I've read many times that Cyanobacteria outbreaks are the result of the Cyano out-competing for the available nutrients in the tank.
What exactly is the Cyanobacteria out-competing?
What exactly is the Cyanobacteria out-competing?
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Everything else that depends on the same nutrients.
NutrientsI've read many times that Cyanobacteria outbreaks are the result of the Cyano out-competing for the available nutrients in the tank.
What exactly is the Cyanobacteria out-competing?
Nutrients
Generally when nitrate and phosphate are elevated, along with light becomes fuel/food for this bacterial algae to sustain itself
If I remember correctly, unlike algae, Cyano has the ability to use nitrogen and phosphate that are part of organic compounds. Usually, if Cyano is a problem, it means that there are not enough organisms and filtration in the tank to compete for those same dissolved organics. Corals, sponges, tube worms, other bacteria, skimmers, and GAC are some of the users of dissolved organic compounds. That's what the Cyano is out-competing. We can't rapidly increase corals, other bacteria, sponges and the like, but we can certainly limit dissolved organic compounds with water changes, more GAC , ad better skimming.
Yes. Also... The cyano itself binds the nutrients it consumes in its tissue. Removing it exports the bound nutrients. Vacuum it out as often as possible.Ok... this makes sense to me. So if we can't add something to compete with the Cyanobacteria, the strategy is to remove what allows Cyanobacteria to thrive; correct?
Yep. It's a cycle... cyano... chemiclean... algae... algaefix, vibrant, et al... Cyano... chemiclean... etc. It took me waaaayyy too long to learn this lesson.Algae is what it's out competing it seems like to me.
Anytime I dose chemiclean I always get a bit more algae after. Likewise, the few times I dosed vibrant and killed the algae, I usually got some cyano after.
"Stuff" = Dissolved OrganicsFrom what I understand is cyano happens when you have poor water quality/low flow/excessive buildup of stuff.
Add bacteria such as micro bacteria 7 and remove white light at minimumI'm wondering... of Cyano is out competing "something else", wouldn't supplementing "something else" correct the problem?
Turning all the lights out for a few days can help also. It seem like you just need to break the cycle and it goes away. My go-to process has been:Add bacteria such as micro bacteria 7 and remove white light at minimum
I've read many times that Cyanobacteria outbreaks are the result of the Cyano out-competing for the available nutrients in the tank.
What exactly is the Cyanobacteria out-competing?
Turning all the lights out for a few days can help also. It seem like you just need to break the cycle and it goes away. My go-to process has been:
1) Vacuum out Cyano after the lights have been on all day;
2) Do a big water change;
3) Add a bunch of GAC & set the skimmer to skim very wet; and
4) Turn off the lights and don't feed for 3 days.
Usually works. Sometimes has to be repeated a couple of times.
Add bacteria such as micro bacteria 7 and remove white light at minimum
A bacteria profile for reef tanks is available. Some reefers on this website have used the service.Is it possible to measure the amount of bacteria in your tank?
I disagree with lower nitrate & phosphate to discourage Cynobacteria.I've read many times that Cyanobacteria outbreaks are the result of the Cyano out-competing for the available nutrients in the tank.
What exactly is the Cyanobacteria out-competing?
The out-competing narrative is likely an after the fact invention. Little or no science behind it.I've read many times that Cyanobacteria outbreaks are the result of the Cyano out-competing for the available nutrients in the tank.
What exactly is the Cyanobacteria out-competing?