Cyano in refugium

reefnewbie83177 · 04/27/2012, 08:02 AM

I seem to have a little outbreak of cyano in my refugium. No Cyano in DT. Do I need to be worried about this? Here are my params:

NH3 = 0
NO2 = 0
NO3 = 0
pH = 8.0-8.3
T=78.6
Phosphate = Undetectible
Alk = 9
Ca = 470

Thanks,

Palting · 04/27/2012, 08:13 AM

Everything is a matter of opinion. Here's mine.

The refugium is where you grow macroalgae for them to consume nitrates/ phoshates. etc so that none will be available for nuisance growth in your DT. In my refugium I encourage conditions for algae, and I let all kinds of algae grow in there. I also allow cyano to grow in there, for the same reason that I allow both macro and regular algae to grow in there: consume phosphates /nitrates so that the DT remains clean.

I short, I wouldn't worry about it. In fact, I would make sure the refugium conditions encourage it while making the DT conditions unfavorable for it, so that there is less chance for the cyano to end up in the DT.

BigCountry74 · 04/27/2012, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

Everything is a matter of opinion. Here's mine.

The refugium is where you grow macroalgae for them to consume nitrates/ phoshates. etc so that none will be available for nuisance growth in your DT. In my refugium I encourage conditions for algae, and I let all kinds of algae grow in there. I also allow cyano to grow in there, for the same reason that I allow both macro and regular algae to grow in there: consume phosphates /nitrates so that the DT remains clean.

I short, I wouldn't worry about it. In fact, I would make sure the refugium conditions encourage it while making the DT conditions unfavorable for it, so that there is less chance for the cyano to end up in the DT.

x2

It grows in my fuge also.

chrispc66 · 04/27/2012, 08:26 AM

I'm not so sure, under equilibrium conditions, cyano should not grow in the fuge. Very low flow conditions may encourage cyano, either by a clogged fuge, ( harvest time ), or minimal flow through the fuge, ( increase flow a little )

I have seen cyano outbreaks on the surface of fuges where flow rates are low caused by masses of caulerpa. in these instances, flow is normally OK when the caulerpa is harvested.

cheers

BigCountry74 · 04/27/2012, 08:46 AM

yeah i switched fuge configs (removed the chaeto and built a scrubber). so i lost a good bit of flow. I'm assuming that's why it's growing down there now on one side. but like Palting said better there than my DT

i guess i could throw a small powerhead down there but i dunno. i like that fuge kinda dirty

reefnewbie83177 · 04/27/2012, 08:53 AM

Thanks everyone!!! That is pretty much what I thought but wanted to check with the experts. I don't have a ton of flow going through my sump, but I don't really know how to fix that without increasing the diameter of the overflow holes (I just have two 1" bulkheads with screens for overflow), and I am not drilling bigger holes. I have half my refugium filled with Chaeto, and a lot of other algaes growing. I will just keep an eye on it. I have never had any cyano in my DT. Does the CUC take care of cyano or just other neusence algae?

chrispc66 · 04/30/2012, 04:29 AM

The problem with cyano in the fuge is the smothering effect to your desirable macro, hence decreased growth / phosphate reduction.

I'm not sure about the nutrient reduction capabilities of cyano, however I would not think it to be anywhere near as high as caulerpa species.

Try turning off the fuge lights for two days, harvest a little macro to increase the flow and see if this reduces the cyano

04/27/2012, 08:02 AM	#1
reefnewbie83177 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 200	Cyano in refugium I seem to have a little outbreak of cyano in my refugium. No Cyano in DT. Do I need to be worried about this? Here are my params: NH3 = 0 NO2 = 0 NO3 = 0 pH = 8.0-8.3 T=78.6 Phosphate = Undetectible Alk = 9 Ca = 470 Thanks,

04/27/2012, 08:13 AM	#2
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Everything is a matter of opinion. Here's mine. The refugium is where you grow macroalgae for them to consume nitrates/ phoshates. etc so that none will be available for nuisance growth in your DT. In my refugium I encourage conditions for algae, and I let all kinds of algae grow in there. I also allow cyano to grow in there, for the same reason that I allow both macro and regular algae to grow in there: consume phosphates /nitrates so that the DT remains clean. I short, I wouldn't worry about it. In fact, I would make sure the refugium conditions encourage it while making the DT conditions unfavorable for it, so that there is less chance for the cyano to end up in the DT. __________________ 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

04/27/2012, 08:26 AM	#4
chrispc66 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 75	I'm not so sure, under equilibrium conditions, cyano should not grow in the fuge. Very low flow conditions may encourage cyano, either by a clogged fuge, ( harvest time ), or minimal flow through the fuge, ( increase flow a little ) I have seen cyano outbreaks on the surface of fuges where flow rates are low caused by masses of caulerpa. in these instances, flow is normally OK when the caulerpa is harvested. cheers __________________ chrispc66 MASWA member - Western Australia. Current Tank Info: Long term reef tank

04/27/2012, 08:46 AM	#5
BigCountry74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,761	yeah i switched fuge configs (removed the chaeto and built a scrubber). so i lost a good bit of flow. I'm assuming that's why it's growing down there now on one side. but like Palting said better there than my DT i guess i could throw a small powerhead down there but i dunno. i like that fuge kinda dirty __________________ 135g mixed reef (retired) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815 Current 40g reef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483250 Current Tank Info: 40g bare bottom reef

04/30/2012, 04:29 AM	#7
chrispc66 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 75	The problem with cyano in the fuge is the smothering effect to your desirable macro, hence decreased growth / phosphate reduction. I'm not sure about the nutrient reduction capabilities of cyano, however I would not think it to be anywhere near as high as caulerpa species. Try turning off the fuge lights for two days, harvest a little macro to increase the flow and see if this reduces the cyano __________________ chrispc66 MASWA member - Western Australia. Current Tank Info: Long term reef tank

04/27/2012, 08:53 AM	#6
reefnewbie83177 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 200	Thanks everyone!!! That is pretty much what I thought but wanted to check with the experts. I don't have a ton of flow going through my sump, but I don't really know how to fix that without increasing the diameter of the overflow holes (I just have two 1" bulkheads with screens for overflow), and I am not drilling bigger holes. I have half my refugium filled with Chaeto, and a lot of other algaes growing. I will just keep an eye on it. I have never had any cyano in my DT. Does the CUC take care of cyano or just other neusence algae?