cyanobacteria problem- HELP!!!

mwoodruff964 · 12/26/2008, 10:58 PM

Here is the scoop, I have a 10gal nano that is about 80% covered on the sand with cyanobacteria it started as a little patch about 3 days ago which I had been siphoning out and has become a major problem. I have PC lights which are only 3mths old and have 10k kelvin and a 460 actinic bulb. I have a protein skimmer running. My parameters are ammonia .0ppm nitrites .0ppm nitrates .0ppm ph 8.2 sg 1.024 temp 79F, I currently just got over a case of ich with my true percs. So thats why the sg is lower which I usually keep at 1.026 and I performed 20% water changes everyday along with rid-ich medication. Im basically looking for people's input on which is the best route to go. I currently have a pair of true percs 6 hermits and cleaner shrimp and some snails which have been dying off one at a time since I have been treating the ich case. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

SWINGRRRR · 12/26/2008, 11:08 PM

Tank age?

WaterKeeper · 12/26/2008, 11:10 PM

I think the problem may be using Rid-ich in a display tank. Medications greatly upset the biological balance in any tank.My guess is if you stop using it and keep up with the water changes it will subside. You might also try increasing the flow across the bed as that seems to help stem cyano.

mwoodruff964 · 12/26/2008, 11:28 PM

the tank is 3 1/2 months old

mwoodruff964 · 12/26/2008, 11:31 PM

ok i had stopped using rid-ich after 2 weeks of dosing however one of my clowns still shows specks on one of the fins, is there another way to keep dosing for ich without this medication and I will turn the flow towards the bottom.

stricknine · 12/26/2008, 11:59 PM

For the ich you can check out waterkeepers thread on ich and look at hyposalinity.

For the cyano, siphon it out on water changes, maintain good flow, use ro/di water, dont overfeed, and rinse your food. I had it pretty bad and that seemed to help me out.

Good luck.

mwoodruff964 · 12/27/2008, 12:09 AM

ok thanks for the input guys, i will prolly upgrade my water flow and try to keep siphoning it out, right now I feed once a day with different combos of flake food and only feed what they can eat within a minute or so.

Flipper62 · 12/27/2008, 12:38 AM

Here is a good post about Cyano Bacteria....From Capn hylinur

http://www.reefcentral.com/wp/?p=288

12/26/2008, 10:58 PM	#1
mwoodruff964 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Grandview,MO Posts: 166	cyanobacteria problem- HELP!!! Here is the scoop, I have a 10gal nano that is about 80% covered on the sand with cyanobacteria it started as a little patch about 3 days ago which I had been siphoning out and has become a major problem. I have PC lights which are only 3mths old and have 10k kelvin and a 460 actinic bulb. I have a protein skimmer running. My parameters are ammonia .0ppm nitrites .0ppm nitrates .0ppm ph 8.2 sg 1.024 temp 79F, I currently just got over a case of ich with my true percs. So thats why the sg is lower which I usually keep at 1.026 and I performed 20% water changes everyday along with rid-ich medication. Im basically looking for people's input on which is the best route to go. I currently have a pair of true percs 6 hermits and cleaner shrimp and some snails which have been dying off one at a time since I have been treating the ich case. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

12/26/2008, 11:08 PM	#2
SWINGRRRR Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pcola FL Posts: 2,504	Tank age? __________________ Have you ever tried to hold a monkey still if it is not drunk ~ insteng Current Tank Info: 45gal Rimless mixed reef--SWC 150BMK--2xMP10ESW--Giesemann 150W HQI

12/26/2008, 11:10 PM	#3
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	I think the problem may be using Rid-ich in a display tank. Medications greatly upset the biological balance in any tank.My guess is if you stop using it and keep up with the water changes it will subside. You might also try increasing the flow across the bed as that seems to help stem cyano. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

12/27/2008, 12:09 AM	#7
mwoodruff964 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Grandview,MO Posts: 166	ok thanks for the input guys, i will prolly upgrade my water flow and try to keep siphoning it out, right now I feed once a day with different combos of flake food and only feed what they can eat within a minute or so. __________________ “The challenge is to keep them. In the aquarium industry, once you become a director, you become quite attractive to other institutions with higher salaries.” Current Tank Info: 90 gallon w/ 30 gallon sump along with a 10 gallon quarantine tank

12/27/2008, 12:38 AM	#8
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	Here is a good post about Cyano Bacteria....From Capn hylinur http://www.reefcentral.com/wp/?p=288 __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

12/26/2008, 11:28 PM	#4
mwoodruff964 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Grandview,MO Posts: 166	the tank is 3 1/2 months old

12/26/2008, 11:31 PM	#5
mwoodruff964 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Grandview,MO Posts: 166	ok i had stopped using rid-ich after 2 weeks of dosing however one of my clowns still shows specks on one of the fins, is there another way to keep dosing for ich without this medication and I will turn the flow towards the bottom.

12/26/2008, 11:59 PM	#6
stricknine Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Up North Posts: 989	For the ich you can check out waterkeepers thread on ich and look at hyposalinity. For the cyano, siphon it out on water changes, maintain good flow, use ro/di water, dont overfeed, and rinse your food. I had it pretty bad and that seemed to help me out. Good luck.