What's happening with my cyano?

wantvws

wantvws

AC Members
Jul 15, 2007
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Waynesboro, VA
Ok, this stuff is driving me nuts. When it first came on, I loaded one canister filter with Phoslock and the other with carbon. I cut the lights back to a couple of hours a day, moved my powerheads, added some chaeto to the tank, and cut back on the fish food. As it started going away, I increased the lighting hours, but continued the carbon and Phoslock. It started getting worse, although not as bad, and I started noticing it was worse in the evening than in the morning (after no lights all night). I left the lights off all day the other day and the tank looked better than it has in weeks. This stuff literally starts to come back after a few hours of lighting. I have kept up on the Phoslock, and the water parameters are fine (PH 8.4, ammonia, trites, trates are 0). I have also ordered two mod kits for my MJ1200s that should increase the flow a good bit...will this knock a dent in it?
I know I need RO/DI. My tap water measures .25ppm for phosphates, btw.
At this moment, it looks great. Nice green coraline coming in, even the little bit of hair algae is dying. But if I left my lights on for 5 or 6 hours, there would be a pink tinge to my sand.
Sorry for the long post:D
Thanks!!
Robbie
 
yes, the increased water flow will most certainly help with the cyano issue so will you nutrient export via the algae. I would turn off all power heads until your water went flat then put a couple of drops of milk into the water. Turn the power heads back on and you'll be able to see where if any where you have dead spots. What I don't understand is where your phosphates are comming from is it the water or do you have large preds or are you over feeding if you'd tell us a bit more we could help you a bit better.
hth
Max
 
Max his phosphates are coming from his tap water per one of the last statements above. Robbie a lot of new tanks get cyano but the nutrient export and the flow are going to be your two biggest things in helping.

When I broke out with cyano I also used a product. I don't like using chemicals but I was bound and determined that it wasn't going to get a strong hold on my tank and treated within days of seeing the first of the outbreak.

This is what I used and I personally suggest that you turn your skimmer off contrary to directions for at least two hours while it flows through your tank. Then turn your skimmer on and its going to go nuts for a few days. Mine stated pulling skim out by the bucketload for about two days.. First day was the worst where I got full cups within hours.

I also increased my flow to 25x my tank size with the koralias and drilling some holes in the bottom of my maxi jets to increase their water uptake.

Like I said I don't like chemicals, but this was recommended to my by my LPS and I haven't seen any signs of cyano since. It might work for you as well if you want to try a chemical. One word though, its pricey. I paid 17 bucks for it at my LPS for the small bottle. I added the whole thing..

But after you treat it, you need to start using RO/DI immediately or the problem is going to return. Even if you have to buy it..

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4120&Ntt=red%20slime&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1
 
I was looking at some chemicals from Foster and Smith earlier today. I really do not want to use any, but....
I don't think I overfeed. I usually don't see much food making it to the bottom. I don't see any cyano building up on any rocks that have coraline starting.
I am really hoping that the increased flow form the MJ mods will kick it's @$$. I may add a Koralia #4 to the mix. I only have one more open outlet behind the tank, though:D
Once I get the MJs fitted with the mods, I am going to use the milk idea to check for dead spots...thanks for that!
Thanks for the quick replies!
Robbie
 
You can save yourself a bunch of money by not using those "red slime" removers and instead drop one 500mg Erythromycin pill per 100 gallons and it will kill it. This is the same ingredient (anti-bacterial) that those slime away products and chemi-clean uses. They just don't tell you because one pill costs about 50 cents. I used it one time to beat down a cyano problem due to my phosphates levels and did not care to wait six months to beat it through more conventional means. Within a week every speck of it was gone. And it never harmed my biofilter nor any corals, inverts or fish. You do need to stop or remove any carbon use and turn your skimmer down as the skimmer will go crazy. Once the cyano is gone, either run some carbon or do a water change and move on, while controlling the cause of the cyano of course so that it doesn't return.

Chuck
 
I'll look into that...thanks for the suggestion. Contacting a vet for the Erythromycin is a good idea.
I got my MJ mods today and they really made a difference in the flow. Supposedly they increase the flow to 1600 gph each, but I don't know how you can tell. I do know that as soon as they were up and running there were chunks of red cyano breaking loose all over the place. I am going to try and reposition all of my powerheads tomorrow to get a nice current going.
I am also looking at a RO/DI unit form The Filter Guys (I think Grins suggested them a while back). I may have to buy one sooner than later.
Is it normal for this stuff to go away and come back so fast with the light cycle?
Thanks for all the help!!!
Robbie
 
Grins said:
I don't believe you can get it in the states w/o a prescription though.
Click to expand...


Here is a link to the Marine Depot page that sells Erythromycin http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~SearchStr~aquarium%20pharmaceuticals~action~view~idProduct~AP1811~idCategory~FIMEBF~category~Aquarium_Pharmaceuticals_EM_Erythromycin_Medication___10ct_Powder_Packets_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Medications_Bacterial__Fungal~vendor~.html

I have to say I got in my tank with a "new" toothbrush and got it clean, then made sure the flow was over those spots and I haven't gotten it back yet. I realigned my three powerheads to remove the deadspots and it seems to work.
 
Almondsaz said:
Here is a link to the Marine Depot page that sells Erythromycin http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~SearchStr~aquarium%20pharmaceuticals~action~view~idProduct~AP1811~idCategory~FIMEBF~category~Aquarium_Pharmaceuticals_EM_Erythromycin_Medication___10ct_Powder_Packets_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Medications_Bacterial__Fungal~vendor~.html

I have to say I got in my tank with a "new" toothbrush and got it clean, then made sure the flow was over those spots and I haven't gotten it back yet. I realigned my three powerheads to remove the deadspots and it seems to work.
Click to expand...
Thanks!
When you scrubbed the rocks, did you just let the stuff you scrubbed off just go into the tank? At one point I pulled my Koralia #3 off of the side of the tank and used ti to "dust" off the rocks, but I wondered if I did more harm than good by spreading the stuff around.
Thanks!!
Robbie
 
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