Can’t get rid of cyano

[Freemason1970]

I am having an issue with what I think is cyano. I have researched and took the advice from them but I still can’t get rid of it.
I have lowered my white intensity on my lights, increased flow and got all of my chemicals in check but it just won’t go away.
Please help.
2 year old tank
125 gallon tank
UV sterilizer
Skimmer
Radion gen 2 lights
Carbon reactor
Chemicals:
Alk 8.8
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Ph 8.13
Nitrate 2.37 was lower with the same outcome
Phosphate 0.028 was lower with the same outcome

 

[Andresnyc93]

What’s the flow on the feed pump to UV? Also what do you feed and how often

 

[CanuckReefer]

I am having an issue with what I think is cyano. I have researched and took the advice from them but I still can’t get rid of it.
I have lowered my white intensity on my lights, increased flow and got all of my chemicals in check but it just won’t go away.
Please help.
2 year old tank
125 gallon tank
UV sterilizer
Skimmer
Radion gen 2 lights
Carbon reactor
Chemicals:
Alk 8.8
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Ph 8.13
Nitrate 2.37 was lower with the same outcome
Phosphate 0.028 was lower with the same outcome

I have heard of many swearing by the 3 day blackout method, to free up nutrients ....I used Chemiclean a year or two ago, it got rid of it but wish I tried the blackout first truthfully.....

 

[CanuckReefer]

I am having an issue with what I think is cyano. I have researched and took the advice from them but I still can’t get rid of it.
I have lowered my white intensity on my lights, increased flow and got all of my chemicals in check but it just won’t go away.
Please help.
2 year old tank
125 gallon tank
UV sterilizer
Skimmer
Radion gen 2 lights
Carbon reactor
Chemicals:
Alk 8.8
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Ph 8.13
Nitrate 2.37 was lower with the same outcome
Phosphate 0.028 was lower with the same outcome

Also, little trick I heard from a well known poster on here a while back ( wish I could credit them but forgot who it was), to assist if it's Cyano or Dino, if you in some doubt. Take a sample, put in a bit of RODI, freeze overnight. Defrost in a clean glass, play with it a little, if brown it's Dino, if Pinkish Cyano....worked for me. Best of luck.

 

[Freemason1970]

What’s the flow on the feed pump to UV? Also what do you feed and how often

I can’t remember what I set the flow at with the UV. Typically I feed frozen brine shrimp about half a cube. I have 8 fish in the tank. I usually feed a little at a time giving them time to eat what is given.

 

[Freemason1970]

I have heard of many swearing by the 3 day blackout method, to free up nutrients ....I used Chemiclean a year or two ago, it got rid of it but wish I tried the blackout first truthfully.....

I tried chemiclean about a year ago and thought I was going to wipe out the tank. It went away but came back a few months later. I have done the 3 day blackout but may have to if I can’t find the smoking gun.

 

[CanuckReefer]

I tried chemiclean about a year ago and thought I was going to wipe out the tank. It went away but came back a few months later. I have done the 3 day blackout but may have to if I can’t find the smoking gun.

Ok, so we have a cycle of on and off, If Cyano I would bump flow considerably ( it hates it) , and dump the lights a bit which it loves. I would say feed more but if Dino this is gonna mess with things IMO....Try that test I mentioned. It couldn't hurt.

 

[Andresnyc93]

I can’t remember what I set the flow at with the UV. Typically I feed frozen brine shrimp about half a cube. I have 8 fish in the tank. I usually feed a little at a time giving them time to eat what is given.

Sounds like you’re not leaving much excess nutrients which is usually why cyano doesn’t end up going away. Try to find out your pump flow and also do you have a high flow tank? Any corals?

 

[Freemason1970]

Ok, so we have a cycle of on and off, If Cyano I would bump flow considerably ( it hates it) , and dump the lights a bit which it loves. I would say feed more but if Dino this is gonna mess with things IMO....Try that test I mentioned. It couldn't hurt.

Will do. I don’t think it can be a flow issue since it is growing the strongest where the flow pushes my sand around.

 

[Freemason1970]

Sounds like you’re not leaving much excess nutrients which is usually why cyano doesn’t end up going away. Try to find out your pump flow and also do you have a high flow tank? Any corals?

The cyano is growing where the flow pushes my sand around. I thought that the UV wouldn’t help kill this since it is not in the water and more in the sand?

 

[CanuckReefer]

The cyano is growing where the flow pushes my sand around. I thought that the UV wouldn’t help kill this since it is not in the water and more in the sand?

UV IMO will definitely help keep it at bay a bit. When my lamp burnt and didn't notice it right away, is when I had my outbreak....it was a big one lol.

 

[Freemason1970]

UV IMO will definitely help keep it at bay a bit. When my lamp burnt and didn't notice it right away, is when I had my outbreak....it was a big one lol.

I do have to replace my lamp. I’ll check my flow then. What should it be at?

 

[Andresnyc93]

The cyano is growing where the flow pushes my sand around. I thought that the UV wouldn’t help kill this since it is not in the water and more in the sand?

It can keep it contained, battled dynos and cyano and constant water changes and getting really stingy with the way I fed helped a lot. If you don’t have any corals just go lightless and it’ll definitely do it. I couldn’t cause I already had some softies and nems

 

[Freemason1970]

It can keep it contained, battled dynos and cyano and constant water changes and getting really stingy with the way I fed helped a lot. If you don’t have any corals just go lightless and it’ll definitely do it. I couldn’t cause I already had some softies and nems

I do have corals. Softies, nem, lps and one SPS

 

[Andresnyc93]

I do have to replace my lamp. I’ll check my flow then. What should it be at?

Depends on which uv system you have running, what’s the brand?

 

[CanuckReefer]

I do have to replace my lamp. I’ll check my flow then. What should it be at?

Depends on which uv system you have running, what’s the brand?

This^^^ I'll let @Andresnyc93 take care of that aspect....

 

[Freemason1970]

I do have corals. Softies, nem, lps and one

Depends on which uv system you have running, what’s the brand?

It is a Coralife 18 watt turbo-twist 6x

 

[CanuckReefer]

It is a Coralife 18 watt turbo-twist 6x

You've got a great unit and wattage for the 125 IMO.

 

[Pistondog]

Add some other bacteria weekly to outcompete. Dr tims, mb7
Make sure no windows are letting light into the tank.

 

[Freemason1970]

Add some other bacteria weekly to outcompete. Dr tims, mb7
Make sure no windows are letting light into the tank.

That is the only thing I haven’t tried, beside the blackout.