Green Film Algae

[karimwassef]

I couldn't access the thin mats that were starting to form on the sand behind the rocks in the shade. Very little formed under direct light.

So without collection, I needed to make it very uncomfortable. I introduced a bunch of sand sifters to shake things up.

I suspect a wrasse died back there and this was the bacterial result.

 

[Buzz1329]

I am now convinced that it is green cyano. I have read on other threads/reviews that some folks have experienced cyano blooms after use of AlgaeFix to eradicate other types of algae. Reviewing my tank log, I see that my initial problem was definitely GHA. I started using AlgaeFix and within a few weeks, most of the GHA was gone, so I cut AFM back to weekly maintenance dose. Soon afterwards, the current crop of green algae started. It never occurred to me that the green stuff was cyano. (I've always associated cyano with red mats on the sand bed for some reason.) So I went back to usual Algae-Fix doses and was removing most of the algae with weekly water changes. But it always came back. So I've discontinued AFM, and have ordered some Chemiclean.

Let's see how that works.

Thanks again for all the good advice,

Mike

 

[lllesley]

I am now convinced that it is green cyano. I have read on other threads/reviews that some folks have experienced cyano blooms after use of AlgaeFix to eradicate other types of algae. Reviewing my tank log, I see that my initial problem was definitely GHA. I started using AlgaeFix and within a few weeks, most of the GHA was gone, so I cut AFM back to weekly maintenance dose. Soon afterwards, the current crop of green algae started. It never occurred to me that the green stuff was cyano. (I've always associated cyano with red mats on the sand bed for some reason.) So I went back to usual Algae-Fix doses and was removing most of the algae with weekly water changes. But it always came back. So I've discontinued AFM, and have ordered some Chemiclean.

Let's see how that works.

Thanks again for all the good advice,

Mike

Are you saying you didnt believe me ? lol
Those could have been my photo's back then, glad you convinced.
Chemiclean works a treat, just follow the directions to a T and do a 40% change after 48hr because your skimmer will go crazy if you only do the 20%
Good luck. lol

 

[Buzz1329]

Are you saying you didnt believe me ? lol
Those could have been my photo's back then, glad you convinced.
Chemiclean works a treat, just follow the directions to a T and do a 40% change after 48hr because your skimmer will go crazy if you only do the 20%
Good luck. lol

To the contrary it was your post (#12) that convinced me. I did a 20% water change today, siphoning out most of the cyano. I added a filter sock to the return line, which I do not usually use. I removed the GAC reactor, took the collection cup off the skimmer, and added 2 WP 20s pointing at the surface to increase oxy, and at 6 pm I boldly dosed 75 drops of liquid Chemiclean to the return section of my sump where Chemiclean had never been dosed before. I also disconnected GFO reactor for 10 minutes because I had no clue how this would affect the CC.

No results so far (obviously). But I appreciate the advice about doing a 40% water change after the first dose. Makes sense.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[kewadiak]

not to hijack your thread but i have been trying to figure out my algae problem for months and mine kinda looks like yours. Do you guys think i could have cyano too im about to try chemiclean

 

[lllesley]

Yes, its green cyno. without a doubt.

 

[lllesley]

not to hijack your thread but i have been trying to figure out my algae problem for months and mine kinda looks like yours. Do you guys think i could have cyano too im about to try chemiclean

Yes that is green cynobacteria. 100%

 

[kewadiak]

To the contrary it was your post (#12) that convinced me. I did a 20% water change today, siphoning out most of the cyano. I added a filter sock to the return line, which I do not usually use. I removed the GAC reactor, took the collection cup off the skimmer, and added 2 WP 20s pointing at the surface to increase oxy, and at 6 pm I boldly dosed 75 drops of liquid Chemiclean to the return section of my sump where Chemiclean had never been dosed before. I also disconnected GFO reactor for 10 minutes because I had no clue how this would affect the CC.

No results so far (obviously). But I appreciate the advice about doing a 40% water change after the first dose. Makes sense.

Thanks,

Mike

any updates hows the tank doing/looking i am about to do the same to my tank tonight any suggestions?

 

[lllesley]

I am now convinced that it is green cyano. I have read on other threads/reviews that some folks have experienced cyano blooms after use of AlgaeFix to eradicate other types of algae. Reviewing my tank log, I see that my initial problem was definitely GHA. I started using AlgaeFix and within a few weeks, most of the GHA was gone, so I cut AFM back to weekly maintenance dose. Soon afterwards, the current crop of green algae started. It never occurred to me that the green stuff was cyano. (I've always associated cyano with red mats on the sand bed for some reason.) So I went back to usual Algae-Fix doses and was removing most of the algae with weekly water changes. But it always came back. So I've discontinued AFM, and have ordered some Chemiclean.

Let's see how that works.

Thanks again for all the good advice,

Mike

Really glad to hear your giving it a go.
I had a really bad case, after the first 48hrs its was 98% gone. Tank looked great.
BUT
I had a super experienced reefer see the tank shortly after using and he spotted a little bit left, was so tiny I actually hadn't noticed it, it was sort of on a rock underneath a coral.
His words to me were
"think of cyno like a person with a bacterial flue, he MUST finish his course of antibiotics or the flue may return"
So he convinced me to re-dose and make sure there was not even the tiniest bit left, or it would quickly multiply again.
So I did and it worked 100% gone.

The other thing we found is we run a Deltec skimmer that went absolutely nuts, foam everywhere, I have shrimp and corals in my sump. So to stop this we got a clip (hubby designed) and pinched off the air line to slow the foam. If your skimmer reacts like that I would do the same.

Let us know how you go ?

You will love a clean tank again :lolspin:

 

[Buzz1329]

Really glad to hear your giving it a go.
I had a really bad case, after the first 48hrs its was 98% gone. Tank looked great.
BUT
I had a super experienced reefer see the tank shortly after using and he spotted a little bit left, was so tiny I actually hadn't noticed it, it was sort of on a rock underneath a coral.
His words to me were
"think of cyno like a person with a bacterial flue, he MUST finish his course of antibiotics or the flue may return"
So he convinced me to re-dose and make sure there was not even the tiniest bit left, or it would quickly multiply again.
So I did and it worked 100% gone.

The other thing we found is we run a Deltec skimmer that went absolutely nuts, foam everywhere, I have shrimp and corals in my sump. So to stop this we got a clip (hubby designed) and pinched off the air line to slow the foam. If your skimmer reacts like that I would do the same.

Let us know how you go ?

You will love a clean tank again :lolspin:

It Worked Great!

As mentioned I did a 20% water change to remove as much of the stuff as possible before dosing so that the dead cyano would not overwhelm tank. On Tuesday night, I then dosed 75 drops into my 75 DT, removed GAC filter, took collection cup off the skimmer, and added 2 WP 25s for more surface agitation. I also added a filter sock, which I don't normally use.

Early this am, I did a 28 gallon WC (about 37%), siphoning out any remaining crud (there was not much left). Reinstalled the GAC reactor (1 cup), replaced GFO media (1 cup), and replaced the filter sock. After the WC, the DT looked 100% better than it did when I first posted. (I'll post some "after" pics later).

Appreciate the tip about doubling the recommended WC. With an hour after the WC, the Aquamaxx ConeS 2 skimmer sopped overflowing.

Thanks again,

Mike

 

[lllesley]

It Worked Great!

As mentioned I did a 20% water change to remove as much of the stuff as possible before dosing so that the dead cyano would not overwhelm tank. On Tuesday night, I then dosed 75 drops into my 75 DT, removed GAC filter, took collection cup off the skimmer, and added 2 WP 25s for more surface agitation. I also added a filter sock, which I don't normally use.

Early this am, I did a 28 gallon WC (about 37%), siphoning out any remaining crud (there was not much left). Reinstalled the GAC reactor (1 cup), replaced GFO media (1 cup), and replaced the filter sock. After the WC, the DT looked 100% better than it did when I first posted. (I'll post some "after" pics later).

Appreciate the tip about doubling the recommended WC. With an hour after the WC, the Aquamaxx ConeS 2 skimmer sopped overflowing.

Thanks again,

Mike

So glad it worked. I know what its like when the tank looks horrid and you kind of lose incentive with the battle.
Some pics would be great.
thanks

 

[Buzz1329]

So glad it worked. I know what its like when the tank looks horrid and you kind of lose incentive with the battle.
Some pics would be great.
thanks

I took after Pics with my new (first) smart phone, emailed them to myself to upload to Photo Bucket from my laptop, to post on RC as I have done before, but emails containing pics are not appearing on my laptop in the inboxes of either of email services I sent them to, or in the sent box of the email I used to send the pics. I always thought I was pretty good with PCs, but smart phones (and Hanna low range PO4 checker) make me feel like a 6 year old.

I'll have to consult my son, the extended family's new IT guy (used to be me before smart phones, sob), and see if he can figure this out.

 

[lllesley]

I took after Pics with my new (first) smart phone, emailed them to myself to upload to Photo Bucket from my laptop, to post on RC as I have done before, but emails containing pics are not appearing on my laptop in the inboxes of either of email services I sent them to, or in the sent box of the email I used to send the pics. I always thought I was pretty good with PCs, but smart phones (and Hanna low range PO4 checker) make me feel like a 6 year old.

I'll have to consult my son, the extended family's new IT guy (used to be me before smart phones, sob), and see if he can figure this out.

Hahahaha. Sad thing about this post is "I HEAR YOU". My sons have to help me with bloody Facebook. Lol.

 

[Buzz1329]

Hahahaha. Sad thing about this post is "I HEAR YOU". My sons have to help me with bloody Facebook. Lol.

Second son has suggested that I directly download pics to laptop (as I used to with crappy digital camera), so I'll give that a try.

In any event, the tank still looks great and skimmer is completely back to normal. The only impact on inverts was that there were some spots of cyano on my green monty cap, and with the cyano's demise, there are some small white spots on the coral. Not too concerned as this piece has grown from a 2" frag purchased in 8/12 to a 12" x 12" monster, despite my selling/trading dozens of substantial (4" x 4") frags from the thing. Short of a North Korean nuclear attack directed specifically at my house, I don't think anything will stop that Monty until it has filled the entire tank.

 

[kewadiak]

Second son has suggested that I directly download pics to laptop (as I used to with crappy digital camera), so I'll give that a try.

In any event, the tank still looks great and skimmer is completely back to normal. The only impact on inverts was that there were some spots of cyano on my green monty cap, and with the cyano's demise, there are some small white spots on the coral. Not too concerned as this piece has grown from a 2" frag purchased in 8/12 to a 12" x 12" monster, despite my selling/trading dozens of substantial (4" x 4") frags from the thing. Short of a North Korean nuclear attack directed specifically at my house, I don't think anything will stop that Monty until it has filled the entire tank.

Great to hear I'm starting my dose tonite. So basically i dose then do a large water change 48 hours later? Also do u leAve my lights on or off?

 

[Buzz1329]

Great to hear I'm starting my dose tonite. So basically i dose then do a large water change 48 hours later? Also do u leAve my lights on or off?

My recommendation is:

do 10% water change prior to dosing to remove as much cyano as possible so dying cyano won't pollute water FUBAR during dosing product;

Whether or not you do initial WC, rest of the process is pretty simple:

remove GAC reactor/filter;

take collection cup off skimmer and open gate valve all the way;

install filter sock;

leave GFO filter in place;

add some extra aeration in tank (like powerhead pointing up at surface);

dose at 1 drop per net gallon (I have a 75 DT and half-filled 30 gallon sump, so given displacement of rocks in DT, I estimated that I have a total volume of 75 gals in system);

no need to change light schedule;

after 48 hours (in my case 60 hours), do LARGE WC (I did 28 gal WC on 75), removing residual algae from rocks and walls);

reinstall GAC reactor;

change GFO media in GFO reactor;

change filter sock;

wait an hour or 2 to see if skimmer has stopped overflowing, and replace collection cup if possible.

And, based on my experience, you should be fine.

My 75 has never looked better, minimal harm to corals (see prior post), no harm to fish or non-coral inverts.

Good luck,

Mike

 

[lllesley]

My recommendation is:

do 10% water change prior to dosing to remove as much cyano as possible so dying cyano won't pollute water FUBAR during dosing product;

Whether or not you do initial WC, rest of the process is pretty simple:

remove GAC reactor/filter;

take collection cup off skimmer and open gate valve all the way;

install filter sock;

leave GFO filter in place;

add some extra aeration in tank (like powerhead pointing up at surface);

dose at 1 drop per net gallon (I have a 75 DT and half-filled 30 gallon sump, so given displacement of rocks in DT, I estimated that I have a total volume of 75 gals in system);

no need to change light schedule;

after 48 hours (in my case 60 hours), do LARGE WC (I did 28 gal WC on 75), removing residual algae from rocks and walls);

reinstall GAC reactor;

change GFO media in GFO reactor;

change filter sock;

wait an hour or 2 to see if skimmer has stopped overflowing, and replace collection cup if possible.

And, based on my experience, you should be fine.

My 75 has never looked better, minimal harm to corals (see prior post), no harm to fish or non-coral inverts.

Good luck,

Mike

Wow, you need to keep this and copy and paste every time some one asks about cyno.. you have step by stepped it perfectly. Impressive.
lol

 

[Buzz1329]

I finally was able to transfer the "after" photos to photobucket. So here are the results. The pics were taken a few hours after the large water change at the end of the chemi-clean process. Compare to pics in first post to see results:

















Mike

 

[kewadiak]

Looks good i lost one head on my torch. It basically detached it self so weird. Looked healthy as can be to. Did you experience anything like this?

 

[Buzz1329]

Looks good i lost one head on my torch. It basically detached it self so weird. Looked healthy as can be to. Did you experience anything like this?

I lost a few heads on my torch to the algae. But so far CC has not done any harm to my LPS, SPS (mostly montys),palys,or Tridacna clam.

Mike