griss’ Battle with Cyano - all the Things I’ve Tried

[JohnL]

Looking very healthy George

 

[griss]

Looking very healthy George

Thanks John. It was a long frustrating battle. The worst I've had in my 30+ years in this hobby.

 

[jason2459]

Tank looks great now.

 

[griss]

Tank looks great now.

Thank you.

 

[griss]

Prior to dosing kalk again, my pH was bouncing between 7.8 and 8.0. Now, I’m dosing 1 drip per second of Kalk 24/7 through a ZooMed Little Dripper. pH averaging 8.2 - 8.4. No more Cyano and everything is doing awesome.

 

[Misled]

Very cool George. Old school still works!!!

 

[griss]

Here’s the last 24 hrs pH.

 

[jason2459]

Nice range. Should help promote some growth.

 

[griss]

Last 24 hrs on pH. Tank is still looking fantastic. I need to order some phone camera filters so I can post accurate pics.

 

[kharmaguru]

Are you keeping an eye on your alkalinity?

You said it's 40b with 10gal sump, so I'm generously saying 40 gallons system volume. At a drop per second, that's 3ml a minute, 1440 minutes in 24hrs, that's 4.32L (1.14 US gallons) of kalk per day, so you are adding 3.25dKh per day just in kalk.

 

[Joypaws83]

Last 24 hrs on pH. Tank is still looking fantastic. I need to order some phone camera filters so I can post accurate pics.

I highly recommend these! I’ve attached a screenshot in case the link doesn’t work

Orphek Coral Lens – Kit for All Smartphones – 4 Lens Included: Macro, CPL 37mm Polarized, 15,000k Orange, 20,000k Yellow – Universal ... Amazon.com

 

[griss]

Are you keeping an eye on your alkalinity?

You said it's 40b with 10gal sump, so I'm generously saying 40 gallons system volume. At a drop per second, that's 3ml a minute, 1440 minutes in 24hrs, that's 4.32L (1.14 US gallons) of kalk per day, so you are adding 3.25dKh per day just in kalk.

Yes Sean, I am. Alk is good. Thanks for making sure and making me think about it again. I’ll post some test results here in a few minutes.

 

[griss]

I highly recommend these! I’ve attached a screenshot in case the link doesn’t work

Orphek Coral Lens – Kit for All Smartphones – 4 Lens Included: Macro, CPL 37mm Polarized, 15,000k Orange, 20,000k Yellow – Universal ... Amazon.com

Thanks Joy.

 

[griss]

@kharmaguru Sean, I should have noted that I’m mixing a pretty weak kalk. I mix 1 Tbsp wages pickling lime in a gallon of RODI, and let it settle. Then, pour off the top to two 1/2 gallon jugs and let settle. Then, pour off those two 1/2 gallons to other 1/2 gallons. This allows me to pour kalk into the Dripper without worrying about going too strong.

That said, my Alk on Oct 7 was 11.5. Tested just now and I’m at 11.65 using Salifert.

 

[griss]

Tank is still looking really good.

 

[griss]

Calibrated my pH probe today. After calibration was sitting at 8.3. Noticed I needed to prune the fuge. Took out about a sandwich bag of Caulerpa. PH dropped to 7.8 after I did that. Dripping kalk to counter that.

 

[griss]

Guessing I stirred up some hydrogen sulfide pulling the macros out causing the pH to drop.

 

[griss]

Well, I’m getting some Cyano again. Haven’t changed anything other than adding the Dottyback, Birdsnest and T. Maxima?

 

[vlangel]

Well, I’m getting some Cyano again. Haven’t changed anything other than adding the Dottyback, Birdsnest and T. Maxima?

Cyano can be frustrating and sorry you are having to deal with that.

 

[griss]

Cyano can be frustrating and sorry you are having to deal with that.

Thanks Dawn. Thinking back, I did make a change. I got some pellet food and have been adding that every other day to the frozen foods I feed daily. Might cut the pellets out and see what happens.