This stuff is driving me crazy...please help!

[Jeff120reef]

All:

I have developed a bad case of cyano...all over the rocks, sand, glass, EVERYWHERE! Params- 1.025, Nitrates- 5, Phos- 0.03, KH- 9 DKH.
120 gal reef with sump. Just did a 25 gallon water change this morning around 9am, vacuumed the gravel, got everything looks immaculate....by NOON...sand covered in the cyano blanket. I don't run carbon or dose anything. I use a 4 stage BRS RO/DI unit with 0 TDS for ATO and WC's. 25 gallon WC's every two weeks. Currently only have 3 fish, cleaner shrimp, assortment snails, 1 emerald crab. I just don't know what to do. :headwally:

I have read the different threads about cyano from Sk8r *sp?* Anyways, just dont understand what I could be doing wrong.

PS- Use T5/HO lighting on an 8 hour schedule.

Thanks again!

 

[Misled]

Have you used the lights out method she mentions in the thread? It really does work. Not saying it won't take some time though. It took me about 3 months to get rid of all of it, but IMO it's better to do it this way other than using chemicals. Running some GFO will help also.

 

[Nano sapiens]

I remember having 3 different colors of cyano in my old 50g covering nearly 1/2 the tank. Interesting, but not pretty. The tank had been set up for a few years and I hardly ever vacuumed the SB or basted the LR, but you live and learn (hopefully).

The cyano are utilizing nutrients from the SB/LR. The reason you don't see higher NO3 and PO4 is that it's being absorbed by the cyano before it enters the water column.

Your system is eutrophic, so you need to aggressively reduce nutrients. Regular WCs and detritus removal should do the trick, but you need to keep it up until the cyano disappears (once nutrient levels are low enough the bloom will disappear very rapidly). Also, make sure your bulbs are fresh since old bulbs can color shift toward the red spectrum which encourages cyano growth. You can also cut the photo period down for a few days, but I found it isn't really necessary since the nutrients, not the light, are typically the main cause of a bloom.

 

[kissman]

Treat the tank as if the NO3 and PO4 were high. They are the cyano is consuming it. A good HC GFO in a reactor will do wonders. Cut back on feeding to

 

[thebkramer]

First off... Take a Deep Breath!!!!!

yes.. Cyano is a big PITA!!! but you can get past it!!

it is ugly.. and very frustrating!! believe me.. I know!! I battled it for over a year.. finally asked RC for some extra help.. and I am now doing much, much better!!!!!

I also referenced Sk8rs Info on Cyano and More Cyano by SK8r and then asked for extra help in my own thread

Good Luck to you.. I hope you get ahead of it soon!!!