Is this Cyano?

[aravindk]

What is the red thingy on my sand bed? It looks like a slimy thing. There was plentiful that accumulated in the past two weeks and yesterday I sifted the sand to clean it up. Today it started piling up again.

Is this Cyano? What should I do get rid of it? I have three pieces of live rock that has this stuff too. I tested the water with a lfs a week ago and everything was fine.

 

[stereomandan]

Yup that's cyano. Good pic of it too.

What were your nitrates and phosphates at?

Dan

 

[aravindk]

Nitrates are about 10. Dont have a phosphate test kit. I have put the phosguard stuff in the sump, just in case.

Anything else can I do?

 

[stereomandan]

It helps sometimes to syphon it out when doing a water change. It's a short term fix though.

It comes and goes in most tanks at one time or another. The best way to get rid of it is to keep your nitrates and phosphates low. Make sure you don't overfeed, and have a way of getting rid of extra nutrients. (skimmer, deep sand bed, macro algae in sump...)

Dan

 

[aravindk]

I have skimmer & deep sand bed. I am working on setting up a fuge soon.

Overfeeding: Last two months I have been feeding every other day, but I realize that I am feeding a lot more than usual. I guess I have to cut it down.

Also I bought some liverock from a local guy (not a store). He had three large pieces and all these three pieces have this red thing on them. Would removing those pieces would help or am I overthinking this?

 

[bklynmet]

It's cyano. If phosphate has leached into those rocks, then it'll likely be a source of cyano outbreaks. Patience, water changes, skimming, phosphate removal and patience is what I'm told you'll need.
What I've heard is that most phosphate kits cannot measure accurately the phosphate levels in the tank. Mine never registered anything but I'm positive it's phosphates causiing cyano b/c phosban has helped control it.

This article does a great job explaining phosphates. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php
Good luck!

 

[chin_lee]

few steps

few steps

I would do a combination of the following steps:
- run phosban/rowaphos to bring phosphates down
- do 20-25% water changes weekly
- siphon out as much cyano from the sand and rocks when doing the water changes
- if you have a sump, use a filter sock and change it daily and use a turkey baster to dislodge any cyano from rocks
- raise and maintain your ORP to 390-410 range via ozone if you have it
- set your skimmer to skim wet

I did all the above and it took my tank a good 4-6 weeks to get back in good shape.

I'm sure there are other things you can do but the above worked for me.

good luck

 

[bklynmet]

Re: few steps

Re: few steps

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8337114#post8337114 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chin_lee
I would do a combination of the following steps:

- set your skimmer to skim wet

good luck

What is the logic for skimming wet? I understand what all your other suggestions do but am not sure about the reason for the last. I'm here on RC to learn and help. Thanks.

 

[aravindk]

I am sure I can do atleast 4 out of the six steps you mentioned. I am going to give it a shot. Thanks!

 

[chin_lee]

Re: Re: few steps

Re: Re: few steps

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8337218#post8337218 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bklynmet
What is the logic for skimming wet? I understand what all your other suggestions do but am not sure about the reason for the last. I'm here on RC to learn and help. Thanks.

in my experience, i have only used beckett skimmers and my beckett is 48" high powered by an iwaki70 rlt. I used to run the foam very dry but i found that it gets so thick on top it actually impedes on the foam rising. eventually it creats a foam pancake (so to speak) at the top.
I've run it wet meaning the foam is basically "spitting" at the top and it keeps the tube clear and my collection cup is just as dirty. I may lose a gallon or two of water every few days to a week but thats nothing when I have 300 gallons volume of water. by letting the foam spit, the skimmate and crap basically gets thrown out of the tube into the collection cup - i actually have to clean the collection cup just to be able to see my tube to see if its skimming properly. Hope that makes sense but thats my experience.

 

[cato]

I find that increased flow and simply time for the tank to mature a bit helps too. Higher flow will help keep detritus from settling thus allowing your skimmer to pull it out. And as many have mentioned, frequent water changes. HTH Good luck.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

1. Good flow. Nothing should settle on the substrate.
2. Run phosphate removal media such as phosban. I run the media eventhough I have tested my water with a salifert kit and it read 0. The Algae can be using the phosphate as fast as it's being intorduced to your system, and even small amounts of PO4 (too small to register on a kit) can fuel algae and harm corals.
3. Use RODI water. Check the TDS, your filters may need replacing.
4. Rinse all frozen food cubes before feeding.
5. Keep the sand stirred with a cucumber, conch and/or gobies.

 

[cristhiam]

If nothing works, chemi-clean 2 - 3 days will be all gone, and it's reef safe, just follow the instructions.