Cyano only grows on tops of rock

NedFlounders · 02/10/2016, 12:18 PM

I"ve been dealing with a bit of cyano lately, but only on the tops of half of the rock in the tank, never on the sand.

According to Hanna, there is 0 phosphate and Red Sea says <10 nitrate ppm. I feed about 1/4 of a brine cube twice per day with the small addition of tiny pellet food in the evening. It is all consumed quickly.

I've done the 3 day lights out trick. I've also used chemiclean. It keeps coming back!

I do 20% weekly water changes and syphon the cyano weekly.
I have a Kessil A360w that's on for 11 and off for 13, only using blue lighting with intensity never above 45%.

I run a carbon reactor, GFO reactor, as well as a skimmer, AND a refugium.

The refugium definitely slows the spread of the cyano, but it's never eliminated.

Am I missing something here? Consistently testing parameters incorrectly? Not sure why I still have this problem...:\

cloak · 02/10/2016, 12:42 PM

What are you using for flow? Maybe that's just a dead spot where the bacteria is able to grab a foothold so to say. Only using the blue lighting may have something to do with it as well. Picture?

ryeguyy84 · 02/10/2016, 02:44 PM

how old is the tank?

NedFlounders · 02/11/2016, 06:23 AM

The tank is 9 months old. Here's a shot of the cyano..

[IMG]

[/IMG]

MadCnty · 02/11/2016, 06:27 AM

Vacuum it off, and gain some more flow should help if your numbers are correct... And as cloak said adjust your lighting... I replace my bulbs every 6 months just to be on the safe side...

02/10/2016, 12:18 PM	#1
NedFlounders Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 239	Cyano only grows on tops of rock I"ve been dealing with a bit of cyano lately, but only on the tops of half of the rock in the tank, never on the sand. According to Hanna, there is 0 phosphate and Red Sea says <10 nitrate ppm. I feed about 1/4 of a brine cube twice per day with the small addition of tiny pellet food in the evening. It is all consumed quickly. I've done the 3 day lights out trick. I've also used chemiclean. It keeps coming back! I do 20% weekly water changes and syphon the cyano weekly. I have a Kessil A360w that's on for 11 and off for 13, only using blue lighting with intensity never above 45%. I run a carbon reactor, GFO reactor, as well as a skimmer, AND a refugium. The refugium definitely slows the spread of the cyano, but it's never eliminated. Am I missing something here? Consistently testing parameters incorrectly? Not sure why I still have this problem...:\

02/10/2016, 02:44 PM	#3
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	how old is the tank? __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

02/11/2016, 06:23 AM	#4
NedFlounders Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 239	The tank is 9 months old. Here's a shot of the cyano.. [IMG][/IMG]

02/11/2016, 06:27 AM	#5
MadCnty Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Pendleton, IN USA Posts: 154	Vacuum it off, and gain some more flow should help if your numbers are correct... And as cloak said adjust your lighting... I replace my bulbs every 6 months just to be on the safe side... Last edited by MadCnty; 02/11/2016 at 06:32 AM.

02/10/2016, 12:42 PM	#2
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	What are you using for flow? Maybe that's just a dead spot where the bacteria is able to grab a foothold so to say. Only using the blue lighting may have something to do with it as well. Picture?