Cyno Fight/help

[Marsha]

Ok I have determined I have a cyno outbreak from reading.

Tank/filter: 29 gallon tank with hob auqaclear 50 filter with rubble and carbon in it.

Flow: MJ 1200 powerhead for flow

30 lbs of rock and 1/2 to 1 inch sand bed.

Lighting Current fixture with CF/Actinic and moon lights (new put on 3 or 4 weeks ago). Thought that the extra light was causing a bloom, but not sure.

1 - flame angle
2 - PJ cardinals
1 - watchman goby
1 - serpent star

CUC
1 turbo
5 or 6 narcarisus snails
2 cerith snails


This weekend I added a 600 powerhead for added circulation and phosban to the filter system.

Water changes have been frequent the last few weeks (every 3-4 days) of at least 5 gallons, once for sure 10 gallons.

Parameters yesterday:
Nitrate 5.0
Amonia 0
Nitrite 0
pH 8.4
salinity 1.025


I have a protein skimmer but it is not on the tank at the moment and a UV filter but not sure I want to use that as yet cause it will kill all the good bacteria also.

Here are the questions:
Do I continue frequent water changes?

Should I add the protein skimmer or wait to see if the steps clear up the problem?

Do I need more CUC, and what? I do not want hermit crabs as they will eat my snails. Would not mind an emerald crab or maybe a shrimp?

[Sisterlimonpot]

A. I would set up the skimmer and if you already have the UV go ahead and use it. There’s no negatives to running one. (just piece of mind)
B. As for getting rid of cyano, more flow better lighting is the suggestion. Use a turkey baster or something to blow it up into the water column and allow it to be filtered out. Try lights out for 3 days. There are products on the market to get rid of it but I would suggest you try these first.

[stingythingy45]

Definitely get that skimmer up and running.
How often do you feed and what types of food?

[Chiefsurfer]

well, watch your nutrients, try and feed just enough to sustain the fish, but never so much that they are full and try to spit the food out.

2, looks like you have at least 2 algae problems(maybe 3), being cyano, diatoms, and maybe GHA, although it could also be just the right shading of the rocks(they look a little green to me). The cyano, nutrients as always, whats your total gph flow for the tank? Higher flow can usually help deminish cyano. Diatoms, get a few more sand-sifting CUC members, maybe a sifting goby, or stars, or cucumber if you don't want hermits.

Also have to agree, plug in both the skimmer and UV. That should 1, help rid/keep the tank empty of bacteria that affect fish. 2, the skimmer should remove a lot of proteins in the water, which should help your nutrient level a bit.

I know you said you have bbeen doing 5 gallon WC's ever 4 days now, but how about before that? What frequency did you do water changes then?

[Marsha]

I feed twice a day, small amount of flakes (formula 1) and every other day instead of flakes for one meal I feed 1/2 cube of frozen food (rotating between marine cuisine, rotifers and mesis). All food is consumed within 3-5 minutes of putting it in the tank.

[Marsha]

Water changes before were every week 3 to 5 gallons. Doubled up to get this under control. Green is probably my picture taking abilities. I am on my way to the LFS to get sand sifting things, probably snails as they seem to do such a great job.

btw, I use RODI only in my tank.

[Chiefsurfer]

just looked up your circulation situation. you seem to have about 450 gph, which is roughly 15x turnover on circulation. Not bad, but I would add another 1200, or go with one or more of the propeller style(koralia) powerheads. Their movement/circulation is much more random and spread out than a directed powerhead with an impeller. I had been told you want 20-30x turnover in your water. I would also have more angled to the tank, rather than straight across the front. Maybe put them low in the back, and point up and towards the middle if you get that description?

GL

[Marsha]

My other 1200 is in my mixing tank at the moment. I will switch them after I get the skimmer up and running tonight.

[fatdaddy]

definitely get the skimmer up and running. Cyano can survive off of dissolved organics.

I'd cut back your feeding to once a day and then keep halving it once a week until things clean up.

Have you tested your phosphate level? You mentioned a reactor, but didn't say.

[Marsha]

phos is at zero per the LFS today when I took water in to be checked.

[bertoni]

That's fairly normal. Cyanobacteria can consume a lot of phosphate, and our kits only detect orthophosphate. There are many forms of organic phosphorus.

[blueridge]

+1 for the circulation. You should consider adding another powerhead as mentioned. Give the circulation a few days to a week and see any improvement.

[Marsha]

Thank you all for the advice. I will report back in a week or so to let you know what happened. Additional powerhead installed and have to modify my skimmer to make it stay in the tank properly so did not get it finished last night, will work on it today too.