Reef Crystals causing Cyano

[MilkWeed18]

I used to use Oceanic Salt Mix for my 29g and switched to Reef Crystals. I have had Cyano Algae ever since i switched. I though it was because i was overfeeding, I even blamed my water until i got a tds meter and it read 0. It seems to go away overtime, but right after i do a water change it comes back ten fold. I'm going to try Instant Ocean just because its cheaper than oceanic. Had anybody had this issue before?

 

[Pallobi]

jus curious, what kind of flow do you have?

 

[d0ughb0y]

I once got a bad batch and thats what happened.
you know you got a bad batch if after mixing, you get that brownish residue on the mixing container and on the powerhead (and hardens like cement when it dries). I have since got a good batch and every single mix I make is very clear with no residue at all. If your mix has residue, I'd say get rid of it and get another bucket.

 

[tozzi]

Could be the rc, i heard thats a prob sometimes with it

 

[kingfisher62]

I have been using Reef crystals for a while with good luck. I think your cyano outbreak is probably just a coincedence.

 

[cubsFAN]

reef crystals has always left a harmless residue in my containers. Very unlikely it's the salt. The number of people that use it that don't have cyano should be proof enough. I'd say it has something to do with flow.

 

[MilkWeed18]

jus curious, what kind of flow do you have?

I have a Koralia 1, Penguin powerhead (walmart), and a AC70.

My saltwater mixture isnt really clear, it does have some residue leftover. It could be a bad batch, but i dont want to buy another bag and find out it does the same thing

 

[kingfisher62]

How long has your tank been running MilkWeed18 ? Could be part of your cycle. I have had issues with that in new tanks for a little while.

 

[MrLeemr]

I've been using RC for years with no ill effects, +1 on the coincedence. I believe it's easy to blame the salt but not likely the culprit, i would look a little deeper.

 

[Dbroncos]

Use Reef Crystals no problem.

 

[Mavrk]

If your saltwater isn't clear, then something is wrong. How do you mix? Make sure you add salt to the water and not the other way around. It should mix for at least a day.

FWIW, I usually see problems when people change salts. It is more the change than it is the salt. Did you change gradually?

You should pick a salt and stick with it unless there is a reason to change. I had bad luck with Oceanic. RC has been good to me. I used to use IO and can say that is a great salt as well. Especially after they changed the formula last year (or was it longer by now?).

It's funny... around here Oceanic is cheaper. I always order my salt online since prices here are crazy.

 

[tozzi]

I dont know. When i tried it about 7 yrs ago it left a nasty residue in the mixing bucket, thats enough for me. Some of that residue does go into the tank. Maybe that stuff is bad for coral n fish or hey maybe its even good, either way Just cant help with water clarity being its brown. And i want my tank as clear as possible. If u want a cheaper salt, go with IO, numbers are usually stable and always mixes good. Otherwise get tropic pro, in my opinion its one of the best! And with a 29gallon tank a bucket will last u over a year

 

[Mavrk]

I dont know. When i tried it about 7 yrs ago it left a nasty residue in the mixing bucket, thats enough for me. Some of that residue does go into the tank. Maybe that stuff is bad for coral n fish or hey maybe its even good, either way Just cant help with water clarity being its brown. And i want my tank as clear as possible. If u want a cheaper salt, go with IO, numbers are usually stable and always mixes good. Otherwise get tropic pro, in my opinion its one of the best! And with a 29gallon tank a bucket will last u over a year

There is nothing bad about the residue:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/index.php

 

[tozzi]

Never said there was. I just rather not have it. The brown film cant help clarity. Not good for the equipment either

 

[MilkWeed18]

I have had my tank up since june 2010. I have tested for nitrates, nitrites, ammonia they all say 0.

Make sure you add salt to the water and not the other way around

Would it really matter in the order you mix it?

 

[tozzi]

I have had my tank up since june 2010. I have tested for nitrates, nitrites, ammonia they all say 0.

Would it really matter in the order you mix it?

Well your tank is still "new" then. Still might b in cycle stages if it got a slow start cycling. Cynao, hair, all those are common for the first 1 -1 1/2 yrs. Till the tank really stabilizes.

The numbers will spike if u mix the water to the salt, cause of all the salt and such little water

 

[kingfisher62]

Your tank is still relatively new , give it some time you will beat it !

 

[Mavrk]

I have had my tank up since june 2010. I have tested for nitrates, nitrites, ammonia they all say 0.

Would it really matter in the order you mix it?

Yes. If you add water to the salt there will be a lot of precipitation of calcium carbonate. The reasoning has to do with pH. If the water is added to the salt or the salt is added to quickly, the pH will be high because of the initially high alkalinity concentration. This in turn will cause the calcium carbonate to precipitate out of the solution since the Ca and Alk are both locally high. Some of the heavy metals will precipitate out with it. If your water is cloudy, then you are adding the salt too quickly, or you are adding water to salt. The result will be a lower alkalinity as well as slightly lower calcium plus a small loss of heavy metals. If you are adding cloudy water to the tank, then that is generally not a good idea. You need to wait for it to be clear.

This does not mean this is the cause of the cyano. My guess is that it is a combination of a young tank and a rapid change in salt (mostly the former since 2-3 months is about right for cyano).

 

[noahm]

Would it really matter in the order you mix it?

You want nearly the full volume of water up to temperature and then add salt. If you poured water onto a pile of salt mix, you run the risk of things precipitating out rather than dissolving properly because the solution becomes saturated. The precipitate won't redissolve properly after that, so you wind up with residue and wasted Ca.

 

[MilkWeed18]

You want nearly the full volume of water up to temperature and then add salt. If you poured water onto a pile of salt mix, you run the risk of things precipitating out rather than dissolving properly because the solution becomes saturated. The precipitate won't redissolve properly after that, so you wind up with residue and wasted Ca.

I did not know that. Thats the way i have been doing it. I will try the reverse on friday (next water change). i'll see if that makes a difference.