I just got my salt water tank last week after having African chichlids for 20 years. It's 100 gallons with 42 inch reef breeder light, coralife cone skimmer, wer/dry and a refugium with a handful of cheato I put in it in it yesterday.i also put in 3 green chromis to get the cycle started. The lfs store owner who helped me set it up came by to get my old tank and he said I had some Cyanobacteria algae starting and recommended I pick up a tiger sand conch to eat that stuff up. So I did. He is doing his job but I don't think he will be able to catch up. It was starting to look bad so I raked it in the sand with my fingers, now it's starting to get on the live rocks. Should I just let this thing stabilize since it's only had fish in for three days? The reefbreeder light is at 40% max for 6 hours and on for a total of 11 hrs with subdued light mode. I'm excited about the new tank and looking forward to a successful hobby I will enjoy. My salt 1.025, ph 8.3,ammonia 0 nitrite<.1, nitrate<5 before I put fish in.
Cyanobacteria algae
- Thread starter Zfishman
- Start date
Cyano is bacteria, not algae, which is a plant. It is, however, one of the archaea, in which the distinction between animal and plant is not real firm.
To your question. OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! get those poor fish out of there. You do not cycle a tank with fish or anything of the sort, no snails, nada, in it. And should not use a wet/dry filter. Clear that chamber out and just let it run if you want coral someday. It takes about 4 weeks to cycle a marine tank.
There's a sticky file up top, titled SETTING UP. You urgently need to read it. Now you need at least a 10 gallon bare glass no sand quarantine tank for the poor fish and snail.
To your question. OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! get those poor fish out of there. You do not cycle a tank with fish or anything of the sort, no snails, nada, in it. And should not use a wet/dry filter. Clear that chamber out and just let it run if you want coral someday. It takes about 4 weeks to cycle a marine tank.
There's a sticky file up top, titled SETTING UP. You urgently need to read it. Now you need at least a 10 gallon bare glass no sand quarantine tank for the poor fish and snail.
Agree with SK8r in regard to cycling tank for startup without fish. People do it(although usually only one fish) but it is generally frowned upon and you just have to know you are really taking a risk with the fish staying alive. LFS should never have sold them to you knowing you were just setting up the tank.
Agree also that you should remove the Wet Dry if you are using it with the bioballs or other media in it. They are generally not used in marine tanks since they tend to trap nitrogenous waste which ultimately adds to higher nitrate levels.
Cyano also known as blue green algae, can be really hard to get rid of and you'll probably never get ahead of it just with critter to eat it. There are lots of contributing factors and methods of control. Best for you to start doing some serious reading about the issue. Hard to fuly cover the subject quickly and there is no magic bullet.
Agree also that you should remove the Wet Dry if you are using it with the bioballs or other media in it. They are generally not used in marine tanks since they tend to trap nitrogenous waste which ultimately adds to higher nitrate levels.
Cyano also known as blue green algae, can be really hard to get rid of and you'll probably never get ahead of it just with critter to eat it. There are lots of contributing factors and methods of control. Best for you to start doing some serious reading about the issue. Hard to fuly cover the subject quickly and there is no magic bullet.
Dkuhlmann
New member
Don't use the chemicals to get rid of it as it will run it's course and then go away as fast as it started. All I did when I got it was to once a week take a plastic fork and kind of roll up the mat and then put it in a cup. It grew back nice and thick mat and I'd repeat weekly then do a 20% WC. It's all part of the cycle of a new tank.
Coralreefer1
New member
As mentioned above let nature take its course! It's as easy as picking up a frozen shrimp at your local supermarket to get your cycle to commence. You can also seed your sand by introducing sand from an established mature tank and live rock as well. You can cycle your tank also by using uncured live rock.
As for the Chromis' and Conch, bring them back to the pet shop you got them from and have them give your money back and tell them, your going to go to another pet shop in the future for better advice!
Also, I would do some research and homework to ensure you dot your I's and cross your T's. Here on Reef Central, books and a plethora of great material is out there to make you successful!
Don't get off on the wrong foot by cutting corners, being misled, winging it or trying to do things too quickly! This will only lead to your demise and frustration within the marine hobby, that should be filled with joy, excitement and amazement.
Good luck to you!
As for the Chromis' and Conch, bring them back to the pet shop you got them from and have them give your money back and tell them, your going to go to another pet shop in the future for better advice!
Also, I would do some research and homework to ensure you dot your I's and cross your T's. Here on Reef Central, books and a plethora of great material is out there to make you successful!
Don't get off on the wrong foot by cutting corners, being misled, winging it or trying to do things too quickly! This will only lead to your demise and frustration within the marine hobby, that should be filled with joy, excitement and amazement.
Good luck to you!
