Thoughts on Microbes to battle Cyanobacteria

[thelawnwrangler]

I am battling cyanobacteria. I am working on moving powerheads to increase flow, and lowering nutrients, but was wondering if adding microbes to out compete cyano would be a good idea?

I physical removed all I could in my weekly water change and will continue to do so. I was thinking of something like this:

http://www.marinedepot.com/Brightwe...ts-Brightwell_Aquatics-BW01219-FIADBS-vi.html


Wishful thinking? I want to avoid a bacteria killer for now.

 

[MarineDepot]

I am battling cyanobacteria. I am working on moving powerheads to increase flow, and lowering nutrients, but was wondering if adding microbes to out compete cyano would be a good idea?

I physical removed all I could in my weekly water change and will continue to do so. I was thinking of something like this:

http://www.marinedepot.com/Brightwe...ts-Brightwell_Aquatics-BW01219-FIADBS-vi.html


Wishful thinking? I want to avoid a bacteria killer for now.

Unfortunately, we are not aware of adding bacteria/microbes as being an effective method of reducing or eliminating cyanobacteria. A better option would be to lower your phosphates as much as possible through frequent water changes, running GFO (or some form of phosphate remover), making sure your skimmer is functioning well, use only RO/DI water, reduce feeding and possibly adding a refugium.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Unfortunately, we are not aware of adding bacteria/microbes as being an effective method of reducing or eliminating cyanobacteria. A better option would be to lower your phosphates as much as possible through frequent water changes, running GFO (or some form of phosphate remover), making sure your skimmer is functioning well, use only RO/DI water, reduce feeding and possibly adding a refugium.

Thanks for the reply/straight answer-Great customer service. It felt like a pipe dream, but I was ready to go for it.

I have a fluval M90 (36 gallon all-in-one)- 3 Months in so maybe just the process
Water Changes- I do almost weekly but will up water changes
GFO- Running Rowaphos in a min max desktop reactor (wish I went one size up don't love the tumble I am getting/not getting)
Skimmer- running the Fluval PS1- I don't love the skinmate produced- wondering if this is some where I should invest in upgrade.
Feeding- reduced -might still need to dial it back
RO/DI- Good LFS I buy RO/DI it is likely good haven't tested. Probably time to start saving for that.
Refugium- I struggle keeping macro algae (chaeto) but I do have a jbj refuge light on one of my back chambers that is growing me some nice hair algae. I thought that was good unsure.

I think I need to dial in rowaphos how often to change, and make sure tumble is good. I am still questioning quality of skimmer (not asking you to opine as that may be awkward for you), but feel free to tell me skimmers that your customers love. I will keep up on WC and keep feeding down (the clowns always looking at me though lol)

Big x-factor is possible the manual functionality of my lighting - I run full intensity at work, but thinking a better light might put me on a better controlled cycle.

Overall I think I might need to give it time probably natural progression of 3 month old tank- I beat my little green algae outbreak

 

[MarineDepot]

Thanks for the reply/straight answer-Great customer service. It felt like a pipe dream, but I was ready to go for it.

I have a fluval M90 (36 gallon all-in-one)- 3 Months in so maybe just the process
Water Changes- I do almost weekly but will up water changes
GFO- Running Rowaphos in a min max desktop reactor (wish I went one size up don't love the tumble I am getting/not getting)
Skimmer- running the Fluval PS1- I don't love the skinmate produced- wondering if this is some where I should invest in upgrade.
Feeding- reduced -might still need to dial it back
RO/DI- Good LFS I buy RO/DI it is likely good haven't tested. Probably time to start saving for that.
Refugium- I struggle keeping macro algae (chaeto) but I do have a jbj refuge light on one of my back chambers that is growing me some nice hair algae. I thought that was good unsure.

I think I need to dial in rowaphos how often to change, and make sure tumble is good. I am still questioning quality of skimmer (not asking you to opine as that may be awkward for you), but feel free to tell me skimmers that your customers love. I will keep up on WC and keep feeding down (the clowns always looking at me though lol)

Big x-factor is possible the manual functionality of my lighting - I run full intensity at work, but thinking a better light might put me on a better controlled cycle.

Overall I think I might need to give it time probably natural progression of 3 month old tank- I beat my little green algae outbreak

Sounds like you have a good maintenance routine, so we would recommend sticking to what you are doing. The aquarium is only 3 months old so having cyanobacteria is not uncommon. As long as you keep doing what you are doing, most of the problems should go away as the tank matures.

Hair algae in your refugium should be no problem as long as it does not make its way in to the display tank.

It would probably be a good idea to wait till the 6-8 months mark before considering upgrades. This way, the tank is a bit more mature and you will have a better idea of which upgrades you actually need.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Sounds like you have a good maintenance routine, so we would recommend sticking to what you are doing. The aquarium is only 3 months old so having cyanobacteria is not uncommon. As long as you keep doing what you are doing, most of the problems should go away as the tank matures.

Hair algae in your refugium should be no problem as long as it does not make its way in to the display tank.

It would probably be a good idea to wait till the 6-8 months mark before considering upgrades. This way, the tank is a bit more mature and you will have a better idea of which upgrades you actually need.

Sounds good I will take that advice.

Thanks