Cyano problem, help / info.

lolgranny · 06/02/2010, 03:40 PM

Hey guys,
Im using my brothers name because hes out of the country, but he just setup my tank and its been a little over a month now. I have about 20lbs of LR in the tank and 40lbs of LS. I have 1 tang(powder blue) and a blenny along with a emerald crab that snuck into the rock when i bought it. Its a 75g with a wet dry / skimmer. My brother will soon be upgrading the wet/dry to a sump with a fuge.

The lighting i have on it is too small for the tank, its a 36" fixture off our older tank. Crappy PC which is being upgraded to 2-250w halides.

For the most part everything looks good, no algae really aside from a 2 dime sized spots of red slimy algae which i think is cyano. The pet store i took my water sample to said my water is perfect so i dont have the exact measurements currently.

I want to get rid of this before i get more rock and im wondering if its because i dont have enough flow in the tank / crappy lights OR is it something else (like the water not being "perfect" as the store told me it was)

ANY info / help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks much

Allmost · 06/02/2010, 03:46 PM

cyano in your case is caused by

1. the wet dry filter, which just increase no3. (nitrate)
2. old lighting, older bulbs tend to shift spectrum and cause algae.
3. not enough flow.

dont ever get LFS to test ure water since good makes no sense. test it yourself to see the value, to some LFS no3 of 10 is good, to be no3 of 0.1 is bad

your LFS does not know what he/she is talking about

I would remove the wet dry or at least the media in it. and add a power head until you change the lighting and ...

lolgranny · 06/02/2010, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allmost

cyano in your case is caused by

1. the wet dry filter, which just increase no3. (nitrate)
2. old lighting, older bulbs tend to shift spectrum and cause algae.
3. not enough flow.

dont ever get LFS to test ure water since good makes no sense. test it yourself to see the value, to some LFS no3 of 10 is good, to be no3 of 0.1 is bad

your LFS does not know what he/she is talking about

I would remove the wet dry or at least the media in it. and add a power head until you change the lighting and ...

Ya thats what i was suspecting. Hes getting the new fixture for me, the light is OLLLDD and i figured that was the main case aside from the nitrate factory wet dry.

Whats the best test kits to get to test for all these things?
Thanks again Allmost!

MaLi · 06/02/2010, 05:32 PM

Make sure you bring down the nitrates and you keep your pH over 8.1
Cyano will be gone in a week.

hope it helps,
Marian

kyle1284 · 06/02/2010, 05:38 PM

2 words.... fighting conch

tang56 · 06/02/2010, 05:46 PM

Cyano is caused by excess phosphates and high nutrient levels. I dont think the wet dry filter is a problem, because the tank is newer. These filters usually start producing nitrates as they age. I would siphon the algae out and add some phosphate remover.

lolgranny · 06/03/2010, 12:29 PM

Excellent. Hopefully i can get it out soon.

Floowid · 06/03/2010, 01:23 PM

Keep an eye on that tang. Powder Blue tangs can be very difficult to keep, and I wouldn't dream of adding one to a one month old tank. With that said, I wish you the best of luck and hope for your continued success in this hobby.

mthomp · 06/03/2010, 08:13 PM

stop feeding so much.

lolgranny · 06/03/2010, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floowid

Keep an eye on that tang. Powder Blue tangs can be very difficult to keep, and I wouldn't dream of adding one to a one month old tank. With that said, I wish you the best of luck and hope for your continued success in this hobby.

Thats what my bro told me. He seems to be fine / happy, you think he will be alright?

ka2zesmi786 · 06/03/2010, 11:41 PM

+1 on low water flow and nutrient rich. and leaving the lights on for long periods of time contribute.

Tuscaquatics · 06/04/2010, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tang56

Cyano is caused by excess phosphates and high nutrient levels. I dont think the wet dry filter is a problem, because the tank is newer. These filters usually start producing nitrates as they age. I would siphon the algae out and add some phosphate remover.

No, wet/dry filters create nitrate almost exclusively. As soon as they start working they are producing nitrates. That's what they do.

A little cyano in a young tank is fine. Keep doing water changes and get your own test kits.

Palting · 06/04/2010, 06:48 AM

I have a wet/dry filter with bioballs. Wet dry filters are fine so long as you keep the pre-filters clean, and have a regular nitrate export routine like regular water changes. I had cyano when my tank was cycling, have none now.

The problem stated here is cyano. This is a form of bacteria, NOT algae. 4 things will keep the cyano in check and help eradicate it. One, make sure to ged rid of phosphates and silicates. Best way to do this is RO/DI water. Less ideal is to use carbon filters that specifically adsorb phosphates and silicates and change them routinely. Two, change your lights. Older bulbs do change their spectrum. Three, make sure there is adequate flow in the tank. Four, when you do a water change, suck them out. The are easily dislodged with a turkey baster.

Here is a link: http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/dia...slimealgae.htm

06/02/2010, 03:40 PM	#1
lolgranny The DQ King Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chicago (McHenry) Posts: 2,414	Cyano problem, help / info. Hey guys, Im using my brothers name because hes out of the country, but he just setup my tank and its been a little over a month now. I have about 20lbs of LR in the tank and 40lbs of LS. I have 1 tang(powder blue) and a blenny along with a emerald crab that snuck into the rock when i bought it. Its a 75g with a wet dry / skimmer. My brother will soon be upgrading the wet/dry to a sump with a fuge. The lighting i have on it is too small for the tank, its a 36" fixture off our older tank. Crappy PC which is being upgraded to 2-250w halides. For the most part everything looks good, no algae really aside from a 2 dime sized spots of red slimy algae which i think is cyano. The pet store i took my water sample to said my water is perfect so i dont have the exact measurements currently. I want to get rid of this before i get more rock and im wondering if its because i dont have enough flow in the tank / crappy lights OR is it something else (like the water not being "perfect" as the store told me it was) ANY info / help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much

06/02/2010, 05:32 PM	#4
MaLi Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Columbus, IN Posts: 532	Make sure you bring down the nitrates and you keep your pH over 8.1 Cyano will be gone in a week. hope it helps, Marian __________________ Enjoy your time reefing ! Current Tank Info: 90G Perfecto Mfg. Cube, 20G sump, DIY 24 LED light fixture + 250 MH, DIY Arduino controller, Reef Octopus 1000 LSS skimmer

06/02/2010, 05:38 PM	#5
kyle1284 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston. Cypress area Posts: 260	2 words.... fighting conch __________________ Every day above ground is a good day... Current Tank Info: 210 SPS dominating tank. 280 Gallons total volume

06/03/2010, 11:41 PM	#11
ka2zesmi786 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Oxnard Posts: 55	+1 on low water flow and nutrient rich. and leaving the lights on for long periods of time contribute. __________________ -Machine Current Tank Info: 75 fresh, 60 salt

06/04/2010, 06:48 AM	#13
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	I have a wet/dry filter with bioballs. Wet dry filters are fine so long as you keep the pre-filters clean, and have a regular nitrate export routine like regular water changes. I had cyano when my tank was cycling, have none now. The problem stated here is cyano. This is a form of bacteria, NOT algae. 4 things will keep the cyano in check and help eradicate it. One, make sure to ged rid of phosphates and silicates. Best way to do this is RO/DI water. Less ideal is to use carbon filters that specifically adsorb phosphates and silicates and change them routinely. Two, change your lights. Older bulbs do change their spectrum. Three, make sure there is adequate flow in the tank. Four, when you do a water change, suck them out. The are easily dislodged with a turkey baster. Here is a link: http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/dia...slimealgae.htm __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

06/02/2010, 03:46 PM	#2
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	cyano in your case is caused by 1. the wet dry filter, which just increase no3. (nitrate) 2. old lighting, older bulbs tend to shift spectrum and cause algae. 3. not enough flow. dont ever get LFS to test ure water since good makes no sense. test it yourself to see the value, to some LFS no3 of 10 is good, to be no3 of 0.1 is bad your LFS does not know what he/she is talking about I would remove the wet dry or at least the media in it. and add a power head until you change the lighting and ...

06/02/2010, 05:46 PM	#6
tang56 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: seattle WA Posts: 105	Cyano is caused by excess phosphates and high nutrient levels. I dont think the wet dry filter is a problem, because the tank is newer. These filters usually start producing nitrates as they age. I would siphon the algae out and add some phosphate remover.

06/03/2010, 12:29 PM	#7
lolgranny The DQ King Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chicago (McHenry) Posts: 2,414	Excellent. Hopefully i can get it out soon.

06/03/2010, 01:23 PM	#8
Floowid Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Centerville, UT Posts: 712	Keep an eye on that tang. Powder Blue tangs can be very difficult to keep, and I wouldn't dream of adding one to a one month old tank. With that said, I wish you the best of luck and hope for your continued success in this hobby.

06/03/2010, 08:13 PM	#9
mthomp Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 766	stop feeding so much.

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