Treatment options for cyano?

JGT · Mar 22, 2022

Sean Clark said:
I don't run GFO, but I would not remove any media except maybe resins like Purigen. GFO, Carbon will not be an issue. The skimmer stays on the entire time. UV if you have it I would ensure was on as the Cyano will be in the water column and the UV will be an nice 1-2 punch. I have not seen any issue on Chaeto or mangroves.

How long lasting was the H2O2 application in your case?

Sean Clark · Mar 22, 2022

JGT said:
How long lasting was the H2O2 application in your case?

Could you rephrase this for me, I don't know if you are asking how long did I dose the h2o2, how long did the h2o2 stay in the system, or how long until cyano came back.

JGT · Mar 22, 2022

Sean Clark said:
Could you rephrase this for me, I don't know if you are asking how long did I dose the h2o2, how long did the h2o2 stay in the system, or how long until cyano came back.

The latter-est.

Sean Clark · Mar 22, 2022

JGT said:
The latter-est.

Thanks. I have done this multiple times over the years. Every time the Cyano took hold was after some kind of large change or disturbance to the tank that caused some type of imbalance in the system. Once the Cyano is knocked back it has stayed under control until the next upset to the ecosystem. This has been years for me before. I only use this as a tool to get back in front of the Cyano. Long term control will depend on the ecosystem. So I guess the short answer is that your mileage will vary. The last time I did this was back in November 2021 on my new system that got wet in May 2021 and I have not had any resurgence of Cyano since. Establishing a healthily and balanced system is key to keeping it in check.

JGT · Mar 22, 2022

OK, that makes sense. Thanks.

ians pico · Mar 22, 2022

Subsea said:
Macro algae will be decimated at that dosage. I grew ornamental seaweeds commercially, both indoors and outdoors in a greenhouse. I sold to LFS: I grew 55G monocultures of Bortacladia, Halymenia and Gracilaria Parvispor. When GHA contaminated Bortacladia monoculture, because as a high end money crop it merited special attention. I set up a 55G test tank in my dining room as a vertical loop tumble culture. I removed a small portion from aquaculture tank and placed in test tank. My first test was to dip infected macro in 10% solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide for 30 seconds and put in test tank, hoping to kill gha on surface of desirable macro algae. Both died. Even at 5 second dip both died. So then I skipped the dip and added 50 ml to 55G tank, both died within a few days.

How would you dose and avoid killing the chaeto?

Subsea · Mar 22, 2022

ians pico said:
How would you dose and avoid killing the chaeto?

I disagree with the post. Hydrogen peroxide is a very strong oxidizer and very reactive. When I use peroxide in tank, it’s spot treated with syringe or toothbrush.

When I had a swimming pool, I used peroxide instead of chlorine.

Simon Reefing · Mar 22, 2022

I will say my tank is still very cloudy and has a weird smell I don’t know if this was because my skimmer overflowed and dumped back into tank. Corals are still closed and Im a bit worried about my pods and refugium. Chateo was looking a bit whiteish. I did a 25-30 gallon water change I’m hoping that clears the tank up. Cyano is gone but I have a few pieces still. Im just a bit worried about my pods and corals and refugium. Hopefully everything clears up by tonight

Sean Clark · Mar 22, 2022

Subsea said:
I disagree with the post. Hydrogen peroxide is a very strong oxidizer and very reactive. When I use peroxide in tank, it’s spot treated with syringe or toothbrush.

When I had a swimming pool, I used peroxide instead of chlorine.

Having a CPO myself and having operating a public pool for over 13 years, I will simply say that the use case here is not exactly applicable to the situation. No properly maintained pool would accumulate Cyanobacteria. Maintaining a bacteria free environment is far easier than finding the balance of good/bad bacteria for a reef tank. I use Lanthanum Chloride too, which is a common pool chemical. That alone does not make it bad.

Anyone thinking about using h2o2 for Cyano would have a high concentration and thus the higher dose to knock it back.

"Shocking" a pool comes to mind.

Sean Clark · Mar 22, 2022

Marcelo Simon said:
I will say my tank is still very cloudy and has a weird smell I don’t know if this was because my skimmer overflowed and dumped back into tank. Corals are still closed and Im a bit worried about my pods and refugium. Chateo was looking a bit whiteish. I did a 25-30 gallon water change I’m hoping that clears the tank up. Cyano is gone but I have a few pieces still. Im just a bit worried about my pods and corals and refugium. Hopefully everything clears up by tonight

Thank you for the update. You are just past 24 hours now correct?

Sean Clark · Mar 22, 2022

Marcelo Simon said:
I will say my tank is still very cloudy and has a weird smell I don’t know if this was because my skimmer overflowed and dumped back into tank. Corals are still closed and Im a bit worried about my pods and refugium. Chateo was looking a bit whiteish. I did a 25-30 gallon water change I’m hoping that clears the tank up. Cyano is gone but I have a few pieces still. Im just a bit worried about my pods and corals and refugium. Hopefully everything clears up by tonight

Also how are you filtering? Socks?

Subsea · Mar 22, 2022

Marcelo Simon said:
I will say my tank is still very cloudy and has a weird smell I don’t know if this was because my skimmer overflowed and dumped back into tank. Corals are still closed and Im a bit worried about my pods and refugium. Chateo was looking a bit whiteish. I did a 25-30 gallon water change I’m hoping that clears the tank up. Cyano is gone but I have a few pieces still. Im just a bit worried about my pods and corals and refugium. Hopefully everything clears up by tonight

I think the cloudy water is most likely dead bacteria. I suggest increasing aeration/circulation, run activated carbon. Also continue water changing by vacuuming dead organics from substrate.

Sleeping Giant · Mar 22, 2022

Flow and phytoplankton

Subsea · Mar 22, 2022

Sleeping Giant said:
Flow and phytoplankton

Phytoplankton would have been appropriate before the peroxide. A diverse crew of micro fauna & fana are the best treatment for establishing equilibrium in a reef tank and phytoplankton grows that diversity.

Miami Reef · Mar 22, 2022

Subsea said:
Phytoplankton would have been appropriate before the peroxide. A diverse crew of micro fauna & fana are the best treatment for establishing equilibrium in a reef tank and phytoplankton grows that diversity.

I don’t get the all or nothing mentality here?

Why can’t people knock out the over dominance of cyano first with h2O2 then dose phyto, pods etc.

Sometimes a little help is needed. I personally used chemi clean for a huge cyano outbreak and it was the only thing that could get my tank back on track. I never had another cyano outbreak again. The tank got stabilized.

Miami Reef · Mar 22, 2022

There’s definitely a sense of ego when it comes to using chemicals, but hydrogen peroxide is very safe and was tested by the experts (Twilliard, etc)

Simon Reefing · Mar 22, 2022

After the water change corals seem to be opening a bit more a positive is my skimmer is back to not overflowing it’s up and running now. For filtration I have two Red Sea buckets (I forgot the name lol) with floss. Dosed some microbacter (original) to be on the safe side. might do one more water change tonight. What are y’all’s thoughts on that? Should I hold off or go ahead and do one more smaller one. Also should I dose some phyto? I have a mandarin and I’m a bit worried about my pod population might buy a bottle to be safe. I had a ton everywhere saw a lot dead in my sock but could just be from skimmer wish the skimmer didn’t overflow to have a better test.

I added carbon. I will say the zoas that were covered in cyano look to be opening nothing looks dead really. I have a lot of xenia those all look ticked but I’m not to worried. Bubble coral, rock flower and some zoas are fully open. Most zoas, xiena, and a milli and some shrooms are closed

Subsea · Mar 22, 2022

Miami Reef said:
I don’t get the all or nothing mentality here?

Why can’t people knock out the over dominance of cyano first with h2O2 then dose phyto, pods etc.

Sometimes a little help is needed. I personally used chemi clean for a huge cyano outbreak and it was the only thing that could get my tank back on track. I never had another cyano outbreak again. The tank got stabilized.

Its not all or nothing. Add phytoplankton after tank stabilize. The water is still cloudy.

The part I disagree with is, peroxide is safe for invertebrates at the dosage rates of 2.5 ml/G. Peroxide consumption rate depends of the BOD of the system. I used 1/3 of that concentration on a 5 year mixed garden reef. It decimated the amphipod population.

Sean Clark · Mar 22, 2022

Marcelo Simon said:
After the water change corals seem to be opening a bit more a positive is my skimmer is back to not overflowing it’s up and running now. For filtration I have two Red Sea buckets (I forgot the name lol) with floss. Dosed some microbacter (original) to be on the safe side. might do one more water change tonight. What are y’all’s thoughts on that? Should I hold off or go ahead and do one more smaller one. Also should I dose some phyto? I have a mandarin and I’m a bit worried about my pod population might buy a bottle to be safe. I had a ton everywhere saw a lot dead in my sock but could just be from skimmer wish the skimmer didn’t overflow to have a better test.

I added carbon. I will say the zoas that were covered in cyano look to be opening nothing looks dead really. I have a lot of xenia those all look ticked but I’m not to worried. Bubble coral, rock flower and some zoas are fully open. Most zoas, xiena, and a milli and some shrooms are closed

Thanks. Keep us posted. Pics too.