what causes cyano

[tat2tillidie]

what causes cyano bacteria ( the red slimey stuff)

 

[nanoreef16g]

One of the main causes is phosphates. Overfeeding or not using RO water is where a lot of the phosphates come from.

 

[cdangel0]

as well as Inefficient Nutrient Removal.

Phosphates are one ofthe biggest causes, but waiting too long to do a water change, over-feeding, feedin flake food all seem to trigger outbreaks.

I've heard drastic temp swings, if the tank gets too warmtoo fast will contribute as well but I haven't seen anything proving it yet, was just someone's theory.

 

[a1amap]

Causes Of Cyano

It seems that a nutrient rich water problem is the prime culprit. Not that the Cyano is eating left over food particles, but left over food particles are breaking down into harmful excess nutrients. Add Light plus dissolved organic carbon/organic material ( D.O.C ), and you have a great recipe for the preferred Eco-System of CyanoBacteria.

NOTE:
It is good to know that Poor Water Husbandry is usually the culprit in most "problems" that develop in the Marine and Tropical Eco-System.

It is said that the Red Nightmare is caused from Phosphates and Silicates in the water column. But it is not that simple. We have seen cases develop from Old Bulbs or a Lack Of Good Water Flow .. but we have never seen that the addition of a correction of these two "causes" ever made the Cyano go away.

In fact, we had two cases of outbreak where the systems were absent of Phosphates and Silicates, they also had new Halides, Actinic's and Great Water Flow. What was surely something to think about was the fact that we had switched to a new Flake Food. Another factor is that we have never had an outbreak unless the system housed FISH ... and they were being FED!

http://reefshow.com/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=109


I have had this problem and it is very hardy you need to correct a lot of things to keep it gone.

1. Nutrient rich water - ro/di, increase water changes, reduce feeding
2. bad bulbs - Replace if they are old, reduce the time the lights are on - try to keep the bulbs off for 48 hours.
3. If all else fails boyd enterprises makes a red slime remover that does work. Use this after you have fixed the cause of the problem. Follow the directions to a t. And baby sit the tank when finished and turning the skimmer on again. I have used this and it does work- Fix the problem first then jump start the cure with this.

I also find flow is not a major influence to where it will grow because it grew on the end of the closed loop plumbing which had 800gph running across it. Of all the problems without the nutrients whither phosphate, nitrate, ammonia , or whatever it used as fuel, if you clean the water even with bad lights it wont take over the tank.

 

[ronert]

just like any algae - nutrients, light

oh, and little ^%* gremlins with nothing better to do with their time

 

[tat2tillidie]

I have seen the f in gremlins they are my kids they feed it a ton of flakes sometimes

 

[a1amap]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12068655#post12068655 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tat2tillidie
I have seen the f in gremlins they are my kids they feed it a ton of flakes sometimes

Let me tell you about those little gremlins. I gave my nephew(3y) a 3.5 gallon tank for freshwater and 2 fish. My brother-in-law returned the tank after a year because he hated cleaning the tank every week. I got the tank removed the dirty filter and made a small water change. Since then I have done nothing to this tank besides add make up water. No water changes, never even put a filter in it. I just controlled the food that got put in. Perfect easy tank. If my nephew comes over I put the food in the lid that he can put in. He always want s to put more, I hide the can.