Biopellets Cyano + Bacteria

josh.j.avila · May 4, 2016

I'm been running biopellets for a while and noticed I had some cyano, it quickly got out of control when I added the other half of the biopellets. I vac'ed the sandbed to remove as much as I could and did a water change. I also picked up some FritzZyme 460 bacteria to help address the issue. My question is it states to turn off the skimmer for 48 hours. Is this safe to do when I'm running bio-pellets or would that cause more problems, how should I proceed?

FishOfHex · May 5, 2016

I recommend you run the return line of the biopellet reactor into the skimmer this will skim off the bacteria that contributes to the cyano

josh.j.avila · May 5, 2016

Thanks, I'm about to crash out, but I'll check this out on my lunch break tomorrow. I'm using a two little fishies reactor and a NYOS skimmer. I have to admit this is my first skimmer and I'm constantly having to adjust it. I'm a recent convert from nanos where it was just easier to do a 2 gallon water change every week.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 6, 2016

josh.j.avila said:
I'm been running biopellets for a while and noticed I had some cyano, it quickly got out of control when I added the other half of the biopellets. I vac'ed the sandbed to remove as much as I could and did a water change. I also picked up some FritzZyme 460 bacteria to help address the issue. My question is it states to turn off the skimmer for 48 hours. Is this safe to do when I'm running bio-pellets or would that cause more problems, how should I proceed?

IMO, it is fine to shut off the skimmer for the suggested time to allow the bacteria time to settle without being skimmed out.