Cyano algae?

95accord · 03/18/2008, 02:02 PM

i have this red moldy type looking algae. from what i gather its cyano algae (a bacterial algae?)

how can i get rid of it? i know feeding less will help. but i want to hurry it up and make it gone.

i have a phosban reactor taking care of the phosphates.

its a 55gal.

if you need more info let me know.

paramedicma · 03/18/2008, 02:15 PM

Do not use any medications, it could really mess up your tank!!! I use an airline tubeing and suck it out. Also check your nitrates and nitrites, because it is actualy a bacteria that lives off high nitrates. Here is a link for help, http://www.melevsreef.com/id/cyano.html

jimwat · 03/18/2008, 02:19 PM

Chemi-Clean will get rid of your cyano problem. However, it will not keep it from coming back. And it may stress some of the creatures in your tank.

95accord · 03/18/2008, 04:24 PM

It doesnt look bubly tho. it almost looks like a mold.
looks like ill have to go to town with the turkey baister to try and remove it.
might scrub the rocks in a bucket with a tooth brush...would that help?

demonsp · 03/18/2008, 04:29 PM

Do you use a wave maker on your powerheads?
A tank pic would help.
The reactor may help but is only a tool used for controlling its level.
Amount of stock? Water change amount and scedule?
Water source?

95accord · 03/19/2008, 08:00 AM

no wavermakers
i run 1xAC110, 1xMJ900, 1xMJ1200, 1xMJ400 (to the phosban).
im considering getting the sureflow upgrade for the MJ.
I have a tunze 9002 skimmer

bioload is 3 chromis, 1 fire goby and 1 scooter gobby (all small fish)
2 small ricordeas, 1 BTA, 1 pepermint shrimp and a bunch of snails
(purple anemone in the tank wasnt doing so well so he got the boot back to the LFS)

water changes are between 5% and 10% weekly. i use RO water from the culligan's machine at my local supermarket. (not the best option but imm starting to look for my own RO unit). I currently use instant ocean salt. all the params seem to be in check (but that could be masked by the fact that the algae is eating it all up first).

sand bed hasnt been stired up. could this be the cause? (accumulated detrius?)

i have 2x54w T5HO (bulbs are about 3-4 months old)

i know ive been over feeding lately but im cutting back.

the following link is a link to my tank (there is a pic of the cyano in there too)

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1

jimwat · 03/19/2008, 08:34 AM

Cyano comes out pretty easily. You can blow it off the rock and sand with a turkey baster and then scoop it out with a small net and/or vacuum.

The only things I can think of that might help is to increase the flow in your tank (maybe mod the MJ??). At the very least, increasing the flow will keep more detritus from settling so it can be removed by your skimmer. Also, I have found that raising the alkalinity helps with cyano problems. Cutting back on your feedings won't hurt either.

HTH

95accord · 03/19/2008, 10:20 AM

is there anything that would eat it?

jimwat · 03/19/2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 95accord
is there anything that would eat it?

I have seen claims like this , but I have no personal experience with any critters doing much damage to Cyano. IMO, most of the critters advertised to eat Cyano are just moving it around.

03/18/2008, 02:02 PM	#1
95accord Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Fredericton Posts: 623	Cyano algae? i have this red moldy type looking algae. from what i gather its cyano algae (a bacterial algae?) how can i get rid of it? i know feeding less will help. but i want to hurry it up and make it gone. i have a phosban reactor taking care of the phosphates. its a 55gal. if you need more info let me know. __________________ when life passes you by....downshift Current Tank Info: Reef 2.0 - 45 Osaka cube

03/18/2008, 02:19 PM	#3
jimwat Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,270	Chemi-Clean will get rid of your cyano problem. However, it will not keep it from coming back. And it may stress some of the creatures in your tank. __________________ "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day and drink beer." Current Tank Info: 65 gal with 192w PC 10k, 192w VHO actinic, Blue-Moon LED, Tunze 6060 on WavySea, AquaController 3. 20gal sump, Natureef CDECX-1, Phosban Reactor, Remora, Kalk Drip, Ozone.

03/18/2008, 04:24 PM	#4
95accord Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Fredericton Posts: 623	It doesnt look bubly tho. it almost looks like a mold. looks like ill have to go to town with the turkey baister to try and remove it. might scrub the rocks in a bucket with a tooth brush...would that help? __________________ when life passes you by....downshift Current Tank Info: Reef 2.0 - 45 Osaka cube

03/19/2008, 08:00 AM	#6
95accord Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Fredericton Posts: 623	no wavermakers i run 1xAC110, 1xMJ900, 1xMJ1200, 1xMJ400 (to the phosban). im considering getting the sureflow upgrade for the MJ. I have a tunze 9002 skimmer bioload is 3 chromis, 1 fire goby and 1 scooter gobby (all small fish) 2 small ricordeas, 1 BTA, 1 pepermint shrimp and a bunch of snails (purple anemone in the tank wasnt doing so well so he got the boot back to the LFS) water changes are between 5% and 10% weekly. i use RO water from the culligan's machine at my local supermarket. (not the best option but imm starting to look for my own RO unit). I currently use instant ocean salt. all the params seem to be in check (but that could be masked by the fact that the algae is eating it all up first). sand bed hasnt been stired up. could this be the cause? (accumulated detrius?) i have 2x54w T5HO (bulbs are about 3-4 months old) i know ive been over feeding lately but im cutting back. the following link is a link to my tank (there is a pic of the cyano in there too) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1 __________________ when life passes you by....downshift Current Tank Info: Reef 2.0 - 45 Osaka cube

03/19/2008, 08:34 AM	#7
jimwat Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,270	Cyano comes out pretty easily. You can blow it off the rock and sand with a turkey baster and then scoop it out with a small net and/or vacuum. The only things I can think of that might help is to increase the flow in your tank (maybe mod the MJ??). At the very least, increasing the flow will keep more detritus from settling so it can be removed by your skimmer. Also, I have found that raising the alkalinity helps with cyano problems. Cutting back on your feedings won't hurt either. HTH __________________ "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day and drink beer." Current Tank Info: 65 gal with 192w PC 10k, 192w VHO actinic, Blue-Moon LED, Tunze 6060 on WavySea, AquaController 3. 20gal sump, Natureef CDECX-1, Phosban Reactor, Remora, Kalk Drip, Ozone.

03/18/2008, 02:15 PM	#2
paramedicma Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 8	Do not use any medications, it could really mess up your tank!!! I use an airline tubeing and suck it out. Also check your nitrates and nitrites, because it is actualy a bacteria that lives off high nitrates. Here is a link for help, http://www.melevsreef.com/id/cyano.html

03/18/2008, 04:29 PM	#5
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Do you use a wave maker on your powerheads? A tank pic would help. The reactor may help but is only a tool used for controlling its level. Amount of stock? Water change amount and scedule? Water source?

03/19/2008, 10:20 AM	#8
95accord Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Fredericton Posts: 623	is there anything that would eat it? __________________ when life passes you by....downshift Current Tank Info: Reef 2.0 - 45 Osaka cube