Parameters

[Yesevil123]

Hey guys so im having trouble with what I think is a cyano bacteria in my sand. It's purple, stringy in the current flow yet slimy. Goes away when I remove it physically, but comes back the next day. I really do not want to chemically treat my tank. My light timers are from 7:30am to 6:30pm it's only on the one side. I have a 55 gallon reef and fish tank. I use the octo classic 1000 skimmer and an internal marineland filter. Along with a jebao circulation pump.

 

[BeanAnimal]

The tank is new. Do not add chemicals. Do not dose anything. Just keep up with you basic water changes and remove cyano as it comes. The tank will take time to get past this stage.

I would flat out ignore any advice that suggests that you dose anything at this point. You will make more of a mess and create issues to chase or fix. Just relax and watch it mature over the next few months.

 

[Yesevil123]

The tank is new. Do not add chemicals. Do not dose anything. Just keep up with you basic water changes and remove cyano as it comes. The tank will take time to get past this stage.

I would flat out ignore any advice that suggests that you dose anything at this point.

I'll take it. So far you've directed me well. Is there a specific way I should be removing it?

 

[BeanAnimal]

I would also not bother with ammonia or nitrite tests at this point. You are past the stage of it mattering. You can test nitrate, but don’t “act” upon changes. Just about anything above zero is fine, and for now zero is fine if it gets there. Just feed the fish, but don’t overfeed.

 

[JTP424]

If you use a hose to siphon water out for water changes you can suck it up with that :)
I use a long plastic tube attached to my water change hose.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My recommendation for cyano is typically manual removal, higher flow, and reduced organics. Antibiotics are a last resort, but can work.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I'll take it. So far you've directed me well. Is there a specific way I should be removing it?

Suck it up in a siphon during water changes or into a turkey baster in between. Things may get worse for a period, you system has a lot of maturing to do :)

 

[Yesevil123]

My recommendation for cyano is typically manual removal, higher flow, and reduced organics. Antibiotics are a last resort, but can work.

What would you consider organics to be?

 

[edsbeaker]

Time is on your side with ugly stage. If you try to get rid of one issue, then you change the balance and start having new problems. Just let it run its course.

You can vacuum the sand bed during water changes, but honestly I just wait it out.

 

[Yesevil123]

Suck it up in a siphon during water changes or into a turkey baster in between. Things may get worse for a period, you system has a lot of maturing to do :)

My siphon does not suck it up at all. It just clumps

 

[BeanAnimal]

My siphon does not suck it up at all. It just clumps

That is okay. It does not need to be perfect. As Randy said, increased flow in that area can help. Don’t be afraid to adjust your flow patterns a bit if needed.

 

[Yesevil123]

That is okay. It does not need to be perfect. As Randy said, increased flow in that area can help. Don’t be afraid to adjust your flow patterns a bit if needed.

how do I know if the flow is too strong? I have a few feather dusters, a bubble tip, and a duncan that concern me with the flow

 

[Yesevil123]

If you use a hose to siphon water out for water changes you can suck it up with that :)
I use a long plastic tube attached to my water change hose.

I'm going to order one with a smallish tip so I can clean the sand thoroughly from the debris

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What would you consider organics to be?

Organics are chemicals that contain both hydrogen and carbon. There are countless different organics in reef tank water, such as proteins, bits of dead bacteria, ethanol, etc.

Bacteria like cyano can consume organics and grow on them.

Ways to reduce the organics in that tank include skimmers, using granular activated carbon, purigen, etc.

In a new tank, waiting it out and manual removal is a fine plan. In a most established tank, other action are needed.

 

[Yesevil123]

Organics are chemicals that contain both hydrogen and carbon. There are countless different organics in reef tank water, such as proteins, bits of dead bacteria, ethanol, etc.

Bacteria like cyano can consume organics and grow on them.

Ways to reduce the organics in that tank include skimmers, using granular activated carbon, purigen, etc.

In a new tank, waiting it out and manual removal is a fine plan. In a most established tank, other action are needed.

Would removing the sand in that area reduce the issue as well?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Would removing the sand in that area reduce the issue as well?

Yes, but unless you want a bare bottom tank, I would not go that route.

 

[Lavey29]

Check out PNS probio which is a natural heterotrophic bacteria that eliminates organic waste.

 

[Yesevil123]

Yes, but unless you want a bare bottom tank, I would not go that route.

Should I be changing my water more since it's in my tank?

 

[BeanAnimal]

Should I be changing my water more since it's in my tank?

Just stick with your schedule, whatever it is now. No drastic changes are need. It takes time for the various lifeforms to evolve and balance each other out. During that process, simple organisms like cyanobacteria and diatoms and some nuisance algae may take the opportunity to fill in space until more beneficial algae and biofilms find their balance.

Some people call it the "ugly" stage. In reality, it is just the progression of life finding a natural balance in the system. As long as you don't overfeed, or pour silly stuff in, then the natural balance will come as expected. When you start pouring in chemicals, overfeeding, dosing various products (organics) is when things go sideways.

 

[Yesevil123]

Just stick with your schedule, whatever it is now. No drastic changes are need. It takes time for the various lifeforms to evolve and balance each other out. During that process, simple organisms like cyanobacteria and diatoms and some nuisance algae may take the opportunity to fill in space until more beneficial algae and biofilms find their balance.

Some people call it the "ugly" stage. In reality, it is just the progression of life finding a natural balance in the system. As long as you don't overfeed, or pour silly stuff in, then the natural balance will come as expected. When you start pouring in chemicals, overfeeding, dosing various products (organics) is when things go sideways.

Okay! Are my parameters fine so far? I've been trying to water change whenever it gets green on the glass. (Which would be a change today) should I hold off and just clean off the algae of the glass? I also refequently remove the cyano too. Like every few days.