help troubleshooting cyano and hair algae please?

ahullsb

ahullsb

New member
I have been battling both hair algae, and cyano for a few MONTHS now. I've tried just about everything with no results. This is a 55 gallon tank with 20 gallon sump. I have been feeding less, only one cube of mysis or some equivalent per day. I am using a Euro Reef 135 and feel I have more than enough skimmer for my tank size. Two months ago I added a phosban reactor and have changed the media twice...and still have problems. I added flow. Now I have a Rio 2500 return, 1 modded Maxi 1200 (2000 gph), 1 Koralia 3 (850 gph?) and 3 maxi 600's on a wavemaker. So I can't imagine flow is a problem. The hair algae completely covers the koralia within a few weeks. I ran it in vinegar for 3 days, put in back in the tank and algae is growing right back. I have manually siphoned both hair algae and the cyano bacteria out and it just comes back. Am I missing something here? Does anyone have any suggestions? I thought between less feeding, heavy skimming, more flow and a phosphate reactor that I would have covered all my bases. Oh and I run my actinics for 12 hours and my mh's for about 10. Would cutting back on that help anything?

I have very limited space, but am assuming that I am going to have to set up a refugium. I was just wondering if there is any other solution before setting one up...Thanks in advance.
 
How about testing the RO/DI water you get for nitrates? or testing it with a TDS meter? Maybe reduce the amount of time your lights are on. A refugium probably wouldn't hurt. I wish I had one, but I'm kinda broke at the moment.
 
what are you running in your phosban reactor which type

i would buy your own rodi go to melevs site it will pay its self off in a year

you are not in control when your lfs changes its rodi chambers
 
I haven't tested the fresh water for nitrates, but I will. My tank has never been any higher than 10ppm and it's been 0 for the past 6 months. Phosphates have also tested 0, but I'm guessing the quick algae growth is responsible for that.

I've been using Phosban from Two Little Fishies running in a ViaAqua. I have thought about buying my own. My LFS gives RO/DI away for free which is hard to pass up.
 
I have been getting my water from Exotic over the past few months. I just heard from a friend that they may be charging now. Before that it was just a "connection" at another store. If the water situation at Exotic has changed, it may be time for my own unit.
 
I would test the RO water with a TDS meter. They are cheap, and you can easily tell if your input water is any good. Do you use mechanical filtration like sponges or a filter sock? If so make sure it is cleaned daily. Make sure your skimmer is cleaned and operating at its peak, they can grime up in a short time period. I also agree on getting your own RO/DI setup. It makes economic sense, and you can insure your input water is good. HTH
 
You are probably right. I will get a TDS meter. I stopped using filter socks a few months ago hoping that it was the source for nitrates etc. Hasn't seemed to make a bit of difference. The skimmer is clean and I have been skimming wet. Maybe I will just buy the ro/di unit, but I really feel like my water source at the moment should be ok. My LFS uses the Culligan DI tanks and test the water quality regularly. (Meaning I've seen them do it many times before I fill up). But it looks like I'll be visiting Melev's site before the week is up. :)
 
Yeah, I agree with the ro/di issue...you never know if the lfs has changed it's membranes enough...in fact...to be honest...most lfs ro/di probably isn't going to be as good as when you own your own and you change filters accordingly...like already stated...tds meter can help you tell...but either way...I would just buy my own...it really truly pays for itself.
....you have a sump..do you have any macro-algae in it? That can really suck nitrates and phosphates well...
....and don't forget....hair algae is very aggressive...and test kits (even the best) aren't completely accurate...you can read 0 for everything and still have problems.
....some folks say black sailfin blennies eat hair algae...as do lettuce nudis...but the nudis don't tend to live very long.
 
I'm starting my tank over after a crazy crash. After cycling my rock again, I had a Cyano problem too. I tried red slime remover from ultralife, and my tank laughed at two doses. Then I tried the other red slime manufacturer about a month later.

After 5 20% water changes or so later, the red slime still exists but there's very little of it.
Like you,I added a phosban reactor and I'm just waiting it out before adding corals.

*My point in sharing this story is to check your lighting. *

How old are your bulbs? That's my next move. mu PCs are over 12 Mos.

Also make sure that you airate the water during the application of the red slime remover.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I do have a sump, but it's full of equipment and there is no room for macro. I think I'm going to set up a 10 gallon refugium now. I'm assuming there is some level of phosphates in my tank, I'm just not sure why the reactor hasn't done much yet.

erid the lighting question is a good point, but my halides are only about 6 months old, and my t5's even less than that.
 
Thanks Andy. I have been going to exotic for years. I think they're kinda sloppy. Not that its not a cool fish store, cause it is, and I think things may have gotten a bit better @ the new location but I would not take anything that they're giving away. For some reason I just dont trust a couple of those little asian guys who work there. And not BECAUSE they're Asian. I just dont like how they are always so quick to try and sell you something that you dont need and that they have little knowledge of anyways. I understand that they are a retail establishment and they make thier money selling products, but I like to spend my money with someone who cares as much about my tank as I do.
 
I had no success with hair algae eaters. Tangs, blennies, snails, crabs all ignored the stuff. The only thing that ate bryopsis was a sea hare (the larger, grey, fuzzy kind). It ate hair algae like cotton candy, and cleaned off the rocks. Some people are afraid of them dying, getting sucked in a powerhead, or inking so do some research. It might help though.
 
Whats your average temp running? I know in one of the tanks I care for anytime the temp spikes a little I get a cyano bloom. Sounds like you have a lot of equipment and sometimes that can equate to a lot of heat generation. Just a thought.
 
Hmmm....I personally think your still feeding too much. I have a smaller tank with 2 blue/green chromis, fire goby and a 6-line wrasse and I think it takes about 4 days to go through an entire cube of mysis, etc. Just my opinion....
 
black the tank for a few days...if the algaes gone its your bulbs...if not its a chemistry issue
 
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