could change in salt be causing cyano outbreak

[Jasontkd]

ok, so my tank is a 29 gallon SPS dominant mixed reef. It is only about 3 months old, but the rock cured/cooked for over 2 months prior to set-up. anyhow, for the last few weeks I have been battling cyano. it has gotten really bad. it doen't seem to matter how I clean, things just spread more. I have lost a couple sps frags in the last week while all the others look really healthy.

anyhow:

salinity 1.026
temp 70-82
ca 410
alk 10.3
PO4 0ppm
Mag, 1350
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate ~5ppm

Anyhow, a few weeks to a month ago, I thought I had really low Magnesium (bad test kit). anyhow, a lot of people suggested a 50/50 mix of Instant Ocean and Oceanic salt. up to that point I had only used Instant ocean. this includes on several tanks in the past where I have never had problems. Anyhow, i started doing the 50/50. Now I have terrible cyano.

could this be the problem?

 

[barbra]

Since most salt mixes are more or less the same, meaning the differences in the chems are quite slight, it is unlikely that the salt is causing the cyano unless it is a bad batch entirely.

I also have to question the benefits of using a 50/50 mixture of salt mixes. I can't agree that it is necessary for any reason.

 

[Jasontkd]

Well, the main reason was apparently it gives a more favorable amount of magnesium. Basically a lot of local reefers use it with great success. anyhow, I have just never had a problem in any other tank I have had. This is the oly real change I made around that time period that makes since to me.

 

[Jasontkd]

anyone else

 

[liquidlunch]

is your temp info a typo: 70-82? or 80-82?

 

[Jasontkd]

yes its a typo. 78-82