Cyanobacteria...

[SHLove16]

Okay, so I have a 12g Nanocube with stock lighting that's about 7 weeks old. I do about a 15-20% water change a week (I use RO/DI water). All my parameters (that I have: salinity, temperature, pH, nitrites, nitrates, ammonia, alkalinity) seem to be normal, but I am slowly getting what appears to be cyanobacteria on my glass...what should I do to help this? I only have a few crabs, snails, a cleaner shrimp, and 2 mushrooms, so I don't think I am over feeding? The light is on probably 10 hours a day, and I always run the Maxijet900...What should I try? I don't want this to turn into a huge problem? Should I try not feeding them for a few days and keeping the lights off for a few days? Man, I am stumped and need serious help...

Thanks,
-Simon

 

[magdelan]

Don't turn the lights off but instead, reduce the cycle by half. Be sure that the tank has good flow (mJ900 should be ok) and try running P04 remover. Other than that, it seems that the cyano is part of the new tank syndrome that comes with a "new tank". Blow it off with a turkey baster to suspend it in the tank and then be sure to have some sort of export (skimmer or filter) to remove it.

 

[serum153]

I am having that wonderful bloom also and man is it annoying. I have been handpicking it off the sand and blasting it off the rocks during my weekly water change. Hope it ends soon

 

[Europa13]

I would double your water change percent. Tanks that don't use protein skimmers, need large weekly water changes to keep nutrients low. What's your SG? Improper SG can lead to cyano. Low flow is another culprit. I would upgrade to a maxi-jet 1200.

 

[ZooZ]

what SG is good target to attain? Ive heard 1.026 natural saltwater

 

[kevin2000]

Can you provide a picture? Pretty common in new tanks to get a diatom bloom followed by a cyano bloom .. neither is likely to do any harm to your tank. If its diatoms then snails will eat it .. if its cyano they won't.

 

[SHLove16]

thanks everyone....first off, what do you mean reduce the cycle by half?

My salinity is about 35 ppt, at about 1.025-1.026 maybe....

the maxi900 is plenty good, if I upgrade i'll deffinately have sand storms...

Yes I can get a picture I will in a few hours maybe (I just woke up).

********And also, I think my purigen pad needs to be washed, Iv'e used it for almost 2 months straight. I ordered a new one and a chemi-pure pad as well and they should arrive any day now, maybe they will help...


Thanks everyone,
-Simon

 

[iwishtofish]

I'd like to see a picture also. My tank is new and I suspect I have diatoms now. Always nice to know what to expect!

 

[SHLove16]

Alright...here are the best pictures I could get with my camera...sorry for the bad quality...

And where it's the worse....

Man, this sucks....

 

[kevin2000]

The pictures aren't very clear but that looks like a bit of film algae with maybe a touch of diatom .. nothing to be concerned about.

 

[SHLove16]

Thanks...sorry for the bad picture....it's like a brownish/red kind of stuff...very easy to wipe off it's just very ugly...

How can I make it go away?

 

[kevin2000]

If it is film algae or diatoms almost any algae eating snail will work (turbo, margarita, astrea etc.) Meat eaters like nassarius won't help much.

 

[SHLove16]

Alright thanks.
Also, what is the best plant to put in my filtration system to help water quality and parameters?

Should I try chaeto, macroalgae, microalgae? Which plant does what?

Thanks again.

-Simon

 

[kevin2000]

Your pictures don't show anything that warrants an investment in macro. Tanks get algae .. thats part of the hobby .. overwhelming amts of algae demonstrates a problem .. your pictures don't illustrate a problem.

 

[SHLove16]

Alright, thanks a whole lot Kevin!