Algae and cyano on sand in deep tank, what are my options?

TheAquatect · 07/28/2013, 12:07 PM

I have a 150g tall (48 wide and 30 tall). I use 2 iwaki md20 pumps and get good flow for my tank which is softie and lps. However, the flow does fall short toward the bottom, thus the algae and cyano. Rocks are clean and algae free.

I think I have 2 options to cure this.
1. Invest in a larger pump like a reeflo dart and ditch the iwakis
2. Invest in a power head wave maker like the jebao wp40 to help the iwakis.

2 is my favorite so far but worried it won't work due to lack of knowledge on my part.
Thoughts? I'm open to other options as well. Thanks

danbmx · 07/28/2013, 12:49 PM

If you want to get rid of it without changing your pumps out i would try turning all lighting off for a few days. The cyano should mostly die off.

danbmx · 07/28/2013, 12:50 PM

You should look into it further though. might be more than just a flow issue. overfeeding maybe?

TheAquatect · 07/28/2013, 04:37 PM

My cyano is not terrible enough to black out the tank, IMO. I have 2 small areas about the size of a half dollar coin. They are in extreme opposite corners where the flow is almost nonexistent. They have been around for a while and have even shifted from their original spots when I redecorated the rock and subsequently changed the flow pattern.

I considered over feeding but I feed 1 cube of mysis daily, half in the morning and half at night. It's seems to be fully consumed by my fish. I have 4 anthias, 2 occ clowns, 1 royal gramma, 1 kole tang, and 1 Bangaii cardinal. This seems a reasonable amount to me but lmk if its not.

I don't have any gha popping up, but this thin green film dominates the sand bottom along with the cyano mentioned above.

Tank is a year old, and this is a new occurrence in the past 2 weeks or so. Also notice some increase on the glass too. Of course phosphate levels are undetectable, surely thanks to the algae.

Other params are normal.
No ammonia, nitrates, nitrites.
Calk and mag are 500 and 1600
Dkh is 8.5
Salinity is 1.025

benjc · 07/28/2013, 05:21 PM

I`d suggest siphoning out what you can and do 72 hour blackout. If the it comes back in the same area, look into extra flow.

TheAquatect · 07/29/2013, 01:11 PM

ok, I'll give it a whirl. I've siphoned before and it slowly comes back but have not attempted the blackout as well.

07/28/2013, 12:07 PM	#1
TheAquatect I Could Stop If I Wanted Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Wesley Chapel, Fl Posts: 518	Algae and cyano on sand in deep tank, what are my options? I have a 150g tall (48 wide and 30 tall). I use 2 iwaki md20 pumps and get good flow for my tank which is softie and lps. However, the flow does fall short toward the bottom, thus the algae and cyano. Rocks are clean and algae free. I think I have 2 options to cure this. 1. Invest in a larger pump like a reeflo dart and ditch the iwakis 2. Invest in a power head wave maker like the jebao wp40 to help the iwakis. 2 is my favorite so far but worried it won't work due to lack of knowledge on my part. Thoughts? I'm open to other options as well. Thanks

07/28/2013, 12:49 PM	#2
danbmx Idiot Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canterbury CT Posts: 311	If you want to get rid of it without changing your pumps out i would try turning all lighting off for a few days. The cyano should mostly die off. __________________ I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be if there weren't so many sponges in it Current Tank Info: 30 gal mixed reef

07/28/2013, 12:50 PM	#3
danbmx Idiot Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canterbury CT Posts: 311	You should look into it further though. might be more than just a flow issue. overfeeding maybe? __________________ I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be if there weren't so many sponges in it Current Tank Info: 30 gal mixed reef

07/28/2013, 04:37 PM	#4
TheAquatect I Could Stop If I Wanted Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Wesley Chapel, Fl Posts: 518	My cyano is not terrible enough to black out the tank, IMO. I have 2 small areas about the size of a half dollar coin. They are in extreme opposite corners where the flow is almost nonexistent. They have been around for a while and have even shifted from their original spots when I redecorated the rock and subsequently changed the flow pattern. I considered over feeding but I feed 1 cube of mysis daily, half in the morning and half at night. It's seems to be fully consumed by my fish. I have 4 anthias, 2 occ clowns, 1 royal gramma, 1 kole tang, and 1 Bangaii cardinal. This seems a reasonable amount to me but lmk if its not. I don't have any gha popping up, but this thin green film dominates the sand bottom along with the cyano mentioned above. Tank is a year old, and this is a new occurrence in the past 2 weeks or so. Also notice some increase on the glass too. Of course phosphate levels are undetectable, surely thanks to the algae. Other params are normal. No ammonia, nitrates, nitrites. Calk and mag are 500 and 1600 Dkh is 8.5 Salinity is 1.025

07/28/2013, 05:21 PM	#5
benjc Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 636	I`d suggest siphoning out what you can and do 72 hour blackout. If the it comes back in the same area, look into extra flow.

07/29/2013, 01:11 PM	#6
TheAquatect I Could Stop If I Wanted Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Wesley Chapel, Fl Posts: 518	ok, I'll give it a whirl. I've siphoned before and it slowly comes back but have not attempted the blackout as well.