really bad cyano

[spongebob120]

i have a 14gallon biocube that is about 9 months old. I have been getting cyano (dark red algae) for the past 3 or 4 months but it has been getting out of control the past month. the entire sand surface and some of the rocks are covered. do you think I should treat it with chemicals?

 

[Reef of Eden]

ihad it in my 55 one time, my friend let me borrow this...
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...ed_Slime__Cyanobacteria_Removers~vendor~.html

one treatment and in 48 hours it was all gone. i was amazed. no antibiotics too.

 

[oldschooldino]

Have you tested for phosphates? Are you using RO/DI water?

 

[chin]

You will need to do a good cleaning trying to siphon out as much cyano as you can. I would do a 2-5% change daily to remove as much cyano and detritus as you can. Cyano will grow due to poor light, low flow and high organic levels. If you treat it chemically I've had good sucess w/ erythromycin 200mg/20gal. Run erythromycin for 24 hrs, turn off skimmer and change water afterwards. I always use a phosphate remover and use carbon intermittently

 

[sanababit]

turn off lights for 3 days, it works wonders

sana

 

[baldomero]

yeah i left someone in charge of my tank while i went on vacation and my back glass has cyano should i scrape it off and syphon it?

 

[chin]

I would scrape and siphon for sure

 

[Reef of Eden]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11601508#post11601508 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chin
You will need to do a good cleaning trying to siphon out as much cyano as you can. I would do a 2-5% change daily to remove as much cyano and detritus as you can. Cyano will grow due to poor light, low flow and high organic levels. If you treat it chemically I've had good sucess w/ erythromycin 200mg/20gal. Run erythromycin for 24 hrs, turn off skimmer and change water afterwards. I always use a phosphate remover and use carbon intermittently

i wouldn't use erythromycin as it is a antibiotic and could crash your whole tank.

 

[chin]

It can crash a tank if its overdosed (200 ml/20 gal for one dose). Many of the red slime products use erythromycin as the active ingredient. Otherwise the other method of water changes and chemical media is low risk.

 

[scram2]

i agree with Sana just turn all your lights off for about 3-4 days and just feed at your normal time.

 

[BangkokMatt]

I agree with 3 days lights off - day 4 actinics only. Day 5 normal lighting witha 20% waterchange. If its really bad you may have to do it a couple of times (leave a gap of 3-4 days) but it will fix it.

 

[oldschooldino]

Turning of your lights for a few days, etc.. will help temporarily, but you need to find the root cause. Cyanobacteria feed on light AND nutrients. If you don't limit it's nutrients, then when you turn the lights back on, it will start growing again.

 

[plummike]

Check Alkalinity, pH, Nitrates, and Phosphates. Vacuum rocks and sand surface when doing water changes.