Cyano

Pdm2476

Pdm2476

New member
anyone have any tips on dealing with a small cyano invasion? I'm still trying to figure out what caused it and I have been beating it back with water changes and sucking it all out when it pops up but if i don't do anything for a few days it slowly creeps back in..

I'm hoping that after tomorrow when my new skimmer gets here that will help a lot but I'm close to just nuking it with chemiclean because its so annoying either that or I have also read that lights out for 3 days will kill it all too...
 
Test all of your parameters. I've been told that phosphate is often the culprit for cyano but I'm not sure if elevated phosphate is really required for it to happen.

My solution was tons of alternating flow in my tank to keep debris from collecting. After I got my wavemaker, I never saw cyano again.

Resist the temptation for quick fixes. Quick fixes screw up the homeostasis of your system.
 
My phosphates are kept to a minimun, I even upped the flow in my tank. I Still get cyano, on the sandbed. I don't get it!!
 
I think alternating flow is way more effective than constant flow, even if it's very high. Stuff can get hung up on the flow-facing side of a rock, but if the flow alternates every so often, that's less likely, etc.

Conchs help, but that's not addressing the root cause which I think is often detritus just sitting around.
 
I think this is a step every tank goes they at first once you beat it you won't ever see it again I used cheato and less feeding and i also stirred it up so it would get sucked into my skimmer but most people say that spreads it but my case helped me get rid of it best bet feed less dont do to many water incase the water has silicates in it and stirr it up and skimm wet should fix you'd problem and get a algea to fight it off
 
I have some infront of my mp10. I agree with muppet saying alternating flow is better. Also ron stirring it up definitely works as well. I try to make mine as irritated as possible as much as I can and it seems to help. I got a bout of it when I changed out half of my rock with new stuff. Still working through it lol
 
If it is just a 'small invasion' I would really resist adding chemicals. Mechanical removal, control of nutrients and alternating flow should get rid of it. I have a bit in my fuge where flow is gently, but no sign of it in the display.

The other approach, one I seem incapable of avoiding, is to occupy every available square inch of sand with some kind of coral or clam!
 
I could be wrong but cyano is not an algae but in fact a bacteria. i would do a shorter photoperiod and less feeding. Other things to look out for is to check or replace the filters on your RODI unit maybe even the membrane. I've even heard of some people get cyano when vodka dosing introducing bio pellets and even GFO. So if you did any of that it could be the culprit. How new is your tank, I believe this is and inevitable issue tanks go throw and with proper attention it should subside. Stay clear of quick fixes like chemipure tough it out and you will win the battle.GL
 
Yeah, it is cyanobacteria. I believe Chemiclean is a gram positive antibiotic that is deemed sort of reef safe because the vast majority of the bacteria we count on for filtration in our tanks is gram negative (or maybe it's the other way around :)). I still wouldn't use it though! Sensible husbandry will get rid of it in due course.
 
the tank is only 7 months old and my RODI is a new 4 stage from BRS but the cyano was there before the RODI. I will cut back even more on feeding and light cycle also my new cpr bakpak2 should be here tomorrow and im hoping that will help...
 
make sure you dont stir it up. It will just cause it to spread and make an even bigger mess. Test your waters, SIPHON out as much as you can during water changes (this is the ONLY way to manually/physically remove it, without making matters worse).
 
Stepho725 said:
How can you tell the difference between Cyano and Diatoms?
Click to expand...

Franky is right, cyano red, diatoms brown. Generally the latter crop up early in the tank cycle but die off once the silicates in the water are exhausted. Cyano also tends to be early in the cycle, but can also crop up periodically.
 
Kdocimo90 said:
make sure you dont stir it up. It will just cause it to spread and make an even bigger mess. Test your waters, SIPHON out as much as you can during water changes (this is the ONLY way to manually/physically remove it, without making matters worse).
Click to expand...

I noticed if you don't stirr it up it spreads on its own and thrives if you stirr it up it can't tank in light or food so it will disapear I have gotten rid of this just by feeding less skimming more and turkey basting it off all the rocks and sand every couple of hours
 
My money is on a combo approach. Do a big water change, siphoning out as much as possible. Then (this step is optional) add some bacteria (such as MB7) that will get to work on the phosphate and nitrates that feed the cyano. Then (this step is most important) do a three day lights-out period (yes, your corals will be fine). After the three day period, do another water change (there won't be any red to siphon out, but it's still in the water column). Then keep an eye on things. If it starts to come back, repeat these steps long before it gets to "invasion" status.

When you emerge from this remember that most fish don't need to be fed much, or every day for that matter. This will be your best defense for the future.
 
I have what i think is diatoms going on in my tank but am wondering if it is the cyano. Just randomly popped up. On the sand a rust color but it isnt thick at all it just almost looks like a powdered coating of rust....thats diatoms, right?
 
My big fat fish sure seem to enjoy being fed multiple times a day... I haven't seen cyano for months. :)
 
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