How do I raise nutrients without causing a Cyano outbreak?

[Addicted2Acro]

I am trying to get my Nitrates above 10 to help with acropora growth and struggling to do it. I have been dosing both Microbacter7 and Neonitro and nitrates are creeping up. Have gone from 2.5 to 6.5 in about 10 days. However, I am seeing Cyano start to form on sand bed. Since Cyano typically gets going when nutrients get too high, I am wondering how to get nutrients up without causing Cyano. Also, phosphates are .09 as of today.

 

[CreamCityCorals]

How do your acros look when nitrates were at 2.5? Any algae in the tank besides the cyano?

 

[Miami Reef]

Higher nutrients don’t increase cyano; organics do.

 

[Addicted2Acro]

Acros looked ok but not great with low nutrients. They didnt die, but didnt grow fast at all. Also, polyp extension during the day was really lacking. That being said, the tank is young. Its like 5 months old at this point. See video. Acros have looked better since raising nutrients. There is not really much other nuisance algae in the tank aside for a couple spots of brown hairy algae.

 

[Addicted2Acro]

Higher nutrients don’t increase cyano; organics do.

What do you mean by that?

 

[Reef.]

What do you mean by that?

Think he means organics are not broken down into nutrients yet.

 

[Miami Reef]

What do you mean by that?

Cyano will grow and thrive with organics (uneaten food, rotting matter, etc.) Nitrate and phosphate isn’t what cyano needs.

 

[Addicted2Acro]

Cyano will grow and thrive with organics (uneaten food, rotting matter, etc.) Nitrate and phosphate isn’t what cyano needs.

Ahh ok. I have been feeding heavy for the past week or so since we added a bunch of tangs and other fish. Didnt want them to fight. I can back that off.

 

[Addicted2Acro]

Ahh ok. I have been feeding heavy for the past week or so since we added a bunch of tangs and other fish. Didnt want them to fight. I can back that off.

So....I started dosing Microbacter Clean today and will continue with the NeoNitro to try and get Nitrates to 10. Anything else to do besides manual removal?

 

[Miami Reef]

Ahh ok. I have been feeding heavy for the past week or so since we added a bunch of tangs and other fish. Didnt want them to fight. I can back that off.

Dosing sodium phosphate for PO4 and Ammonium bicarbonate for nitrogen is the best bet when dealing with cyano.

You can still feed what your fish consume, but any excess, and the cyano can increase.

 

[BryanM]

My understanding is dosing microbacter 7 lowers n&p.

 

[Addicted2Acro]

My understanding is dosing microbacter 7 lowers n&p.

You use Microbacter7 with NeoNitrate in order to reduce phosphates while raising nitrates.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that low nitrates is causing poor acro growth. Then you’ll start throwing things in that might cause other problems. I would just be patient and give it more time. From my experience I get great acro growth with low nitrates. Why?