Dino's or Cyano?

[trivan]

I think I have a out break or either Dino or Cyano. Its brown, only on the sand, will not be brown when the lights first come on and then progressivly gets brown as the day progresses. It's a thin layer, not carpet like. It's on the sand and glass only. I don't have a picture atm, but I can post when I get home.

About 3 weeks ago I added 2 new brute trash cans in my water station. About the same time, I had a break out of Dino/Cyano and it seems to progressivly getting worse. TDS on the RO/DI is Zero. PO is reading .06 on the Hanna checker.

I did read in a post that plastics some times leach the nutrients which Dino's like and just to let it run it's course and will go away. Anyone have any simular experiance with new buckets? I have read the lights off method for 3 days is the most effective, but I'm worried. I've finally got all my coral to look heathly, so I'm scared to do a complete blackout for 3 days.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

[dnov99]

A picture would help greatly, but it may also be Diatoms, which can be caused from excess silicates in your water. Silicates will not show up in a TDS reading.

 

[magic]

I'm with Darren sounds like diatoms, part of the cycling process. They'll go away in a couple of weeks.

Bob

 

[trivan]

My tank has been cycled for the past year.

So I think just leaving it and waiting it out is the course of action here.

 

[magic]

Mini cycles are possible when something new is introduced into the setup. If it is a cycle a wc can delay the process. Waiting is the best option at this point.

Bob

 

[Hawkeye]

have you considered increasing the output on the mp10s? maybe that will discourage the growth?

The other question is what your clean up crew consists of. Anything for the sand?

 

[trivan]

Hi, I've ramped up the mp10 to about 75%. I've just added 12 nasariuss (sp) to the tank. I need to add more as they were tiny.

 

[Hawkeye]

nassarius will help to turn the sandbed slightly and eat any food that lands on the bottom. But if you want something to eat the growth on the sand you'll need either fighting conches or a sea cucumber - but i'm not sure the latter is ok given a 45 cube may not have enough sand real estate to keep it. I really don't know - i've never had any luck with sea cucumbers.