cyano outbreak, help!!

[supernareg]

for the past 2 weeks, i been doing 5 gallon water changes on my 30 gallon display (with 10 gal sump) and nothing affects my cyano... just recently it started about 2 weeks ago, still up today, i siphon'd most of it out, and it came back the next day. its ****ing me off. i feed my fish 2-3 times a week now before it was once every other day. i have 2 false percs, 1 yellow wrasse, 1 cleaner shrimp and about 6 hermits and 3 snails. i have a euroreef 5-3 skimmer in sump, temp's at 81-82 never below 80, never higher than 82. 150watt 20k MH, 2 55watt actinics. MH on for 10hrs, PC on for 12 hours. 6 stalks of xenia and a couple batches of GSP, zoos, candycane, and shrooms. whats causing this? how can i stop it? oh, tank is about 6 months old.

whats causing this stupid problem? i have the saaaaaaaaaame problem in my 12 gal aquapod with 1 seahorse and 1 cleaner shrimp in there.

 

[reefwick]

Could be your source water? What are you using for water? Tap, Distilled, RO/DI?????

 

[reefwick]

By the way, there's no need to post in THREE SEPERATE FORUMS!!!!!

 

[reefwick]

Make that 6 FORUMS!!! c'mon

 

[supernareg]

trying to get as much info as possible...a nd i use RO water from a waterstore that shows 11 on the TDS meter

 

[reefwick]

I'm not sure but I think multiple postings are against the terms and conditions, if not definitely frowned upon.

Anyways now to help you. 11 Is kinda high. Might be loaded with phosphates. I'm not sure what a "water store" is but is it the station that you place the jug under and refill?? If it is might want to see when they service the machine because they can go awhile between services resulting in poor water for a reef tank.

I just battled cyano for awhile and tried everything to get rid of it. Flow, WC's, reduce light, replace bulbs, siphon etc... and still couldn't get rid of it. After I exhausted everything and improved my husbandry I bought chemi-clean. It was gone in 24 hours. I would suggest using it after you improve your husbandry so you know it won't come back.

 

[jmack]

I had a terrible cyano outbreak but now it's almost all gone...I first tried chemi clean (came right back), then maracyn (stayed away longer but came back again). Then I checked my alk levels which were low. I added a buffer and noticed some improvement. To help get rid of the cyano on the back floor of my tank I hooked a spraybar to the return on my fluval...I pointed the bar directly downward toward the sand....it definitely hates direct flow. Lastly, I added a large number of hermits (1 per gallon) plus a couple of queen conches....wow what a difference!! I don't know if the cyano just ran its course or it was the cleanup crew..maybe even the buffer but it worked...I hope one of these suggestions works for you too..just don't give up...it will get better.