What am i looking at here ?

[802reef]

Hey all

Reef set up for about a year, i run a small amount of carbon, leds, protein skimmer is tuned in, could probably use more in tank circ but mine is still fairly high... water parameter are good as far as I can tell... ro/di water

I have had a problem with this " stuff " for a while. I just did 3 water changes in a little over 3 week.... 15 gallons on a 90 gallon tank and i.just can't get rid of this. It pops right back within a day of the change..

Are these diatoms or cyanobacteria?

And what's the suggested approach to get rid of them. Thanks all.

 

[griss]

Looks like Cyano. What are your water parameters? Specifically:

Alk
Calcium
pH
Nitrate
Phosphate
Magnesium

Here’s a Thread I had dealing with the worst outbreak of Cyano I’ve had in over 40 years in this hobby and all the stuff. I tried to deal with and, finally, get it under control.

 

[802reef]

So I spent some time- read that entire thread of yours - didn't necessarily seem like anything helped conclusively unless I missed something...

I dose with a gallon of kalk about once a week. I just started dosing red sea foundational skeleton ABC +, dose acro power and reef roads when I feel like it, feed the fish twice a week...

Here are my water parameters...

Nitrate 2.8. ( Hannah)
Phosphate .06. ( Hannah)
Sal 1.024
Ca 500
Kh around 8 now but often drops low
Mg 1600

Lights are the reefbreeders pro led with a supplemental UV bar

Skimmer
I run some carbon

And that's about it.


Sps and lps grow well... tank looks good I just can't figure out these freakin cyano. Oh... last work I also dosed with the red slime remover and it didn't do jack... I followed the instructions and did just one treatment.

 

[griss]

Yeah, I'm not sure exactly what worked in the end. I posted that link so you could see all the things I tried and see if something I did would work for you.

My best guess is low alkalinity. If your's is typically 8 but often drops low, that could be the issue. When my Alk is stable, I don't seem to have any cyano issues. If I neglect the tank (like I did in July while on vacation) and my Alk drops, I tend to start getting cyano again. 8 dKH is on the low end for Alk in our tanks.

 

[802reef]

Thats a good idea - ill keep a closer eye on all. Ill.keep ya posted!

 

[griss]

For the record, my Alk dropped recently and I’m seeing a bit of Cyano here and there. I’m slowly brining it back up.