Cyano? Nutrient Imbalance? Too many filter feeders? HELP!!!

[ItsMeMako]

Overview: This tank is a biotope of the northeastern Atlantic emulating an oyster reef, with macro algae, anemones and tons of inverts (pics attached). All im using is a HOB filter, the rest is done by water changes or filter feeders. Definitely not normal reefing so it’s tough to find answers.

Recently I have had a breakout of what I think to be Cyanobacteria. It flies off with a turkey baster and is a dark green/blue (pictures attached). Although my water is crystal clear, I also notice that I have a decent amount of detritus or “marine snow” that settles on my macro algae. I have went down the list of cyano causes and the only ones that apply to my tank would be a nutrient imbalance or lack of beneficial bacteria. As far as I know cyano can thrive in tanks with high nitrates and phosphates or zero. I have not tested my parameters, but I have a couple theories. I have live oysters and a bunch or feather dusters in this tank, so I believe my water can either be too clean and these filter feeders are consuming beneficial bacteria, allowing the cyano to bloom. Or my nitrates and phosphates are too high and my beneficial bacteria can’t keep up. Either way I have come to the conclusion that dosing MB7 or other beneficial bacteria would help. I plan to test my water with HANNA checkers once I can get my hands on them. Any comments or help appreciated, as I wanna get this figured out before introducing sponges!

 

[lapin]

Nice tank idea

 

[Michael71]

Really need to see test results for good answers but reef cleaners site has a good reference section on nuisence algae

 

[Jamie9]

Very cool tank. Do you have any flow in there? One possible solution might be to get rid of dead spots where the cyano is accumulating by putting in a powerhead or some other means of inducing some flow.

 

[ItsMeMako]

Nice tank idea

Thanks, it looks kinda grim right now… some macros died off and others lost color :(

 

[ItsMeMako]

Very cool tank. Do you have any flow in there? One possible solution might be to get rid of dead spots where the cyano is accumulating by putting in a powerhead or some other means of inducing some flow.

I do have a power head on the left side, I thought that might be the issue… turned out it wasn’t

 

[Aquadude1]

Sounds like bottomed out nutrients to me. In which case microbacter7 would not help. I would continue with your plan to find out what the nutrients are. And add an airstone to inside your hob filter. The airstone needs to be turned way down with a valve so as not to make a mess. The extra gas exchange can help with slimes.

 

[ItsMeMako]

Sounds like bottomed out nutrients to me. In which case microbacter7 would not help. I would continue with your plan to find out what the nutrients are. And add an airstone to inside your hob filter. The airstone needs to be turned way down with a valve so as not to make a mess. The extra gas exchange can help with slimes.

Ahhh good idea, if it is bottomed out nutrients the best thing to do is feed more right?

 

[Aquadude1]

That helps but with everything you have in the tank that absorbs lots of nutrients, I would dose no3 or nh3 and po4.

 

[ItsMeMako]

Bumping for a little more expertise :)