Battleing with cyano for the 5th month, - what am I missing?

[Katze]

Hey !

Here's everything that you have to know:
-regular red cyano-
Tank age >1.5
Fish: 6, 1 large 5 small

Chemistry:
Using RODI water with a tds of 0

NO3: 25 after 1.5 yrs of 100
PO4: 0.06
Kh: 8.6

Filtration: Red Sea RSK300, filter sock(s) cleaned bi-daily.

Light:
Maxspect ethereal, settings: (%)
Green: 93
UV: 93
Blue: 100
Cool White: 60-70
Warm White: 23

The cyano seems to hurt my zoas, (partially) that's why I want to obliterate it.
I may use chemicals for this, but for now I'd like a natural fix.

Any Ideas?

 

[ColoredRock]

I used this method when I got a bloom after adding established rock from a teardown of another system for someone else. I also Carbon dose (very small amount). I have to dose nitrates as well (tank is lightly stocked as of right now... so your mileage may vary. Tank is a year old so a good amount of bio-diversity going on in there.

Coral Snow: Extreme Water Clarity and Cyano Eradication, Made Easy! – Reefsite

With Microbacter7 .. cleared it up in about 2 weeks.

• Vacuumed out all I could see into a sock or water change.
• 1 teaspoon of Calcium Carbonate to 1 cup tank water per 50 gallons.
• Stir it up.
• 10 ml Microbacter7 per 50 gallons
• Stir it up.
• Turn off Return and Skimmer but keep Flow pumps (powerheads) going.
• Dose Mixture. System will go cloudy white. Fish Hid but come out after it clears.
• Keep flow pumps (powerheads) Running for 30 -40 mins.
• Turn Return pump Back on
• Turn Skimmer back on.

My system (350 gallon water volume) clears in about an hour.

• Replace Socks.

Took 2-3 weeks. Did this 3 times. No sign of it for the last 4 weeks.

 

[Dan_P]

Hey !

Here's everything that you have to know:
-regular red cyano-
Tank age >1.5
Fish: 6, 1 large 5 small

Chemistry:
Using RODI water with a tds of 0

NO3: 25 after 1.5 yrs of 100
PO4: 0.06
Kh: 8.6

Filtration: Red Sea RSK300, filter sock(s) cleaned bi-daily.

Light:
Maxspect ethereal, settings: (%)
Green: 93
UV: 93
Blue: 100
Cool White: 60-70
Warm White: 23

The cyano seems to hurt my zoas, (partially) that's why I want to obliterate it.
I may use chemicals for this, but for now I'd like a natural fix.

Any Ideas?

Just for clarification of the timing of events: tank NO3 about 100 ppm for 1 year 6 months, cyanobacteria war started at 1 year 1 month and at 1 year 6 months NO3 level is 25 ppm.

 

[PotatoPig]

What snails do you have?

 

[Katze]

Just for clarification of the timing of events: tank NO3 about 100 ppm for 1 year 6 months, cyanobacteria war started at 1 year 1 month and at 1 year 6 months NO3 level is 25 ppm.

Well, yes.

What snails do you have?

Limpets and turbo snails, however I have a lot of cyano.

 

[Dan_P]

Well, yes.

Limpets and turbo snails, however I have a lot of cyano.

Thanks!

 

[PotatoPig]

Well, yes.

Limpets and turbo snails, however I have a lot of cyano.

If it’s on your rocks try some Astaera snails, they’re absolute machines at going through this stuff, they just won’t readily go on the sand.

 

[Katze]

If it’s on your rocks try some Astaera snails, they’re absolute machines at going through this stuff, they just won’t readily go on the sand.

Can they turn themselves over?
I will probably buy some, but I'll have to be attentive if they can't.

 

[Outlaw Corals]

Get a algae scrubber and end it already

 

[KStatefan]

Get a algae scrubber and end it already

What does an algae scrubber do to remove cyano?

 

[Katze]

What does an algae scrubber do to remove cyano?

They would compete with the cyano, but a scrubber isn't available for me, it isn't sold in my region.

 

[Spare time]

Is it completely smothering the tank? Are you dosing anything like aminos? I usually like to try and put some competition in there like those bottles of heterotrophic bacteria and see what happens. Last resort try red slime remover or similar.

 

[Katze]

Is it completely smothering the tank? Are you dosing anything like aminos? I usually like to try and put some competition in there like those bottles of heterotrophic bacteria and see what happens. Last resort try red slime remover or similar.

Only the sandbed is affected, and some zoa frags but only zoas are susceptible to cyano and close.
Yes I dosed bacteria, but that was for nitrate lowering about a month ago.
I'll see what I can do in terms of bacterial supplements.

 

[Spare time]

Only the sandbed is affected, and some zoa frags but only zoas are susceptible to cyano and close.
Yes I dosed bacteria, but that was for nitrate lowering about a month ago.
I'll see what I can do in terms of bacterial supplements.

You can add something like fritz monster to try and compete with the cyano. Maybe it will work, maybe it won't, but I'd try that before using an antibiotic. What happens if you siphon the sand bed. Does it come back immediately?

 

[PotatoPig]

Can they turn themselves over?
I will probably buy some, but I'll have to be attentive if they can't.

No, but they also don’t often fall off the rocks either. I’ve had these things in my tank for almost a year now and don’t think I’ve needed to turn any over.

 

[Katze]

You can add something like fritz monster to try and compete with the cyano. Maybe it will work, maybe it won't, but I'd try that before using an antibiotic. What happens if you siphon the sand bed. Does it come back immediately?

Not immedietaly, but the very next day it does. Sometimes quickly and other times slowly.
I really hate chemicals, because that's not proper in long term so antibiotics would be the last thing I'd try.
I'll definetely try bacteria first.

 

[hexcolor reef]

Pick up a ton of hermit crabs, also what’s your calcium and magnesium levels at? That also contributes to red algae which may also be on your zoas

 

[Spare time]

You might want to add some conchs. I have heard they eat cyano.

 

[Katze]

Pick up a ton of hermit crabs, also what’s your calcium and magnesium levels at? That also contributes to red algae which may also be on your zoas

I don't know but there's nothing that could consume Mg and Ca I only have softies. Last time (1-3months ago)
it was 1300 and 460.

You might want to add some conchs. I have heard they eat cyano.

Yes I love them, but my lfs doesn't have any if yes it is rare.

 

[Spare time]

Yes I love them, but my lfs doesn't have any if yes it is rare.

Have you asked if they can order you some in?