Battleing Day 2 Cyano outbreak

dpsa98 · 06/21/2006, 06:08 PM

After a 20% water change last night I checked my parameters today and here they were

PH - 8.4
Amonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
Calcium 390
KH 15.7
Alk 5.60

I added 1/4 tsp. liquid calcium before work and when I got home the calcium reading was the same 390.

I just completed another 20% water change and I have a bag of carbon hanging in the tank also. Im not sure how long I should keep that in for though.

Also not sure about lighting some people say keep on the lighting some people say turn off the lighting. I know just turning off the lights does not solve the problem as to why I have the cyano outbreak. I have cut out feeding for a few days , I will see how the tank parameters are on Friday before I feed again.

If there is anything else I'm missing please let me know here is a pic after my water change today.

bertoni · 06/21/2006, 07:49 PM

The alkalinity is very high. I'd stop any supplementation until it was no higher than 4.0 meq/L or 11 dKH. The use of pH buffers often causes this problem.

How long has the tank been running?

dpsa98 · 06/21/2006, 08:08 PM

running about 3 months now. I have stopped using any buffers and the only thing I have added is calcium

bertoni · 06/21/2006, 08:28 PM

You could consider some sort of nutrient export. I grow and harvest Chaetomorpha, as one example. Reducing feeding (if you're feeding anything) might be appropriate as well.

The tank is still fairly new, so it might settle down on its own.

dpsa98 · 06/21/2006, 09:04 PM

I don't have a sump or refugium yet but I am making my own next month some time. I plan on harvesing chaetomorpha. I don't suppose this is something I can do in my regular tank in the meantime? And im going to guess with 19237 posts you must know what your taling about.....WOW thats a lot of posts. You must live here at RC. I do appreciate all the help I get from you all here. I have never been on any type of sight where people will go out of thier way to help someone they don't know.

Thank You,
Dave

bertoni · 06/21/2006, 09:14 PM

You can put Chaetomorpha in the main tank, if you don't mind the looks. It's easy to remove, so it's safe, IME.

delor · 06/22/2006, 02:54 PM

Are you vacuuming out the cyano as you are doing the water changes? That might help. I had a horrible cyano outbreak after finally defeating a Hair Algae outbreak. I tried everything (believe me) with out using chemicals. I finally ended up using 3 half doses of red slime remover. It kicked it. I don't like using chemicals, but I was at wits end.

06/21/2006, 06:08 PM	#1
dpsa98 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Fallon,Nv Posts: 234	Battleing Day 2 Cyano outbreak After a 20% water change last night I checked my parameters today and here they were PH - 8.4 Amonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 20 Calcium 390 KH 15.7 Alk 5.60 I added 1/4 tsp. liquid calcium before work and when I got home the calcium reading was the same 390. I just completed another 20% water change and I have a bag of carbon hanging in the tank also. Im not sure how long I should keep that in for though. Also not sure about lighting some people say keep on the lighting some people say turn off the lighting. I know just turning off the lights does not solve the problem as to why I have the cyano outbreak. I have cut out feeding for a few days , I will see how the tank parameters are on Friday before I feed again. If there is anything else I'm missing please let me know here is a pic after my water change today.

06/21/2006, 07:49 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The alkalinity is very high. I'd stop any supplementation until it was no higher than 4.0 meq/L or 11 dKH. The use of pH buffers often causes this problem. How long has the tank been running? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/21/2006, 08:28 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You could consider some sort of nutrient export. I grow and harvest Chaetomorpha, as one example. Reducing feeding (if you're feeding anything) might be appropriate as well. The tank is still fairly new, so it might settle down on its own. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/21/2006, 09:14 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You can put Chaetomorpha in the main tank, if you don't mind the looks. It's easy to remove, so it's safe, IME. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/22/2006, 02:54 PM	#7
delor Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 1,124	Are you vacuuming out the cyano as you are doing the water changes? That might help. I had a horrible cyano outbreak after finally defeating a Hair Algae outbreak. I tried everything (believe me) with out using chemicals. I finally ended up using 3 half doses of red slime remover. It kicked it. I don't like using chemicals, but I was at wits end. __________________ Surviving is different than thriving! Current Tank Info: Current: 90 gal RR reef tank, LED. Old:55gal RR, 440W VHO, 80# LR, LS, 20gal sump, SCWD. 5 gallon nano, 75 gal FOWLR

06/21/2006, 08:08 PM	#3
dpsa98 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Fallon,Nv Posts: 234	running about 3 months now. I have stopped using any buffers and the only thing I have added is calcium

06/21/2006, 09:04 PM	#5
dpsa98 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Fallon,Nv Posts: 234	I don't have a sump or refugium yet but I am making my own next month some time. I plan on harvesing chaetomorpha. I don't suppose this is something I can do in my regular tank in the meantime? And im going to guess with 19237 posts you must know what your taling about.....WOW thats a lot of posts. You must live here at RC. I do appreciate all the help I get from you all here. I have never been on any type of sight where people will go out of thier way to help someone they don't know. Thank You, Dave