Cyano Problem

[directional]

I have a 14g Biocube that is having a nasty cyano problem. I have been doing many WC's and sucking out the Cyano but it comes back almost right away...

I am using RO water from Aquahut. Phosban. The green, white, black filter that you cut and add into the chamber.

I think the problem may be to low alk? What is the best way to raise it without a dosing pump?

Let me know what to do... AquaHut suggested a chemical like Maracyn / Chemi Clean but I want to use that only as a last resort.

Thx - Joe

 

[coralmkr]

Hi Joe,

I had good results with Ultralife Red Slime Remover once.
Regards,

Pablo

 

[Long Island Andy]

I would use either B-ionic A & B or Kent 2 part product. Use the prescibed amount with a little more of the Alk part. I do believe that the alk and ph drop add to the cyano problem
The other things for the cyano that may help is increasing the water flow, and keep syphoning the cyano out. I have used the products that Aqua-hut mentioned and they are a temporary fix. If you decide to go the chemical route use Marycn, it is the same as the products listed but a lot cheaper. I use 1 tablet for 50 gallons of water. Again in a tank that small I would use the chemical method.
G/L

 

[imlocke]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10894109#post10894109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Long Island Andy
I would use either B-ionic A & B or Kent 2 part product. Use the prescibed amount with a little more of the Alk part. I do believe that the alk and ph drop add to the cyano problem
The other things for the cyano that may help is increasing the water flow, and keep syphoning the cyano out. I have used the products that Aqua-hut mentioned and they are a temporary fix. If you decide to go the chemical route use Marycn, it is the same as the products listed but a lot cheaper. I use 1 tablet for 50 gallons of water. Again in a tank that small I would use the chemical method.
G/L

I think you meant to say you would NOT use the chemical method in such a small tank, correct?

 

[Long Island Andy]

Correct, Thanks

 

[directional]

Yeah I am trying to avoid the chemical method. If the ocean doesn't use it I dont want it I will try the 2 part product and see what happens

Any idea on a price?

 

[sleezyp1]

Red slime remover will kill all your bacteria good and bad. So IMO don't use it. It is a quick fix but could harm things in the long run.

 

[directional]

Just figured I would throw out an update... I did some reading on alk (KH) and came up with my own solution

Apparently KH is Carbonate Hardness (usually referred to as alk in the tank) ... I found a product I had in my house called PH8.2 which raises KH in the tank.

I also read that baking soda and agitating the water surface increases carbonate in the tank also...

What I did was add the proper amount of PH8.2 into the tank and I shut the lights off for a day... Nothing seemed to be different... I shut the light off for another day and I noticed Cyano started to die off.

I went to Aquahut and picked up Reef Alkaline Buffer and added the proper amount in when I did my water change yesterday.. It seems like the Cyano is on it's way out =)

No chemicals, no miracle fix, and all my corals are still thriving

 

[yeahcheetah]

My experience is that they grow only in areas with very little circulation.

 

[imlocke]

its all over his tank, not just areas of low flow =x

 

[directional]

Cyano PREFERS low area but that doesn't mean it will only grow there it will grow everywhere once its in your tank ( when untreated )..