Issues with Microbacter7 - Bacteria on Sand

[Sdoutreefer]

I have been dosing Microbacter7, trying to establish more bacteria in my system. About a week ago, I noticed that my sand bed is covered in a pinkish-orange film. The film makes the sand clump up and is not easily blown away with a turkey baster. The bacteria and sand all ball together.

Is this cyano? I don't have any photos but can try and get some. Just curious if anyone has had issues with their sand clumping up while dosing Microbacter.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sounds like cyano.

What is the goal with wanting more bacteria?

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Sounds like cyano.

What is the goal with wanting more bacteria?

I was having algae issues so I started dosing Neo-Nitro to get my No3 up, alongside Reef Roids, BRS Chili and Reef Blizzard for my Po4.

Reading the directions for Neo-Nitro, it is recommended to use Microbacter7. So, that's what I did, in hopes to establish more nitrifying bacteria to help alleviate the algae.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I was having algae issues so I started dosing Neo-Nitro to get my No3 up, alongside Reef Roids, BRS Chili and Reef Blizzard for my Po4.

Reading the directions for Neo-Nitro, it is recommended to use Microbacter7. So, that's what I did, in hopes to establish more nitrifying bacteria to help alleviate the algae.

Nitrifying bacteria do not generally inhibit algae, and the dosing of nitrate does not impact nitrifiers.

 

[anthonymckay]

This is the first I've heard of dosing more nitrates to battle algae. What are your parameters currently? I don't love the idea of adding so many things just to battle algae (which is a normal part of a reef tank).
Manual Removal and an appropriate CUC were my silver bullet.
I recommend this video to anyone dealing with algae issues, Richard Ross's MACNA/Aquashella presentation on algae management. He is a senior biologist at the Steinhard Aquarium in San Francisco.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

This is the first I've heard of dosing more nitrates to battle algae. What are your parameters currently? I don't love the idea of adding so many things just to battle algae (which is a normal part of a reef tank).
Manual Removal and an appropriate CUC were my silver bullet.
I recommend this video to anyone dealing with algae issues, Richard Ross's MACNA/Aquashella presentation on algae management. He is a senior biologist at the Steinhard Aquarium in San Francisco.

The algae is mostly gone. I have some patches here and there but it's nothing that's bothering me, and I'd like it to stay for my grazers... What did the trick for me was cutting out all spectrums of light, except for the blues. I did that for a week and everything seemed to have really died off. Then upped my CUC and now it's being managed properly.

No3: 5.3ppm (as of this past Sunday)
Po4: 0.03 (as of this past sunday)

I haven't dosed the microbacter in a week or so, when I first noticed my sand bed turning simey-red. I haven't seen Cyano clump the sand together like it did in my tank. So really my question was if anyone has seen this when dosing Microbacter. It doesn't really look like the Cyano I've had in the past, and what is even more weird is that I've only had Cyano when the weather heats up. We're sitting in sub freezing temps for most of the day where I'm at. Just seems weird that I have a Cyano outbreak, with the timing of the dosing of microbacter.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

This is the first I've heard of dosing more nitrates to battle algae. What are your parameters currently? I don't love the idea of adding so many things just to battle algae (which is a normal part of a reef tank).
Manual Removal and an appropriate CUC were my silver bullet.
I recommend this video to anyone dealing with algae issues, Richard Ross's MACNA/Aquashella presentation on algae management. He is a senior biologist at the Steinhard Aquarium in San Francisco.

Oh, and I was dosing Nitrates because No3 was 0.0ppm and Po4 at 0.0ppm. I was hoping to stray away from those nasty algaes you get when you bottom out. I don't even want to type the word :face-with-hand-over-mouth: