Cyano Issues

[Steve]

Having an issue with a cyano outbreak. I am running a Skimz203 skimmer full blast, rated from between 200 to 500 gal systems. I probably have 210 gals total water volume. I have 9 fish including 2 tangs. I generally feed once a day but feed pretty good. I use BSD flakes and marine pellets, fozen mysis, enriched brine and occasionally krill. I also feed nori several times per week. I am running 2 Quiet One 4000's for return and am using 2 Koralia 3 pumps, a Koralia 2 and a Jebao RW15 for flow. I have been running GFO and carbon through a Two Little Fishes reactor. 60 gal water change about every month to month and a half, with IORC. I have no nitrate issues but if I am reading my Seachem phosphate test right my phosphates are around 0.1 which I know is a little high. Can't figure out why they are staying so high. Also am running 1 filter sock, which I hadn't been running for about 2 months. Up to that point had been running and changing filter socks regularly. LED lights full spectrum. slow ramp up from 10:30 until 1:30, then about 90% on blues and 74% on whites, 65% on UV and reds and greens until 8:30 then ramp down until midnight and then moon lights for about an hour. Any and all help and suggestions appreciated.

[muttley000]

I'm assuming RODI for salt mix and top off.  Rinse the frozen, cutout the pellets for a while, and take 2 hours from your peak photoperiod IMO. Looking forward to your results.

[AJ]

If you phosphates are indeed that high, I would probably ditch the GFO+Carbon and run all GFO temporarily.  Also, when I had a phosphate problem, I started growing cheato in my fuge, seem to have solved my issues.

[Humphrey]

Like the gfo only idea...

Couple of options for people to chime in...

Obviously following directions closely but a couple of product options...

Red slime remover.  There is a video on YouTube create by bulk reef supply which outlines its use. I have used without lasting damage to corals, but for me, torches/hammers/Dunkins/anenomes/mushrooms a little grumpy until next water change. This specific brand is not an antibiotic and isn't supposed to cause a problem with nitrifying bacteria.

Dr tims refresh for a few doses followed by waste away. Not cheap, but I have used before and it has worked. One must be careful to go very slowly to avoid oxygen issues and bacterial blooms with both options.  Might start with 1/4 dose and ramp it up very slowly. Takes much longer but seems a more lasting solution.

People also use 2-4 days of darkness but has never worked for me...  Cyano always comes back...

[Kenn]

Sorry to here it Steve. Is it a "spotty" outbreak or all over craziness?

 

[AJ]

I forgot about chemi-clean, I just ran two rounds of it with no adverse effects, only cyano is now gone.

[CoralBeauties]

steve
  I love to use lanthanum for control of my phosphates.  Works like a charm and is so cheap compared to gfo.  I bought a $25 bottle 2 years ago and still have 1/2 bottle.  the only issue I have found is if I reduce phos too fast I have seen a couple of my corals stn at the base alittle bit.  If you want to try some you are welcome to make a trip up and get some to try.
  From my experience high phos will cause more of a hair algae issue.  I have some red slime algae right now and my phos is reading at 0 with my hanna meter.  I have been dosing acropower and feel I am dosing too much causing the algae bloom.
Jeff

[Steve]

Sorry to here it Steve. Is it a "spotty" outbreak or all over craziness?

 

Unfortunately, all over craziness.

I forgot about chemi-clean, I just ran two rounds of it with no adverse effects, only cyano is now gone.

Ran Chemi-clean a couple months back, corals really seemed to have adverse effect. Most recovered but I did lose several acros.

If you phosphates are indeed that high, I would probably ditch the GFO+Carbon and run all GFO temporarily.  Also, when I had a phosphate problem, I started growing cheato in my fuge, seem to have solved my issues.

I have cheato in my sump but it seems to be growing real slow, I have always grown it with spiral CF bulbs, but I might need more light.

[AJ]

I went to Lowes and bought the highest wattage LED bulb I could find.  I run the light on reverse cycle, about 16 hours a day. 

[Kenn]

Steve, I thought you might want to give this article a look.

Excess carbon in the system as a possible contributor was interesting

http://www.reefaddicts.com/content.php/42-Cyanobacteria-what-is-it-and-how-can-I-get-rid-of-it



 

[Steve]

Thanks Kenn. It seems like the issue got worse after I started running the carbon in the reactor. I wonder if this could be part of the problem. I took the carbon off a few days ago, still have cyano but it doesn't seem quite as bad. We will see. Also cut my main light cycle back today, to 4 hours a day.

[Kenn]

Keep us posted and good luck!

[kellyj]

Steve,
Must be the season for cyano.  I have been battling it for a couple weeks now.  I just ordered a Maxspect gyre for my 90 gallon to help with flow.  We'll see if that helps.  I'm reluctant to try chemicals until other methods exhausted.  Good luck with Slimer...maybe call the Ghostbusters.
Kelly