Cynobacteria overgrowth

[grovetsly]

Reefers,

I need your help. I thought that my tank had coraline algae growth, but in reality it is Cyanobacteria. The color is more reddish then purple. Does anybody have any suggestion on how to get rid of them? I did a 20% water change last weekend and am thinking of doing another 30-40% water change. Are there any chemical that I can buy to ger rid of this?

 

[rafajara1985]

my problem is going away slowly not that I dropped the phosphates using a reactor. some is still there but the stuff I pull out does not come back.

 

[azreefgeek]

Water changes, carbon if you have some and cut your photo period as much as possible. If you have no corals and can shut your lights off for the better part of 2 days it will help a ton. Don't use chemicals if you do not have to.

Cyano is typically caused by excess nutrients in your water. It often occurs in new tanks whose ecosystems have not balanced out yet. This is normal, and can occur until the tank is mature.

 

[Helfrichs Chic]

Is it hard? Coraline comes in many colors including dark red. If it's cyano, im a big fan of chemi clean but most don't like to add chems.

 

[grovetsly]

It is mostly dark reddish color.

 

[usefulidiot213]

Do you have photos? Cyano is not hard like coralline. If it is Cyano, then just find out where your extra nutrients are coming from. The Usual suspects are Over feeding, high TDS in water source, underpowered skimmer or too high of a bioload.
I previously had a lot of success with kicking Cyano by dosing Vodka.

 

[bazineta]

Cyano is the result of excess nutrients, so the key to elimination is nutrient control. This takes the form of (a) not overfeeding and (b) export.

Export can be via a variety of mechanisms, for example, growing macroalgae in a refugium, using a phosphate binder such as GFO, dosing vodka or vinegar to promote the growth of bacteria, or use of biopellets.

However, since many nutrients are conveniently bound up in the cyano already, and since cyano really doesn't stick to anything, then you might try getting a jump on the export by siphoning out the cyano during your water change; this will instantly remove the nutrients bound up in the cyano, improve the appearance of the tank, and greatly improve your state of mind over the issue. A 1/4" polyethylene tube works well for this purpose.

I'd avoid the use of the magic chemical removers in favor of a control approach; the chemicals will work, and, if you pay close attention to the instructions, you will probably not have collateral livestock loss, but unless you fix the problem source, it's going to be a temporary solution at best.

 

[usefulidiot213]

Removing the Cyano helps, but does not solve the problem. You will just grow more Cyano. The issue is high nutrients. Go to the source and eliminate the issue. Don't just tend to the result of the problem. Work smart not hard.
If it was me, I would approach the issue from both sides. Look to better ways to consume the nutrients. Ways like growing Maroalgae, Carbon dosing & GFO. Then also look for ways to lower the nutrients. Like upgrade skimmer, feed less & Increase flow.
I would also recommend checking your water source. I had a real bad Cyano problem a couple of years ago, and I found the leading issue was My RO/DI filter needed new filters and my water change & Top off water had high TDS. Fixed that and started to dose vodka. Two weeks later the Cyano was completely gone, and has yet to return.