does Cyano absorb nutrients?
- Thread starter kentrob11
- Start date
kmk2307
Active member
Hey Kent,
The cyano has taken lots of phosphates out of your water / what it ws growing on (the sand?) and binded them up in cyanobacterial biomass. Siphoning it out will indirectly remove that phosphate from your system. Cyanobacteria, unlike all other algae, can actually take atmospheric nitrogen gas and convert it to ammonia if it is in a low nitrogen environment so cyanobacteria can even lead to nitrate problems if you have lots of cyanobacteria grow and then die. Do you test your phosphates?
HTH,
Kevin
The cyano has taken lots of phosphates out of your water / what it ws growing on (the sand?) and binded them up in cyanobacterial biomass. Siphoning it out will indirectly remove that phosphate from your system. Cyanobacteria, unlike all other algae, can actually take atmospheric nitrogen gas and convert it to ammonia if it is in a low nitrogen environment so cyanobacteria can even lead to nitrate problems if you have lots of cyanobacteria grow and then die. Do you test your phosphates?
HTH,
Kevin
kentrob11
Premium Member
Thanks kevin....I haven't tested phosphates since setting up the 240 gallon tank. It was mostly new water....This cyano is really weird- It isn't there when the lights go on in the morning, builds up during the day then about 2 hours before the lights go off it starts to dissappear a little...strange
kmk2307
Active member
Kent,
Daily cycles of algal abundance can usually be explained by a night time process that makes a nutrient (since it is cyano growing I assume its phosphate) being made available. Do you have a 'fuge? If so, is it lit 24/7? Have you ever tried testing your pH several hours after the lights in the tank go out?
Kevin
Daily cycles of algal abundance can usually be explained by a night time process that makes a nutrient (since it is cyano growing I assume its phosphate) being made available. Do you have a 'fuge? If so, is it lit 24/7? Have you ever tried testing your pH several hours after the lights in the tank go out?
Kevin
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
Drop a Queen Conch into that bad boy.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=30040&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=30040&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500
kmk2307
Active member
reefcoral,
Cyano isn't really harmful, just unsightly. I don'tk now how much phosphate is being removed when cyanobacteria is removed. I don't have any idea what percentage of its biomass is phosphate. Do you use RO/DI (or another type of purified) water? There are products that absorb phosphate that can be used in the same manner as activated carbon. Try looking up phosban and rowaphos.
HTH,
Kevin
Cyano isn't really harmful, just unsightly. I don'tk now how much phosphate is being removed when cyanobacteria is removed. I don't have any idea what percentage of its biomass is phosphate. Do you use RO/DI (or another type of purified) water? There are products that absorb phosphate that can be used in the same manner as activated carbon. Try looking up phosban and rowaphos.
HTH,
Kevin
trueblackpercula
New member
ok so how do i get it out of my tank as well ? same problem as kentrob11 . if i have large amounts of phospates then will a fuge help at all or is it time to change the filter cart on my ro? i do not have a phosphate test kit but i do add 1 can of phosban by 2little fishes every month to my canister filter. i will be adding a sump to my tank in a couple of days with a built in refug i hope this helps.
