I have had a on going problem with cyanobacteria and seems the water changes are not helping. I have looked at some chemicals and found maybe chemi-clean for red slime from marine depot looks like a cure. Will this slime come back over time? Hopefully not but can someone give me some ideas or products?
cyanobacteria--need help!!!!
- Thread starter ozman3803
- Start date
Before you dose with anything, you want to try to get rid of it via natual methods:
1.) Reduce nutrients
2.) Increase flow
You probably noticed that your cyano started in a low flow spot and grew from there...correct? Some can just point a powerhead at that spot and the cyano will go away. You can try extracting the cyano via siphon (rigid air tubing). Be careful while doing this because the red mat is just goo so it will break apart easily. Water changes will help with your nutrient export. Depending on how long you've been at it, you may decide to dose...
You can use Chemi-clean or you can use antibiotics (Freshwater Maracyn). My preference is Maracyn because its cheaper than Chemi-clean and I prefer to kill bacteria with antibiotics.
The next post will be something along the lines of "bah, it'll kill off all your bacteria". Short version is that it wont. The long version is that cyano bacteria is gram postive and your benefitial bacteria are gram negative. Maracyn only attacks gram positive bact. It will not kill your benefitial bacteria. You should research use of Maracyn before you dose. Lots of info out there.
I suggest you try to avoid dosing and getting rid of it naturally first. This is really the best option for your system. However if it is covering everything and smothering corals...you should probably take action with the meds.
1.) Reduce nutrients
2.) Increase flow
You probably noticed that your cyano started in a low flow spot and grew from there...correct? Some can just point a powerhead at that spot and the cyano will go away. You can try extracting the cyano via siphon (rigid air tubing). Be careful while doing this because the red mat is just goo so it will break apart easily. Water changes will help with your nutrient export. Depending on how long you've been at it, you may decide to dose...
You can use Chemi-clean or you can use antibiotics (Freshwater Maracyn). My preference is Maracyn because its cheaper than Chemi-clean and I prefer to kill bacteria with antibiotics.
The next post will be something along the lines of "bah, it'll kill off all your bacteria". Short version is that it wont. The long version is that cyano bacteria is gram postive and your benefitial bacteria are gram negative. Maracyn only attacks gram positive bact. It will not kill your benefitial bacteria. You should research use of Maracyn before you dose. Lots of info out there.
I suggest you try to avoid dosing and getting rid of it naturally first. This is really the best option for your system. However if it is covering everything and smothering corals...you should probably take action with the meds.
Appreciate the help, it's been on going for over a month now. I have done 20% water changes weekly for the past few weeks. It is a 75 gal tank and I have 2 seio 1100, remora skimmer and wet/dry trickle filter so there should be plenty of flow. I only feed once a day in the evening. Just did a major cleaning this last weekend and it was noticeable the next day and is starting to cover the sand, rock and corals. Thanks for the help, I'd rather do it w/out meds but seems that 's going to be the cure.
LobsterOfJustice
Recovering Detritophobe
1. Good flow to keep things off the sand.
2. Run phosphate removal media such as phosban. I run the media eventhough I have tested my water with a salifert kit and it read 0. The Algae can be using the phosphate as fast as it's being intorduced to your system, and even small amounts of PO4 (too small to register on a kit) can fuel algae and harm corals.
3. Use RODI water. Check the TDS, your filters may need replacing.
4. Rinse all frozen food cubes before feeding.
5. Keep the sand stirred with a cucumber, conch and/or gobies.
This of course is in addition to regular water changes and a good skimmer.
2. Run phosphate removal media such as phosban. I run the media eventhough I have tested my water with a salifert kit and it read 0. The Algae can be using the phosphate as fast as it's being intorduced to your system, and even small amounts of PO4 (too small to register on a kit) can fuel algae and harm corals.
3. Use RODI water. Check the TDS, your filters may need replacing.
4. Rinse all frozen food cubes before feeding.
5. Keep the sand stirred with a cucumber, conch and/or gobies.
This of course is in addition to regular water changes and a good skimmer.
