. Is this dosage safe for all corals and inverts and pod’s?

 

[Sean Clark]

I like Hydrogen as well. Is this dosage safe for all corals and inverts and pod’s?

ALL??? I wouldn't make that statement. This is a well researched topic and I would direct anyone looking for specific animal compatibility look that animal up. Anecdotally, I have not had any issues with any fish, corals, or inverts including pods over a 48 hour dosing (2 doses) at 2.5ml/gallon.

 

[Tamberav]

When I dip fish..I use 1.5ml per cup so definitely should not bother fish at that dosage.

 

[131696]

Keep your tank stable , rountine maintenance no slacking and keep your ratio right there with be no algae at all none.

 

[gbroadbridge]

@Dan_P @taricha @ScottB

What causes cyano in aquariums? How do we remedy it?

Does cyano go away on its own, or is chemi clean the only solution for it?

I personally dealt with cyano in a tank that didn’t seem to go away until I dosed chemi clean. I feel reluctant to recommend anyone to dose this chemical, even though it worked for me.

I know Paul B has cyano is his 50+ year old tank.

What causes it? How do we treat it?

The same thing that causes cyano bacterial blooms in nature.

Something has become unbalanced or unstable, which is why it is common.

I've never seen a case that can't be treated by solving the underlying issue, or by letting the underlying issue resolve itself.

 

[Dan_P]

@Dan_P @taricha @ScottB

What causes cyano in aquariums? How do we remedy it?

Does cyano go away on its own, or is chemi clean the only solution for it?

I personally dealt with cyano in a tank that didn’t seem to go away until I dosed chemi clean. I feel reluctant to recommend anyone to dose this chemical, even though it worked for me.

I know Paul B has cyano is his 50+ year old tank.

What causes it? How do we treat it?

@Lasse has ideas on the subject of cyanobacteria causes and remedies.

 

[BrianH]

I successfully used this method recently. 2.5ML per 10 gallons every day for 7 days with lights turned down to lowest setting with blues only. I also dosed twice a day (1.25 ML) at lights out and prior to lights on.

 

[Jekyl]

Live phyto dosing seemed to knock mine out better than chemiclean did.

 

[CourtNjoeZreef]

I use Oceanmajik from algaebarn for live phyto (how its alive is beyond me)

I also did a vac of my sump cleaned the sponges out (the bubble filter thingies)

I sucked out all the cyano I could get to in the tank off the rocks and vacuumed the sand bed (as I do weekly for water changes)

30gallons was exchanged in the process.

Does cyan like warmer water temps? I was keeping it around 79-80 degrees

Phosphate is at .04 hanna
Nitrate is at 1ppm nyos
Alk 8.5 hanna
Calc 435 salifert
Mag 1400ish (those kits are fun to use) seachem
Salinity 34

 

[Miami Reef]

I use Oceanmajik from algaebarn for live phyto (how its alive is beyond me)

I also did a vac of my sump cleaned the sponges out (the bubble filter thingies)

I sucked out all the cyano I could get to in the tank off the rocks and vacuumed the sand bed (as I do weekly for water changes)

30gallons was exchanged in the process.

Does cyan like warmer water temps? I was keeping it around 79-80 degrees

Phosphate is at .04 hanna
Nitrate is at 1ppm nyos
Alk 8.5 hanna
Calc 435 salifert
Mag 1400ish (those kits are fun to use) seachem
Salinity 34

This is the user who we are trying to help. The pictures above are from his tank.

 

[Miami Reef]

@CourtNjoeZreef

I think your parameters are spot on.

I would personally first do the h202 treatment that @Sean Clark mentioned. Let us know what you decide to do.

 

[Lavey29]

Live phyto dosing seemed to knock mine out better than chemiclean did.

I always go for the natural solution first and avoid chemicals for algae or bacteria related issues.

 

[Lavey29]

Somewhat relative to the OP thread but have you guys noticed that almost all mature tanks seem to have some form of cyano living in their sandbeds? Not on top but below and visible through the glass. I turkey baste my sand every water change and it still lives in there with its reddish hue.

Perhaps it's just part of the eco balance in a reef tank?

 

[CourtNjoeZreef]

Somewhat relative to the OP thread but have you guys noticed that almost all mature tanks seem to have some form of cyano living in their sandbeds? Not on top but below and visible through the glass. I turkey baste my sand every water change and it still lives in there with its reddish hue.

Perhaps it's just part of the eco balance in a reef tank?

If that was where it was I wouldn't be worried but it covers my purdy corals

 

[CourtNjoeZreef]

I always go for the natural solution first and avoid chemicals for algae or bacteria related issues.

I have chemiclean but I'm avoiding that. I'm doing something wrong or there is an imbalance

 

[CourtNjoeZreef]

@CourtNjoeZreef

I think your parameters are spot on.

I would personally first do the h202 treatment that @Sean Clark mentioned. Let us know what you decide to do.

I'm going to give it a shot. 2.5mlx91g=227.5 ml

 

[Lavey29]

If that was where it was I wouldn't be worried but it covers my purdy corals

I would just keep dosing good bacteria to outcompete it. I really like PNS probio now assuming you have your water parameters good.