Ugh! Help!

[Shackleton]

I’ve been working day and night to transition our business operations because of the shutdown, and my tank got a little away from me. Looks like I’ve had a Cyanobacteria outbreak (I think). I did a 50% water change last night and I’ll do another one this weekend. What’s the best way to clean this funk off the corals and rocks?

Thanks! Be safe.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

You can blow it off corals and rocks with a turkey baster.

 

[Shackleton]

You can blow it off corals and rocks with a turkey baster.

Thanks, I’ll try that.

 

[Shackleton]

Thoughts on using ChemiClean?

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

I have never used chemiclean so I cant comment on that.

 

[Salty Lemon]

I've heard good things about Chemiclean -- but personally, I've never used it. I would do more research on it first. Here is a link where it is discussed a bit. But I'm sure there are many other threads on here that discuss it as well. Good luck with your tank.

Cyanobacteria Chemclean

#reefsquad, I've just done a dose of Chemclean for cyanobacteria. Would it make any difference if I left lights out for the first 24hrs? Would it help, or is it pointless?

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Retro Reefer]

Don't let your nutrients get to low.. do you know your PO4 & NO3 numbers? IMO I would go sparingly on the water changes and when you do them take the opportunity to syphon all the cyano out of tank that you can. increasing flow in your tank may also help.

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

Thoughts on using ChemiClean?

I have used chemiclean, and it does work, but I would only use it as a last resort. I would recommend increasing flow and increasing nutrient export (good/better skimmer, algae scrubber, chaeto reactor, chaeto in sump under strong lighting).

 

[NS Mike D]

Stick with normal maintenance and +1 on knowing your NO3 and PO4 with reliable test kits. cyano doesn't like flow. So between water changes, blow it off the rocks and sand. Siphon off during normal water changes. So more frequent water changes with siphoning, IMO, can be more effective a large single water change (except in the case of a rip clean, but it doesn't look like you are at that point).

Siphon the sand bed as well. One section at a time. The idea of to remove any detritus from the sand bed that might fuel it. (common for it to start showing up on the sand bed if it hasn't already.

I am not a fan of killing cyano while it's in the tank (although chemiclean can be helpful to finish the job after physical removal is done and tank parameters as solid - but that is merely an opinion).

 

[NS Mike D]

I have used chemiclean, and it does work, but I would only use it as a last resort. I would recommend increasing flow and increasing nutrient export (good/better skimmer, algae scrubber, chaeto reactor, chaeto in sump under strong lighting).

with a caveat. We do not know the tank NO3 and PO4 level. Cyano is ever present and can come out of the water column and mat up under a wide range of nutrient levels.


The above are good nutrient export methods, but I suggest let's first confirm whether or not nutrient levels are not within an optimal level. The risk of implementing a nutrient export program blindly is that if the tank is already low to no NO3/PO4 you run the risk of dinos which is a much bigger problem.

 

[Cwentz758]

A toothbrush many help in getting it off the rock as you suck it up with the water change.

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

with a caveat. We do not not the tank NO3 and PO4 level. Cyano is ever present and can come out of the water column and mat up under a wide range of nutrient levels.


The above are good nutrient export methods, but I suggest let's first confirm whether or not nutrient levels are not within an optimal level. The risk of implementing a nutrient export program blindly is that if the tank is already low to no NO3/PO4 you run the risk of dinos which is a much bigger problem.

Agreed! I didn't think of that because I have five tangs and feed heavily, so nutrients too low is never an issue

 

[NS Mike D]

Agreed! I didn't think of that because I have five tangs and feed heavily, so nutrients too low is never an issue

I haven't seen a post with your numbers and the brand of test kits. How do you know your numbers are not too low and for that matter not too high?


tank looks great

 

[Uncle99]

Blow it off,,suck it out, repeat when it shows up.
If it shows up in only certain areas, increase flow to these areas.
Ensure all your parameters remain in range.
Red slime removers work, however, if the source has not been corrected, it just comes back.
It sounds like just a delay in maintenance, let’s not overdue it.