Silicates and Cyano?

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What makes you not a fan?

1. I think that nitrification (conversion of ammonia to nitrate) is often an undesirable process, and maximizing it by providing more places for bacteria is not desirable.

2. Some of them may release undesirable metals such as aluminum,

 

[Jimbo327]

If you are using amino acids, discontinue because that's like fuel for cyano. Hit it with more flow and manual removal with a turkey baster. Or Chemiclean definitely works well.

 

[ZzyzxRiver]

1. I think that nitrification (conversion of ammonia to nitrate) is often an undesirable process, and maximizing it by providing more places for bacteria is not desirable.

That’s right, you prefer ammonia to be taken up directly by the corals. I don’t feel confident that I have enough grown out corals to take up 7 fishes amount of ammonia, but something to keep in mind. If I can’t manage to keep nitrates up as they grow, I can remove the bioballs.

If you are using amino acids, discontinue because that's like fuel for cyano. Hit it with more flow and manual removal with a turkey baster. Or Chemiclean definitely works well.

Like Reefroids? I’ve discontinued since this started. I feel bad for the corals though, they loved it.

I think I’ve got a couple more weeks of manual removal and basting in me before I give up and try chemiclean. I know everyone says it’s a bandaid over your real issues, but I know how this started—accidentally let nutrients bottom out, got dinos, then after figuring that out got cyano and GHA, as one does. I think the problem is unlikely to recur if I can end it.

It does seem that clearing my GHA has made it a lot easier for me to clear out detritus. Those big bushes hold onto a lot of poop and decomposing food! I’m making lots of progress on that, hopefully the correlation is true and cyano goes away with it.

 

[Mickey]

I'm really trying to understand the benefit of using the coral snow. I did read that long thread quite a while ago. Wouldn't using the coral snow just ultimately create more particulate matter to settle on the rocks?

 

[Jimbo327]

Silicate doesn't cause or feed cyano.

 

[Featherweight]

I'm really trying to understand the benefit of using the coral snow. I did read that long thread quite a while ago. Wouldn't using the coral snow just ultimately create more particulate matter to settle on the rocks?

Im recalling this so verify... it binds with the organics allowing them to be more easily skimmed out of your system.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Im recalling this so verify... it binds with the organics allowing them to be more easily skimmed out of your system.

That depends on the organic. It may do that to some extent. It also makes them settle out or be caught in mechanical filters.

 

[ThorEp]

What makes you not a fan?

test

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

test

Did you pass the test? lol

 

[eggie]

I have used Cyano Clean from Kz and it has work for me a little price but really good IMO

 

[Mickey]

Im recalling this so verify... it binds with the organics allowing them to be more easily skimmed out of your system.

That depends on the organic. It may do that to some extent. It also makes them settle out or be caught in mechanical filters.

I will give this a try. I've been hesitant in the past because there is already a lot of particulate matter on the rocks which are over 20 years old and I didn't want to add any more. I do blow them off occasionally but probably not often enough.

Cyano is exclusively on the rocks and not too bad but when I let it go hoping it will remain small or go away on its own eventually, it seems to spread across the rest of the rockwork. It's been an issue for years. I think well established tanks almost always have a little bit of cyano which is fine as long as it stays small.

I may need to add more mechanical filtration with this.