cyanobacteria HELP

[mackincali]

Just starting in my 100 gallon and wondering what i should start to do?

 

[Chris27]

Siphon it out first off.....

Then ensure your test kits are indicating 0 Nitrate and 0 Phosphate...

Then take a look at the flow in the tank, is there enough of it to keep the water moving across the area's where it's growing?

 

[jjsan]

Reduce the light and make sure nutrients are almost 0. I wouldn't suggest enough flow because it will break apart and spread.

 

[mike_cmu04]

It will pass that is pretty common in a new tank are you using rodi water?

 

[vwtanker]

+1 on lack of flow. If overall nutrient content isn't a factor, low flow can cause pockets of excessive nutrient levels which will spur the growth. If your not using at least RO water it will be an uphill battle.

 

[noobtothereef]

lack of flow, when i started my tank the nitrates and phosphates were way high, never had any cyano in the dt but in my fuge i had very little flow and it grew like mad, i dropped a powwerhead in the fuge and it dissapeared in a couple of weeks. If you are getting cyano then your nitrates and phosphates are high, some people above have recomended that your nitrates and phosphates both be 0, the only way your going to get your nitrates at 0 is carbon dosing , dropping your phosphates would be via phosban or phosgaurd in a reactor.

 

[Chris27]

First off, cyano grows like mad in the ocean where the light bulbs don't need a changin', and the Nitrate and Phosphate levels are tremendously low....having said that.....think about what that leaves.....low flow.....cyano doesn't grow on the reefs where the waves are constantly churning the water....is grows in lagoonal areas with very low water turnover.

One other thing to note, carbon dosing is also not the only way to maintain an unmeasurable level of phosphate and nitrate...the same result can be had with a well maintained fuge, using a Sulfur DeN., great husbandry skills, deep sand bed, kick a$$ skimmer, etc....

 

[alexandernewell]

I have had success fighting it by bacterial supplementation. Nutrients aren't the only thing that cause it. Its not an algae. Vodka dosing is to help other bacterial colonies grow. To beat a bacteria you have to either use an antibiotic or out compete it. Using an antibiotic will destroy the work you have done cycling your tank. I have been using microbe-lift's special blend with good success. I found out about it in this thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1767673 I hope it helps you as well as it has helped me so far.