Cyano outbreak-going on vacation

[slam308]

Our tank is 3 months old and we had a cyano outbreak start about a week and a half ago. We're leaving Saturday for 9 days. I'm planning on getting out as much of the red crap as I can tomorrow. We have one O. Clown and one Chromis. My mother-in-law will be feeding every other day, but I don't know that she's capable or comfortable of doing anything else with the tank while we're gone.
I realize it'll look awful by the time we get back, but will it actually hurt the fish (or the couple snails and hermits) we have?
We did a 25% water change last weekend. Is there anything I can do to help the situation out?
The fish have been in there for a month and are healthy and eating like little pigs.

 

[Samala]

In my experience cyano blooms dont affect fish and snails, though it will coat the bottom and live rock and could smother light loving organisms in extensive blooms.

I always add an extra airstone to my tanks before I vacation, leave at least a few gallons of top off water, carefully packaged fish food allotments for each feeding and directions not to do anything but feed. I keep the tank well covered too and turn down the lights to half their normal photoperiod if I dont have any light loving invertebrates in the tank. Sounds like you could do the same in this setup.

That's my advice. Hopefully others will chime in on how to weather the outbreak and vacation.

>Sarah

 

[slam308]

Thanks Sarah, just the PC lights, or the actinics too?
Also, can I stick an airstone in the back compartments of the Aqua Pod, or should it be in the front (display) area?

I think my MIL is too scared to do anything but what I've told her to do. Feed, and, if she's feeling bold, use the fish net to scoop out some of the really bad cyano "stringers" that come up off the sand and rock.

It's good to know that at least it shouldn't affect the fish and snails.