cyano problem

[bobsea]

Current situation: Long-standing problem with cyano. Prior it was on the substrate, but now mostly pops up on coral and live rock. When cyano is cleaned off rocks or corals, it returns. As a result some corals are dying. Also dealing with some recent hair algae. Have lost some snails, a crab and a few shrimp, but this may be normal over the course of a year. Phosphates and nitrates at 0 when tested.

Need suggestions on how to get rid of the cyano. Should I use products such as Ultralife Red Slime Remover (nonerythromycin) or erythromycin? Is the tank overstocked, especially with fish? Any other suggestions regarding lighting, flow, etc.?

History of Problem: Ph was low (7.8) as was dKH 5-7. Started dosing B-ionics 30 ml alkalinity and 10 ml calcium. dKH now about 9.0 and calcium at 400. Ph now 8.0 am and 8.3 pm
*Started tank using tap water, changed to RO/DI
*Was using Eheim canister which became contaminated with cyano and was removed.
*Magnesium was low used B-ionics supplement 70-90 mg daily for 2 months. Brough it up temporarily to 1200. Now about 900.

Specifications: 75 gal. with 30 gal. sump directly under. Started 2/16/08. *Water temp 79 +/-1 degree
*Sedra 12000A (1200 gal/hr max) in sump
*Artica 1/4 hp chiller
*Eheim 1262 (900 gal/hr max) circulates water from sump thru chiller
*CPR constinuous overflow syphon (1200 gal/hr)
*2 Koralia 4s, a Koralia 3 & a modified MaiJet 1200 circulate water in tank
*Current 48" Nova Extreme Pro, 6-54 watt T5s installed 2/26/08. 3 actinic 460 nm & 3 10K. Still using original lights. Any suggestions on brand for new lighting?
*ASM G2 Skimmer in sump (no mods) cleaned weekly
*Sock used on syphen overflow changed weekly
*4" sponge barrier in sump to reduce microbubbles
*1" aragonite substrate in front half of tank (was 3" over whole tank)
*About 50-60 lbs live rock
*Kent sea salt at 1.025

Livestock:
1 4" yellow tang
1 3" blue tang
1 2" spotted cardinal
1 2.5" 6-line wrasse
1 2" royal gramma
2 1.5" ocellaris clowns
2 large brittle stars
10 redleg crabs
1 cleaner shrimp
6 trochus snails
4 cerith snails
6 nassarius snails
1 blue tuxedo urchin
2 emerald crabs

Corals:
Numerous ricordea, mushrooms, xenia and zoanthus all growing well
2 toadstool leathers
1 brain coral
3 candy canes (suffering from cyano)
evergreen starburst polyps doing well
3 torch corals
acanthastrea (some cyano)
blastomussa (some cyano)
lobophyllia (some cyano)
cloves (some cyano)
duncan
a few other corals that I don't know the names of

Maintenance:
*25 gal water change every 2 weeks
*syphon and sump sponges cleaned every 2 weeks
*carbon changed monthly (ChemiPure and polyfilter tried) no metals detected by polyfilter

 

[jubjub]

cyano i think is from to many nutrients in the water....are u using ro/di water? maybe look into a phosphate reactor?

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

I got fed up and did the blue life red slime remover. Skimmer off 5 days, carbon in on the 5th day with 25% water change and started skimmer on 6th day.

NO SLIME FOR ME going on 2 months.

I got carried away with my reef nutrition products, true white lunars and feeder PE at night

It taxed some of my SPS, but all made it, but my granulosa had me worried it was BROWN, but it's back to nuclear green again!

 

[RockinSmall]

i was battling red slime in my system this last month.. it was intoduced by infected live rock ( covered in red slime from previous owner) i was told to leave my lights off for 3-5 days and run a phosphate pad ... i couldnt believe it... 99.999 % is gone... its not a drastic measure, give it a shot and dont dose or feed as much. some people swear it helps to thaw frozen foods and not use the juice, only the mysis or brike or whatever..

 

[singold]

Nassarius Snails, Fighting Conch, Goby & Pistol Shrimp to keep sandbed stired up. Your flow looks fine.