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Cyano blackout

Hockeynut

NJRC Member
After battering with a nasty case of Cyano bacteria for a while I have decided to blackout the tank for 3 or 4 days.
Here is the plan;
Today I shut down all pumps blew off all rock work and allowed everything to settle, I then siphoned all the nasty I could get including some sand allowing for a twelve gallon water change, the tank is a 90 gallon with a 75 gallon sump total water volume is around 120 gallons.
I then added the new water and started papering the tank to black it out.
I also changed out GFO and carbon.
My plan is to go the 3 or 4 days and then do another 12 gallon WC and lights on.
If anyone else has tried this method can you please post your results here and weather you fed your fish in the blackout or not.
Of if you had any problems with your coral or fish. Thanks

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Karenvas2

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Good luck, had a cyano outbreak last fall. Blackout did not work. I ten bought I think it's called slime away. Worked like a charm. Knock wood, it's been two months now.
 
I've done up to 5 days during my battles with dynos. Three days didn't really stress my sps but 5 days saw some negative effects. It did seem to knock back whatever cyano was in my tank at the time but it did come back. At one point I hit my tank with chemi clean and I havent seen cyano since. I think you could go three days without feeding your fish. I put my lights on each day for about 15 minutes and fed them.
 
I did a 3 1/2 day blackout and did one light feeding. I used cardboard and duct tape to seal it up but left a small opening for air exchange. It worked pretty well. Definitely didn't harm anything.
 

Hockeynut

NJRC Member
Thanks for the Input guys I guess I will see in a couple days. Even if it knocks it back a bunch that will help along with water changes and better maintenance I might get a better handle on it.
Karen I read mixed reviews about that slime away product some were pretty negative I'm glad it worked for you but I have to try without adding chemicals to the tank, by the way how's the canopy paint coming along?
I think I won't feed tomorrow but maybe Sunday I'll turn on the lights for 15 mins and feed the fish a little.
Anyone have any alternate methods I'm all ears.
 

Karenvas2

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Well quite slow due to weather. I have done one coat of Kilz. Hopefully next one this week. Good luck with battle.
 
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