cyano caused by low flow?
- Thread starter an411
- Start date
I am curious, how did you narrow this down? Is this a major overgrowth issue or do you just not like the way that it looks? I am a beginner as well but I have been battling various algaes for about a year now in salt and and for several years in fresh. Typically I cut down on my lighting schedule(reduce it about 10 to 20% a day for three to four days) and use grazers to reduce the amount of algae on live rock, crevasses, and other unwanted areas. I use my lovely magnet cleaners for the glass and I clean that daily. Also I have a rough sponge to clean the glass where the magnet misses. It is amazing how much the small reduction in the light cycle will help, but without grazers it doesn't eliminate the problem. On top of cleaning and reducing light, I reduce the amount of food I add to the tank to spur the grazers to eat algae instead of manufactured food. My salt grazers are conchs, snails, hermits, sand star, (had a Naso Tang until an anemone ate it) oscellaris clowns, and pygmy angels. (the angels are typically not grazers but I have seen them eating algae when I reduce the food)
Several things help cyano grow: 1. expired lights. They mostly last reliably for about 6-8 months.
2. sunlight coming from side window.
3. low flow areas
4. too many nutrients.
5. It's just your week to have it---the stuff is a common tank nuisance and usually doesn't get serious.
2. sunlight coming from side window.
3. low flow areas
4. too many nutrients.
5. It's just your week to have it---the stuff is a common tank nuisance and usually doesn't get serious.
an411
Active member
well my nitrates and phosphates are fine water changes are 10% a week. I have a phosphate reactor running now too. The cyano is gone in the morning and by the time i get home its back. I have closed the sliding door blinds to control sunlight so that is out of the question. but the cyano gets pretty long and stringy and does move back and fourth that is why I am not sure if its flow or lights. I guess I could change the lights first and then if that does not fix it add a powerhead blasting from front to back
Reef of Eden
New member
yup. one tank at my lfs has it, I go in there about every other day, but none of the things you listed are the culprit besides that it just got unlucky.
an411
Active member
this seems to have been going on for about 3 weeks and nothing seems to be getting any better I am ordering bulbs today I guess it cant hurt to get new ones I am going to try this first and see if I get any better results. Actually since i only have FOWLR I Could leave the lights off a couple days to see if that works right?
Paul B
Premium Member
Don't feel too bad, I have been getting it for almost 40 years.
The things mentioned do not cause it or eliminate it. I know it's not low flow because I mainly have it on the outlet of my powerhead and inside the tubes where it is very turbulent. You will hear a lot of reasons of what causes it but the truth is that no one really knows. It is not algae and not dependant on light but it does seem to grow in poorly lit areas of the tank.
It also should disappear if enough ozone is used which raises the reduction potential so it probably is related to a pollution issue.
I also agree with #5, it's your turn to get it. :lol:
Paul B
Premium Member
I think I can explain this simply. Ozone is a gas that you can inject through your skimmer. It is made from an electrical charge, you smell it during a lightning storm. It will make the water the purest that it can be by reducing or oxidizing any organic chemicals present. You make in an aquarium with an ozonizer or ozone generator.
It makes it hard on cyanobacteria but may not completely eliminate it.
It makes it hard on cyanobacteria but may not completely eliminate it.
