cyno attack.
- Thread starter heartben
- Start date
You can use Chemi-clean to get rid of it temporarily. Long term solution would be improved in-tank flow. 
Atticus
New member
There was just a thread here in our forum on this about a week ago... Let me find it, but in the mean time it has been shown to be a chemical imbalance in your tank. Low Alk is a major cause, high phosphates, and nitrates are also possible links. I would also suggest looking at your magnesium levels as it is linked to the balance between Calcium, and Alkalinity.
Atticus
New member
Here is the link:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1233803
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1233803
jtesdall
Premium Member
Ben,
This is discussed all the time on GIRS and general RC threads. What Atticus said is the solution. This is caused by water problems. I had the same problem beginning of the year and then I got serious about solving the problem. Here are the things I did and the problem has vanished.
1. WATER CHANGES!
2. Added a Sump/Refugium with Cheato (and now Mangroves)
3. Added a Phosphate reactor
4. Got rid of Crushed Coral substrate and put in a 5 inch aragonite sand bed (there will be argument on this point from others in GIRS)
5. Got a better Skimmer
6. Did I mention water changes
7. Test Nitrate,Phosphates, CA, and ALK to keep everything in balance.
Basically the same points that atticus pointed you to in that thread.
It has also been suggested to shut down the lights for a couple of days but I don't know that I recommend this one.
Chemi-Clean or other chemicals as stated can be a short term fix but it will come right back. Treat the cause not the symptom.
Here's some more interesting reading on cyano...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=10396187#post10396187
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1239002
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=10396187#post10396187
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1239002
Nanemene
New member
Chemi-clean did nothing for me. Anti-Red worked on the cyano, but it also worked on half my livestock at the time. Increasing flow has never appeared effective, IMO. I'm convinced that you pretty much have to either chemically "nuke it" or let it run it's course (which could take a very long time). Somewhere on RC, a very experienced reefer was expressing roughly the same opinion. I don't know what all he did for experiments, but he concluded that cyano had to be biologically killed, not just mechanically pushed around.
Randy Holmes-Farley thinks it's a combination of things. I guess I'll take his word for it. 
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1056103
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1056103
jtesdall
Premium Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11091514#post11091514 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by slovan
Randy Holmes-Farley thinks it's a combination of things. I guess I'll take his word for it.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1056103
Reading his articles solved my problems and I should have given him credit! I will also vote for listening to the one and only RHF.
heartben
New member
thanks guys. we actually bought a sump set up a few days ago, had trouble setting it up though... so now were going to repair a baffle (came loose, no biggie) and possibly replace the overflow... itd be cool to get one that sucks down about 950 gph as we got a mag 9.5 with the set up.
we have quite a bit of chaeto and some mangroves so.. i think after we get that rockin the cyno will go away... at least... im hoping so.
-ben
we have quite a bit of chaeto and some mangroves so.. i think after we get that rockin the cyno will go away... at least... im hoping so.
-ben
heartben
New member
as far as i know... were buying it from jeremy !
as far as tests, i think we have - ammonia, trite, trate, ph, and alk... so we need a few more and we will be good... last time we tested everything was perfect.. the alk was a little high though. idk.
if things dont start to get better soon i think i might sell all the stuff or let ashley take it... its super frustrating.
if we had money for a better skimmer that would be high on the list for me but, we dont... so if anyone is selling a skimmer that i dont have to mod (can be modded, but i dont want to have to buy parts for it) that is better than a normal prizm... pm me.
as far as tests, i think we have - ammonia, trite, trate, ph, and alk... so we need a few more and we will be good... last time we tested everything was perfect.. the alk was a little high though. idk.
if things dont start to get better soon i think i might sell all the stuff or let ashley take it... its super frustrating.
if we had money for a better skimmer that would be high on the list for me but, we dont... so if anyone is selling a skimmer that i dont have to mod (can be modded, but i dont want to have to buy parts for it) that is better than a normal prizm... pm me.
Atticus
New member
It takes a solid 6 months to get a tank half *** stable. The sump will not change your water chemistry. To treat your cyano efficiently you will want to siphon out as much as you can and add back in as pure saltwater as possible. Do this a couple times while monitoring your parameters and you should see a difference. Remember you are treating a bacteria, not an algae outbreak. You may also read that maracin 2 helps with this problem, do not waste your time or money. What salt mix are you using?
