Wanting to Start Over

[MonkeeFish]

I've been fighting algae and cyano for months now and it's starting to frustrate me. So im just going to take the easy way out and start over because i have nothing expensive in the tank, just shrooms, xenia, and a toadstool. How should i go about doing so? What should i do with the live rock and live sand?

 

[TearDrop]

I would add some red slime remover to clear out the cyano...then rinse out the corals rocks and sand in a bucket of new saltwater. You then re-establish the tank with new saltwater. Your rock and sand should still have the beneficial bacteria in there so your corals will be fine.

The key to fighting cyano is to figure out why it's growing. It could be phosphates, nitrates, lighting, heat, flow etc. Make sure your tank doesn't get too hot and add phosphate remover. Also, make sure your tank isn't stagnant and that you sufficient amount of flow.

 

[gcarroll]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8088633#post8088633 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TearDrop
The key to fighting cyano is to figure out why it's growing. It could be phosphates, nitrates, lighting, heat, flow etc. Make sure your tank doesn't get too hot and add phosphate remover. Also, make sure your tank isn't stagnant and that you sufficient amount of flow.

Good advise up there!

 

[slavearm]

Shane's anti Cyano/other PITA Algae Recipe for Success (I had a big battle a few months ago)

1. Light your refugium 24/7 (and make sure it is a good light)
2. Water changes (make sure you are mixing your salt with RODI water)
3. Skim wetter
4. Phosphate removal media. I used Rowa, but anything should work
5. More flow (Seios are cheap)
6. Manual removal (I used a turkey baster with a rigid tubing attachment. You use anything though)
7. Cut back on feedings


If that doesn't fix your problem... er I dunno.

 

[mikedege]

I would also reccomend checking your RO/DI with a tds meter. I have had LFS bought RO/DI that read as high as 30. Then i got my own unit, and it reads zero. Just another thing you can check.

good luck, Mike

 

[MonkeeFish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8088633#post8088633 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TearDrop
I would add some red slime remover to clear out the cyano...then rinse out the corals rocks and sand in a bucket of new saltwater. You then re-establish the tank with new saltwater. Your rock and sand should still have the beneficial bacteria in there so your corals will be fine.

The key to fighting cyano is to figure out why it's growing. It could be phosphates, nitrates, lighting, heat, flow etc. Make sure your tank doesn't get too hot and add phosphate remover. Also, make sure your tank isn't stagnant and that you sufficient amount of flow.

thanks will try this along with other suggestions.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Cyno/ nusance agale grow due to excess nutrients that are available in the water. get rid of those and you can beat the problem. Excess flow/wrong light specturm ARE NOT the cause.

I've had the stuff grow in front of a 5000 GPH outlet as well as grow under rocks with no light. Nutrients are what mainly feed these things.

Also, in the 8+ years of having a reef, and as noticed by someone with a even longer time of having a reef tank, these things go incycles, no matter what you do.

But for now, try to remove your excess nutrients and allow your other animals that use these catch up and compete for them. Then your problem alage's will go away.

 

[gcarroll]

I would not use red slime remover because once the cyno dies all the nutrients that it was feeding on are released back into the water. Also populations of good bacteria will also be affected and you may have a tank cycle on your hands. Solve the nutrient problem and you will solve the cyno problem. Definitely check your top-off water source. I had no cyno problems until I neglected to change my RO/DI cartridges when they were spent.

 

[mnollar]

In my opinion starting over without changing what you are doing is a waste of time since it will only recreate the current situation. Use the time to figure out what the issue is. Its something...

Once you find out what the problem is the tank will clear up on its own. Just my opinion.

 

[MonkeeFish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8090089#post8090089 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mnollar
In my opinion starting over without changing what you are doing is a waste of time since it will only recreate the current situation. Use the time to figure out what the issue is. Its something...

Once you find out what the problem is the tank will clear up on its own. Just my opinion.

the problem with this is, it's been such a long fight and it get worse everyday. thus the reason why i want to start over except keep a better eye on it this time and when things do goes wrong. It would be less and easier to deal with.

 

[supernareg]

best solution ever, works like a charm: CHEMI-CLEAN by BOYDS, you wont be disappointed, just follow directions to the T.

worked for me

 

[Mchava]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8101715#post8101715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MonkeeFish
the problem with this is, it's been such a long fight and it get worse everyday. thus the reason why i want to start over except keep a better eye on it this time and when things do goes wrong. It would be less and easier to deal with.

I know what you are going through and I know how hard it is to say "screw it iam starting over" the thing is becuase you have not yet figured out why the proble is there you will have the problem again. First things first. Get your water tested for nutrients both p04 and n03. Do the same for your R0/di water. I had a big issue with hairy algea a while back and once I started to address the issues it started to go away now its completely gone. Here is what I can do for you. If you want I can test your water for you and see what the problem is, just bring some sw and fw. I can check your FW's TDS reading and your tanks water p04 level and n03 levels. Then you can figure out what to do.

How long have you had your tank running for? Also where are you geting your source water from (LFS,water store, water dispansing unit or from home)? If your source water is bad then that is where most of your problems are coming from.