Cyano Outbreak

Thanks Andy :)

cdamiano
My thoughts on MB7 vs SB. SB has been around for a long time, the company that makes it, Microbe Lift has been making additives for the pond industry for like 30 years of so. Before I started dosing SB, I spent a lot of time talking to different people about it, everything from calling the company to talking to people in the pond industry who make competing products. In the end I felt it added lots of good bacteria that helped to break down waste and reduce nitrates, and it wasn't too expensive compared to other methods. I recommend it at every talk I give and anytime someone has nitrate or cyano issues.
 
Thanks Andy :)

cdamiano
My thoughts on MB7 vs SB. SB has been around for a long time, the company that makes it, Microbe Lift has been making additives for the pond industry for like 30 years of so. Before I started dosing SB, I spent a lot of time talking to different people about it, everything from calling the company to talking to people in the pond industry who make competing products. In the end I felt it added lots of good bacteria that helped to break down waste and reduce nitrates, and it wasn't too expensive compared to other methods. I recommend it at every talk I give and anytime someone has nitrate or cyano issues.

Joe - Thanks for the reply. My question was really aimed at whether or not you thought it would matter if I dosed the SB with a smaller dose on a daily basis or with a larger dose every 2 weeks for the maintenance dosing?
Thanks!
 
Joe - Are you dosing Vodka? I have been dosing vodka daily along with MB7. I'm wondering if I switch to dosing the SB instead of the MB7 if it matters whether I follow your dosing regimen of twice a month for the SB or if I dose a smaller amount daily??? What do you think would be better?
Thanks!

Take note to my post earlier in this thread.. I too dose vodka and MB7. Your system probably already has a high bacterial population. So, my thoughts are to maybe cut back on the recommended dosages a bit for your particular tank. I originally followed the directions on the box and on my second dose, I experienced a slight bacterial bloom in my system.. I could only attribute it to the fact that I was using MB7 daily prior to starting with SB. Please remember that the higher your bacterial concentration is, the quicker it can deplete your tank of oxygen. You have to be careful and watch you fish closely for signs of rapid breathing. If you monitor ORP, that is another good sign to show how the oxygen level is doing in your tank. Like Joe stated, it will initially drop when you dose, but it should come back up afte a few hours, if it does not and your water remains a bit cloudy, you may be experiencing a bacteria bloom and you may need to do an emergency water change with airated water to help matters out or crank your Ozone up (if you have an ozonizer) to help raise oxygen in your water. Since starting the SB dosing, I have discontinued the MB7 dosing..
 
O.k. mate, that's good, but it now begs the question how it should be dosed with vodka after it's initial use for cycling the new tank, any ideas?
P.s. it was Sonny X and his outstanding tank that made me look into dosing vodka and MB7 also,

cheers,

Pete.

I'm sorry Bro. I did miss your post. After the initial doses in the included instructions, based on my recent observations, I would abandon daily dosages and simply follow the maintenance schedule on the packaging which recommends a dose of SB every other week. I would continue your carbon dosing as you are.
 
Got my SB today also. Opened up the pkg and went to dose but found it was frozen! Anyone think this could be an issue? I'm figuring it's likely not but thought I'd ask. Also, it doesn't matter when (time wise) I dose correct? Thanks guys.
 
Here are my test results:

Ammonia.......Good.......... .003
Nitrite Good .007
Nitrate Good .2
Phosphate Good .01
Silica High .6
Potassium Low 127
Calcium Low 256
Boron Low 2.9
Molybdenum High .2
Stronium High 13.0
Magnesium Good 1388
Iodine Good .08
Copper Good .02
Alkalinity Good 3.16
 
Looks like silica may be your issue.. I would check your water source 1st.. Make sure that your TDS is testing 0 on your water used for topoffs and fresh saltwater mixes. Second, I would vacum the sand bed ONLY if it is a shallow sand bed and in sections per water change.. I would not suggest vacuming the entire sand bed at once because that may throw the stability of your tank off and cause more harm than good.. That's my .02 Maybe others will chime in as well.
 
Got my SB today also. Opened up the pkg and went to dose but found it was frozen! Anyone think this could be an issue? I'm figuring it's likely not but thought I'd ask. Also, it doesn't matter when (time wise) I dose correct? Thanks guys.


Hey Cato, I don't think it matters unless you are timing it around when you are using Ozone or UV...
 
Looks like silica may be your issue.. I would check your water source 1st.. Make sure that your TDS is testing 0 on your water used for topoffs and fresh saltwater mixes. Second, I would vacum the sand bed ONLY if it is a shallow sand bed and in sections per water change.. I would not suggest vacuming the entire sand bed at once because that may throw the stability of your tank off and cause more harm than good.. That's my .02 Maybe others will chime in as well.

Thanks for the tips. I recently recalibrated my tds and it is at 0. My tap does have high silica and i recently just added new silica specific di resin. Hopefully after a few water changes, i will see an improvement. I hope i hope i hope..:rollface:
 
I think on jumping on the SB wagon.

I've been dosing MB7 and Biofuel according to the instructions and I have had a massive diatom and to a lesser extent cyano outbreak.

Gliebig where did you get your water tested
 
I dealt with a diatom bloom after the first couple of months that my tank was started while dosing MB7. I wrote it off as a normal algae cycle for a new tank. However, months later, if I dosed too much MB7 diatom would return- just not as bad. Interesting.
 
My fourth treatment of SB went in late last night.. So far so good. I will post another picture just before my 5th dose next week to show the progress..
 
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