a few days of darkness ok for my sps tank?

[Andyf30]

Hey guys,

My tank is almost entirely sps, with maybe 5 large lps show pieces and some zoos. Its a 40 breeder, and I'm having some red slime issues. I recently installed a phosphate reactor, and am considering doing 2 or 3 days of complete darkness to kill off the majority of the red slime, and then hopefully the reactor will keep it at bay after that. Would 2 or 3 days of darkness have an adverse effect on my corals? Thats really my only worry. I know the lps and zoos will be fine, but I have some sps pieces that I love and wouldn't want to lose. Thanks for any suggestions.

Andy

 

[acabgd]

I had cyano and also multiple SPS corals and did a 3 day blackout. No problems at all for SPS.

 

[Andyf30]

Sounds good to me. I think I'll wait till the lights go off tonight and then start the darkness. Any other opinions on this?

 

[michael.lemke]

I don't see any problems with a 3 day blackout. Especially since you are addressing the root issue as well.

 

[Andyf30]

Ok well looks like darkness it is!

 

[Mr. Bill]

The blackout will help, but it would be more beneficial to get phosphates in check and remove the cyano manually, then leave lights out if it's still necessary.

Simply killing the lights will eliminate the cyano; however, the dying cyano will release the phosphates and potentially harmful secondary metabolites into the water. Also, it will most likely return again when the lights come back on if you still have phosphates.

 

[Andyf30]

Thats why I'm running the reactor. Its been up for 2 days already. The phosphates never were elevated, they have been zero, but obviously due to the presence of the red slime, I had some. I think it was zero because the red slime was using it up so fast. The lights out is just to eliminate the physical remnants of the slime. The phosphate reactor will hopefully prevent it from coming back.

 

[Mr. Bill]

Thats why I'm running the reactor. Its been up for 2 days already. The phosphates never were elevated, they have been zero, but obviously due to the presence of the red slime, I had some. I think it was zero because the red slime was using it up so fast. The lights out is just to eliminate the physical remnants of the slime. The phosphate reactor will hopefully prevent it from coming back.

OK, gotcha. And yes, you are correct- in fact, cyano tends to absorb all available phosphates, storing the excess to feed on if/when input levels drop.

Good luck.

 

[Andyf30]

Its always nice to know you finally understand just a little bit of the hobby haha thanks for confirming that for me. I'm always curious whether or not my observations are right.

 

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

Im thinking to also invest in a phosphate reactor as Im dealing with the same issues.

 

[Andyf30]

I got the BRS single reactor and couldn't be happier. Set up literally took maybe 5 min, and I also ordered their GFO, and that took maybe 2 minutes to rinse with RO before it was clear and ready to go into the sump. Its really easy to control, and took probably 15 seconds for me to get a really nice slow tumble at the top of the GFO in the reactor.

 

[sirreal63]

Three days may not be long enough, I did five days with no issues at all. You will know when the cyano has died because your skim will turn red. Once my skim started turning red on day 4 I let it go another full day to remove as much as possible.

My po4 has always been low and trying to get it lower to starve out cyano may end up with po4 too low for the health of the tank. Cyano is capable of making it's own food so trying to starve it out often doesn't work. The extended blackout does work by disrupting it's light cycle, one thing it is very vulnerable to.

 

[Andyf30]

Ok so even longer than the 3 days? I guess I'll just keep an eye out for the red skimmate. The reactor was most likely going to end up on the system regardless of the slime, just to keep the phosphates low

 

[sirreal63]

The reactor is a good idea, use just enough GFO to keep the po4 low without stripping it out.

 

[Duc1098]

I have mostly SPS and have done a 4 day blackout with no problems. There are some people on here that say they do a 3-4 day blackout every month and claim better colors from corals and a cleaner sandbed/rock.

 

[Andyf30]

Well this is just seeming like a better and better idea lol.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

I had cyano and also multiple SPS corals and did a 3 day blackout. No problems at all for SPS.

as did I.

 

[Andyf30]

And let the darkness begin...Ill keep you guys updated in about three days when I turn the lights back on to see how things are progressing.

 

[Steve175]

I agree that SPS will be fine for 3-5 days in cyano. I also agree that you should do a water change by siphoning as much as the cyano as you can to remove it prior to letting the remainder die.


"How did 1500G of saltwater cost THAT much?"

 

[120reefermadnes]

I also solved my cyano isue this same way I did mine for about 3-4 days I cnt remember exactly and my tank is mostly acros