I’ve been having a problem with Cyanobacteria for a couple weeks now. At first I bought a better cleanup crew: sally light foot crab, Hermit crabs and a star fish hoping they would help with the problem. After a week with now improvements I turned my lights off for three days and stopped dozing reefroids altogether. After three days I turned my lights back on gradually each day and it still was present. As a last result I bought some Chemiclean. I have approximately 80 gallons of water and I does my tank with 6 scoops of Chemiclean. After 36 hours there was no change so I used two more scoops of it. The next day there was still no change so I used six more scoops of Chemiclean and turned my Nero 5 power head to 100% for 24 hours. When I woke up this morning sans was all over my live rock, from my power head, and I couldn’t see hardly any Cyanobacteria. I did a 20 gallon water change this morning, got all of the sand off the rocks, leveled out my sand bed and an hour later it’s back.... Any suggestions???
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Cyanobacteria
- Thread starter Jon
- Start date
Are you absolutely sure it's Cyano?
I have a algae thing going on right now that I also swore was Cyano, it's not. Still dealing with it. But it's been slow going. I'm opting for no water changes though. Seemed every one I did gave it a little more juice. Since stopping im making a bit of headway.
I have a algae thing going on right now that I also swore was Cyano, it's not. Still dealing with it. But it's been slow going. I'm opting for no water changes though. Seemed every one I did gave it a little more juice. Since stopping im making a bit of headway.
IF it's not cyano but red slime algae you might want to try Mardel Maracyn (not Maracyn 2). It would be 1 tablet crushed per 20 gallons. Leave your skimmer on but remove your cup so the skimmer oxygenates the water. If using any product to kill any algae, be sure to have your powerhead(s) pointed at the surface of the water.
What are you phosphates and nitrates?
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What are you phosphates and nitrates?
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I would like to think it’s Cyanobacteria but I’m not 100% sure. It looks like Cyanobacteria and I’ve done a good bit of research on it. Everything in my tank is healthy. I have six corals and six fish and a good size clean up crew: coral bandits shrimp, sally light foot crab, starfish, some hermits and three snails.
DangerDave
NJRC Member
Check as soon as possible, and often. I bet you have elevated phosphates. I feel nitrates and phosphates should be check at least weekly, alk daily.
Hockeynut
NJRC Member
I believe that it is usually a lack of beneficial bacteria. I would stop everything wait a week or so and dose special blend or vibrant for 8 weeks.
my way of thinking and it is opinion only is the good bacteria will eventually win over the space which is now occupied by “bad” bacteria.
it has always worked for me in the past. Also check that your Phosphate is not spiking as Dave mentioned.
one thing I do know is try one thing at a time giving each a long time to work. These things usually don’t occur over night and don’t go away over night and if they do usually something else will pop up.
look for biological repair not for a quick fix. Good luck
my way of thinking and it is opinion only is the good bacteria will eventually win over the space which is now occupied by “bad” bacteria.
it has always worked for me in the past. Also check that your Phosphate is not spiking as Dave mentioned.
one thing I do know is try one thing at a time giving each a long time to work. These things usually don’t occur over night and don’t go away over night and if they do usually something else will pop up.
look for biological repair not for a quick fix. Good luck
Your tank needs time to mature. You are going through the ugly phase. I am not into chemically treating tanks. If you can get a hold of a small piece of live rock from someone with a pest free tank, i would do so. It will speed you along. Don't buy live rock from the LFS unless it is located in it's own system (not water that is circulating with the fish and corals)
Hockey, in the beginning I was dosing my tank with brightwell microbacteria 7. I stopped dosing my tank with bacteria at least three weeks ago because it fouled up my skimmer. My octo 110 is sensitive and I didn’t realize that it needs to be turned off for a day after dosing my tank with bacteria.
I gave my skimmer a vinegar bath and since than my corals have looked much healthier . My skimmer is now back in it’s breakingi In stage.
But, that’s ok and it should break in overtime.
So you think if I dose it with bacteria again when doing water changes it will come back around? Obviously, I will turn my skimmer off after dosing it for 24 hours.
thanks
I gave my skimmer a vinegar bath and since than my corals have looked much healthier . My skimmer is now back in it’s breakingi In stage.
But, that’s ok and it should break in overtime.
So you think if I dose it with bacteria again when doing water changes it will come back around? Obviously, I will turn my skimmer off after dosing it for 24 hours.
thanks
Hockeynut
NJRC Member
Look you have a new tank there you will go through things like this it happens most new tanks. I always try to diversify the bacteria I have in my system. Paul b will tell you kind of the same thing also Diana is saying the same by bringing new strains into your system (without bringing pests) it will only help with problem situations like this. If you did nothing but kept up on water changes and kept your nutrients in check this will go away naturally. So no worries it will pass. Happy reefing
DangerDave
NJRC Member
Like everyone said, don’t rush it. Start by understanding your nutrient levels, if you don’t you’re shooting at the target blindfolded.
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So I have been dosing my tank with Vibrant twice a week, for the last five weeks using the recommended dosage. Along with a five gallon water change every Friday The Vibrant was quick to clean up the Cyanobacteria and everything was moving in the correct direction.
Than on Friday i did my routine five gallon water change and vibrant dosage And the cyano came back quite a bit. Yesterday I gave it its second and final dose of Vibrant for the week and it helped but it’s still more than I would like.
Should I do a larger water change this Friday? Possibly 8-10 gallons to get me back on track?
Thanks
Than on Friday i did my routine five gallon water change and vibrant dosage And the cyano came back quite a bit. Yesterday I gave it its second and final dose of Vibrant for the week and it helped but it’s still more than I would like.
Should I do a larger water change this Friday? Possibly 8-10 gallons to get me back on track?
Thanks