70 gallon with cyano problems...

Fizhstiks · 06/11/2006, 11:36 PM

I've been having some bad problems with cyano in my 70 gallon FOWLR, so I've been reading about what i should do to eliminate it. Ive read that canister filters can contribute to it because organics build up in them. I need some advise on my filters. I have an ocean clear filter, a magnum 350, and a Remora pro with a mag 5. The ocean clear is just running the micron cartridge and one bag of carbon. The magnum just has a filter pad. So what should I do? Should I remove everything in the canister filters and just keep them for flow? Should I buy some live base rock and fill them up? I have some lace rock in my main tank that has been in there for a year, would that be live enough by now to be used in the filter?

here is some specs:
-ocean clear filter, magnum 350, and remora pro
-around 50 lbs of live rock, 100 lbs of lace rock
-2 1/2" sand bed
-60 watts of NO T5 lighting

-nitrates are 20
-SG is 1.026
-pH is 8.2
-1 blue devil damsel and 2 ocellaris clowns

What else should i do to eliminate the cyano? I don't have an RO/DI unit, but i do buy ro/di water at the LFS to do water changes. The problem is that its very inconvient and i usually only get ro water every 1 1/2 months. If you have some suggestions for some good RO/DI units that aren't that expensive (im only 15) please list them. Should i buy a phosphate sponge? What else should i do?

all comments appreciated

reefnetworth · 06/12/2006, 12:12 AM

are you putting in extra additives? might try doing water changes of 30% weekly and also increase flow. do you change your carbon and filter media regularly? at least bi-weekly, if not every week until the problem is solved. also there are chemicals available to remove cyano, but i would only as last resort. (chemi-pure) REEF-ON!!!

Fizhstiks · 06/12/2006, 10:48 AM

I add pH buffer, iodine, and trace elements. I only change carbon every 2 weeks. Do i really need to increase the flow? the magnum puts out 350 gph, the ocean clear puts out 800gph and the remora pro puts out 500 gph, so the water in the tank is turned over around 20 times a day. I dont think my remora is working as well as it should. Im only having to empty the cup every week or two, and the skimate is a watery green color. Is there something wrong the skimmer?

dj synystr · 06/12/2006, 10:51 AM

how old is the tank?

dj synystr · 06/12/2006, 10:52 AM

nm i just seen you said about a year. could be a flow issue. or a nutrient issue. check for phosphates and add a refugium to you syste, and make sure your skimmer is working good and you hsould be ok after that.

Fizhstiks · 06/13/2006, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dj synystr
nm i just seen you said about a year. could be a flow issue. or a nutrient issue. check for phosphates and add a refugium to you syste, and make sure your skimmer is working good and you hsould be ok after that.

Could i add chaeto to my main tank? Would it out compete the cyano or would the cyano kill it? How much light would the chaeto require to grow? I only have 60 watts of NO t8...

Krazy · 06/13/2006, 04:26 PM

I used "red slime remover" excactly as directed and I never to date had another outbreak...

might wanna try that, I'll also note it didnt kill my anemone,fish, corals, or inverts....

Fizhstiks · 06/13/2006, 04:37 PM

I don't know...won't that stuff kill the bacteria in the filters and in the live rock?

Fizhstiks · 06/13/2006, 11:28 PM

Does anyone think that adding chaeto to the main tank would be a good idea? Would it become invasive?

Fizhstiks · 06/14/2006, 11:56 AM

Is there something wrong with my remora? It produces very watery skimate and the skimate is a light green color. Shouldn't it be producing a darker skimate? Ive tried adjusting it but either it produces a watery skimate or nothing at all.

06/11/2006, 11:36 PM	#1
Fizhstiks Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: California Posts: 313	70 gallon with cyano problems... I've been having some bad problems with cyano in my 70 gallon FOWLR, so I've been reading about what i should do to eliminate it. Ive read that canister filters can contribute to it because organics build up in them. I need some advise on my filters. I have an ocean clear filter, a magnum 350, and a Remora pro with a mag 5. The ocean clear is just running the micron cartridge and one bag of carbon. The magnum just has a filter pad. So what should I do? Should I remove everything in the canister filters and just keep them for flow? Should I buy some live base rock and fill them up? I have some lace rock in my main tank that has been in there for a year, would that be live enough by now to be used in the filter? here is some specs: -ocean clear filter, magnum 350, and remora pro -around 50 lbs of live rock, 100 lbs of lace rock -2 1/2" sand bed -60 watts of NO T5 lighting -nitrates are 20 -SG is 1.026 -pH is 8.2 -1 blue devil damsel and 2 ocellaris clowns What else should i do to eliminate the cyano? I don't have an RO/DI unit, but i do buy ro/di water at the LFS to do water changes. The problem is that its very inconvient and i usually only get ro water every 1 1/2 months. If you have some suggestions for some good RO/DI units that aren't that expensive (im only 15) please list them. Should i buy a phosphate sponge? What else should i do? all comments appreciated __________________ "Just like at the movies - wooooo hooooo" Bender-futurama Current Tank Info: 15 gallon high: Ocellaris pair, blue damsel

06/12/2006, 12:12 AM	#2
reefnetworth Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 3,810	are you putting in extra additives? might try doing water changes of 30% weekly and also increase flow. do you change your carbon and filter media regularly? at least bi-weekly, if not every week until the problem is solved. also there are chemicals available to remove cyano, but i would only as last resort. (chemi-pure) REEF-ON!!! __________________ GIVE A MAN A FISH, YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH, HE FEEDS HIMSELF FOR LIFE. (NEVER, underestimate another man's greed) Current Tank Info: SPS dominated barebottom display with BB sump since 2005, most consistant parameters in 19+ years of reefkeeping.

06/12/2006, 10:48 AM	#3
Fizhstiks Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: California Posts: 313	I add pH buffer, iodine, and trace elements. I only change carbon every 2 weeks. Do i really need to increase the flow? the magnum puts out 350 gph, the ocean clear puts out 800gph and the remora pro puts out 500 gph, so the water in the tank is turned over around 20 times a day. I dont think my remora is working as well as it should. Im only having to empty the cup every week or two, and the skimate is a watery green color. Is there something wrong the skimmer? __________________ "Just like at the movies - wooooo hooooo" Bender-futurama Current Tank Info: 15 gallon high: Ocellaris pair, blue damsel

06/12/2006, 10:51 AM	#4
dj synystr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PA Posts: 843	how old is the tank? __________________ Dj Synystr Battlefield/WLVR/AOL Mixtape Radio Current Tank Info: 125 Gallon Room Divider Mixed Reef

06/12/2006, 10:52 AM	#5
dj synystr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PA Posts: 843	nm i just seen you said about a year. could be a flow issue. or a nutrient issue. check for phosphates and add a refugium to you syste, and make sure your skimmer is working good and you hsould be ok after that. __________________ Dj Synystr Battlefield/WLVR/AOL Mixtape Radio Current Tank Info: 125 Gallon Room Divider Mixed Reef

06/13/2006, 04:26 PM	#7
Krazy Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 2,941	I used "red slime remover" excactly as directed and I never to date had another outbreak... might wanna try that, I'll also note it didnt kill my anemone,fish, corals, or inverts....

06/13/2006, 04:37 PM	#8
Fizhstiks Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: California Posts: 313	I don't know...won't that stuff kill the bacteria in the filters and in the live rock? __________________ "Just like at the movies - wooooo hooooo" Bender-futurama Current Tank Info: 15 gallon high: Ocellaris pair, blue damsel

06/13/2006, 11:28 PM	#9
Fizhstiks Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: California Posts: 313	Does anyone think that adding chaeto to the main tank would be a good idea? Would it become invasive? __________________ "Just like at the movies - wooooo hooooo" Bender-futurama Current Tank Info: 15 gallon high: Ocellaris pair, blue damsel

06/14/2006, 11:56 AM	#10
Fizhstiks Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: California Posts: 313	Is there something wrong with my remora? It produces very watery skimate and the skimate is a light green color. Shouldn't it be producing a darker skimate? Ive tried adjusting it but either it produces a watery skimate or nothing at all. __________________ "Just like at the movies - wooooo hooooo" Bender-futurama Current Tank Info: 15 gallon high: Ocellaris pair, blue damsel