Strange cyano issue

5xevy

5xevy

Member #62,749
Jan 3, 2007
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Upstate, NY
This is strange because for the last 2 months or so I've had a small cyano issue on ONE rock. It's always on the same place and, of course, grows back just as fast as I remove it.

The last time I checked my levels were:

1.025
8.29
0/0/5
Phosphates- 0
Calcium- 410

Numerous fish/inverts, moderate corals, long-term tank- drilled, over 200lbs. LR- lost count, lighting isn't on too long (timer, when it's working :rolleyes:), Mag 12 (which I'm thinking of upgrading lately to an 18), no powerheads (thinking of adding these too lately), Proclear wet/dry filter/sump, refugium w/ lots of macro...can't think of anything else at the moment.

I've had my skimmer unplugged lately because of a power strip problem but this started happening long before that. I admit I do tend to overfeed at times but, in my opinion, have a large and great clean-up crew. I pointed one of the nozzles directly at the rock so it can receive direct water flow but it doesn't help.

It never spreads but I obviously don't want it there nor want to take the chance of it one day spreading.

Why would you think it's just on one rock? My LFS recommends me taking out the rock and rinsing it in fresh RO water and putting it back in.

What are your suggestions before I tear my tank apart just for this one rock?
 
get the powerheads. the cyano will go away and your fish/ coral will benefit.
i tinkered with the outflow of myfilter to get it to go a deifferent way around the tank and that got rid of the cyano, now all i have to worry aboutis the dam hair algea LOL
 
I'm working on it. I know the powerheads will help in general but this particular rock is near the front and even the direct flow wouldn't combat it. The powerheads will be in the back and hidden since I don't like any equipment showing.

Thanks for the idea. Any other ideas?
 
my buddy has red cyano he uses crush coral do you think maybe its b/c of that? maybe higher phosphates? He uses a ph but Its still on the CC Ill be paying close attention to this post to see if I can help him out.
 
I'm not sure. What are his phosphate and nitrate levels? My buddy had a bad case of it around 6 months ago. He added some powerheads and it went away.

I decided I'm going to find a way to plug in my skimmer again and add 1-2 powerheads. I also realized my lights are due, actually a little overdue, for changing and that might be another cause. I'm going to change out half them next week and change the second half a week or two afterwards.

I was reading this:
http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/microalgae/a/aa092800.htm

I also read you can have small temporary bouts with cyano so I'm hoping this is one of those cases. How bad is your buddy's?

I think I may add some phosphate media to the sump even though they were last measured at 0- I figure it can't hurt. I'm also going to do a thorough cleaning of my overflows since they seem to collect a lot of grime. I don't usually do this with my water changes but again, can't hurt. I'm also going to scrub the rock with a toothbrush the best that I can. The last few times I just used the net or suctioned it off.

Still strange though. I'll try to get a pic of it.
 
Can you remove that one rock for about three days? If so, I have a solution for you.
 
5xevy said:
I'm not sure. What are his phosphate and nitrate levels? My buddy had a bad case of it around 6 months ago. He added some powerheads and it went away.

I decided I'm going to find a way to plug in my skimmer again and add 1-2 powerheads. I also realized my lights are due, actually a little overdue, for changing and that might be another cause. I'm going to change out half them next week and change the second half a week or two afterwards.

I was reading this:
http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/microalgae/a/aa092800.htm

I also read you can have small temporary bouts with cyano so I'm hoping this is one of those cases. How bad is your buddy's?

I think I may add some phosphate media to the sump even though they were last measured at 0- I figure it can't hurt. I'm also going to do a thorough cleaning of my overflows since they seem to collect a lot of grime. I don't usually do this with my water changes but again, can't hurt. I'm also going to scrub the rock with a toothbrush the best that I can. The last few times I just used the net or suctioned it off.

Still strange though. I'll try to get a pic of it.
Click to expand...


so basicly from this thread Im getting that all you would need to do get him to drop one or two powerheads and the prob should go away? does the ph need to be pointed towards the cyano? its on the CC base. He said that hes had this prob for a year + maybe his puffer is producing too much waste? I dunno ill have to ask about it when I see him. Ill mention changing his lights as well.

I know this is a tad bit off topic BUT how does one get rid of diatoms? I am noticing a little on my sand bed. (not much but some)
 
Here's a pic I just took.

74b4dd0a.jpg


It's a thicker layer than I thought this stuff would be.

Bryce said:
Can you remove that one rock for about three days? If so, I have a solution for you.
Click to expand...

I can, hehe, I'd prefer not to but only as a last resort just because it's in the middle of my tank with other rocks and corals on top. I might have to though. What do you have in mind?

SHK_ATK said:
so basicly from this thread Im getting that all you would need to do get him to drop one or two powerheads and the prob should go away? does the ph need to be pointed towards the cyano? its on the CC base. He said that hes had this prob for a year + maybe his puffer is producing too much waste? I dunno ill have to ask about it when I see him. Ill mention changing his lights as well.

I know this is a tad bit off topic BUT how does one get rid of diatoms? I am noticing a little on my sand bed. (not much but some)
Click to expand...

Well pointing my nozzle didn't work so not sure if the ph directly at it would work.

I had diatom algae on my sandbed a while ago and I ended up syphoning off what didn't go away itself.
 
From that picture it almost looks like coralline algae. Is it hard or soft to the touch?

I had a one-time cyno outbreak when I accidentally let phosphates climb. I eradicated the entire mess in three days by dosing 25% of the recommended dosage of Saltwater Maracyn. The problem has not returned in over a year.

I can’t recommend this option to other people for fear they kill off beneficial bacteria in their tank. Hence, I was thinking you could remove the rock in question into a quarantine tank of sorts and treat it with the Maracyn. If you do this DO NOT use it full strength. 25% would be maximum dosage I would recommend.

This method will work in about three days time, but if you don’t eliminate the source or cause of the cyno it will eventually return.
 
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