75g Lurking danger and Leafy Seadragons

[vlangel]

Cyano of course is a bacteria so the use of antibiotics can be very useful.
Chemi-Clean is our go to resolve as we can quickly remove it within 48hrs.

The trigger for Cyano must also be resolved to prevent reoccurrence.
That usually is high organics, salinity fluctuations, temp variations or a combination of all three.
Cyano loves instability and is quick to propagate.

If you decide to use, put an air stone in during treatment, never use less chemi than recommended, you may need to repeat treatment after 48hrs.

I know cyano is a bacteria and I know chemiclean is an antibiotic. I have used it in the past and you are correct, it can work very well.

I don't think my tank is in need of chemiclean just yet although it has gone through some instability. Cyano got a foothold in my tank because I transferred into this 75g only 6 months ago. Even using all the same rock, it was moved and that is disruptive. For a few months I just thought it was the 'ugly phase'. Also for the first time in my reefing experience, I was having trouble keeping my nitrates up. In an effort to remedy that, I made a major misjudgement and stocked it with new fish and got disease. Then to try and save my fish I used Prazipro and Cipro in the tank water and metroplex on the fish food. I did save some of my fish (10 out of 17) so it wasn't for nought but I am sure using those directly in the tank was hard on the biolife/filter. The sandbed seem to get worse after that. And I am still needing to dose ESV B ionics to get the nitrates over 2 ppm. I would like them to be at least 10 ppm.

I am hoping to have success with a more natural intervention before I go to chemiclean. Today I siphoned out a lot of the uglies on the sandbed during peak light cycle. I did not worry if I pulled up a lot of sand too because I bought a bag of CaribSea live argonite to replace it. If live sand is not snake oil, the hope is that whatever is in the CaribSea will out compete what is left of the cyano/dinos. I still have half a bag left so I can try this again if it had any positive effect at all. I would like to try coral snow but if that doesn't help I may just go ahead and use the chemiclean because I already have it.

 

[vlangel]

The tank looked improved this morning but there were still spots of 'uglies' especially around the base of rock so I siphoned out more sand and uglies and added more live sand. My gut feel is that this alone isn't going to get rid of it all however so I ordered the calcium carbonate to make my own coral snow. I also ordered PNS deep cycle since I am out of seachem stability anyway. If when I apply both of these and give the tank a couple weeks for them to do their thing, if the cyano/dinos are not greatly diminished then I will use the chemiclean.

Of course while I am doing this I am continuing to dose ESV B-ionic nitrate to get my NO3 and PO4 more in line with where they should be as that no doubt is part of the root problem. I am wondering about ordering pods for a few months too as that certainly couldn't hurt. Finally I am not using the grow light for the mangrove, it is only getting light from the ReefBreeder Photon which is a bit whiter than a lot of reef tanks. So this is the plan folks and we will see where it takes us!

 

[Uncle99]

The tank looked improved this morning but there were still spots of 'uglies' especially around the base of rock so I siphoned out more sand and uglies and added more live sand. My gut feel is that this alone isn't going to get rid of it all however so I ordered the calcium carbonate to make my own coral snow. I also ordered PNS deep cycle since I am out of seachem stability anyway. If when I apply both of these and give the tank a couple weeks for them to do their thing, if the cyano/dinos are not greatly diminished then I will use the chemiclean.

Of course while I am doing this I am continuing to dose ESV B-ionic nitrate to get my NO3 and PO4 more in line with where they should be as that no doubt is part of the root problem. I am wondering about ordering pods for a few months too as that certainly couldn't hurt. Finally I am not using the grow light for the mangrove, it is only getting light from the ReefBreeder Photon which is a bit whiter than a lot of reef tanks. So this is the plan folks and we will see where it takes us!

Sand has a ton of surface area.
If you pull the sand and replace, would you not be removing the good stuff?
I would take out just the crap and leave the sand.
Carib sea live sand is simply sand what might be at best, damp, or at least, IMM.
But it’s a good substrate for good stuff to live.

 

[vlangel]

Sand has a ton of surface area.
If you pull the sand and replace, would you not be removing the good stuff?
I would take out just the crap and leave the sand.
Carib sea live sand is simply sand what might be at best, damp, or at least, IMM.
But it’s a good substrate for good stuff to live.

Yes, that is a potential risk for sure. I did not remove the entire surface, just the areas where the uglies were the worst. Plus I mixed in the CaribSea live sand with the old sand that I often stir anyway. Here is what it looks like this evening.

 

[griss]

Looks great to me, Dawn.

 

[vlangel]

Looks great to me, Dawn.

Hopefully it will stay that way!