After dosing prodibio bio-digest and bio-optim for the last 3 weeks I am noticing a overwhelming amount of cyano. Didn't have this before I started dosing. Is this normal? Am I dosing wrong? I am following the directions at 6 ampoules of both every 2 weeks. How can I get rid of this? Do I stop dosing? It's starting to cover my corals and it's all over my rocks. If I siphon it out and change filter socks before I start siphoning will this make a difference?
Cyano after dosing
- Thread starter b-ridge
- Start date
- Location
- Medford, NY
Stop? Why are you dosing anyway?
- Location
- Westchester, N.Y
I also started using prodibio kit and read that bio-optim is a nurtrient that feeds the good bacterial. While pro -Digest breaks down waste. So I only add pro-digest so I don't want any more nurtrients to tank. I read that it will break down waste and bring down phoshate without using GFO. Also was slowly to get rid of cyano. Like you still seeing a increase of cyano. Some people I see dose every week. Instead of every two weeks. Trying to figure this out too.
- Location
- Westchester, N.Y
Yes, my was getting thick and covering a few rocks. I even removed cyano on sand. So siphon as much out. Even shut the lights off for 3 days. That didn't help either.
Cyano used to confuse the heck out of me. I always read it was from high nutrients and a "dirty" tank, maybe a lack of maintenance etc. I've come to realize that it is actually from relatively high nutrients. What I mean by this is a system that doesn't yet have a sufficient bacterial population to deal with its bioload. Each time you add more fish, feed more, or just store organics over time, your system must create more bacteria to deal with more nutrients. A Cyano outbreak seems to be the response.
IME cyano comes when you challenge the systems biological capacity too quickly, or when you actually do slack on maintenance and organics store up. I am always in a big rush and add corals and fish very quickly. As a result I get a huge explosion of cyano that lasts 4-6 weeks, but never comes back in plague proportions.
b-ridge , how long has your system been up? Bioptim is a carbon source and can initially increase cyano growth. I also use prodibo. During my cyano outbreak I stopped dosing bioptim and only used the biodigest. I also started dosing Special Blend bacteria as well. In 5 weeks cyano was completely gone despite a heavy bioload and increased feedings. Once cyano cleared I began using bioptim again.
Some guys don't like dosing all kinds of stuff, and that's fine, I used to be one of them. Cyano will eventually subside on it's own but it could take many months. The fact is that these bacterial supplements force your system into maturity more quickly. My tank is my proof, no speculation.
HTH
IME cyano comes when you challenge the systems biological capacity too quickly, or when you actually do slack on maintenance and organics store up. I am always in a big rush and add corals and fish very quickly. As a result I get a huge explosion of cyano that lasts 4-6 weeks, but never comes back in plague proportions.
b-ridge , how long has your system been up? Bioptim is a carbon source and can initially increase cyano growth. I also use prodibo. During my cyano outbreak I stopped dosing bioptim and only used the biodigest. I also started dosing Special Blend bacteria as well. In 5 weeks cyano was completely gone despite a heavy bioload and increased feedings. Once cyano cleared I began using bioptim again.
Some guys don't like dosing all kinds of stuff, and that's fine, I used to be one of them. Cyano will eventually subside on it's own but it could take many months. The fact is that these bacterial supplements force your system into maturity more quickly. My tank is my proof, no speculation.
HTH
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- Location
- Westchester, N.Y
Jackson6745, glad you had great success. I'm trying to figure this out to. My system be running over 4 years now. Same amount of fish and well over 100lbs of LR. Which been running 6 years in another tank. Been adding a little here and there in last few years. Nothing big at once. Started 90 gal 4 yrs ago with LR and Live sand. Alway feed once a day. 2 cubes of frozen food. Ran GFO last 2 years use RO/ DI with TDS 0 . Phosphate around .04 average Changed lights from t5 to 3 Kessil 350w. Excellent skimmer and always dose some kind of bacteria. I jump on using about mention. Just finished big bottle SPecial Blend still have cyano. Battling this since Fall and don't know why I can't get rid of cyano.
Now my question is did you find water changes which I do weekly play a role in Cyano. Better or worse with weekly water changes. Because thinking of stop doing water changes for awhile.
Now my question is did you find water changes which I do weekly play a role in Cyano. Better or worse with weekly water changes. Because thinking of stop doing water changes for awhile.
- Location
- Staten Island, Brooklyn
I started special blend micro lift last week to deal with excess nutrients in my tank, added 50% more as recommended for saltwater. 2 days after, I notice a lot of cyano (or red film) covering my rocks and some patch on sandbed. I thought it was supposed to do the opposite? Is this one of those things that gets worst before it gets better? I will do my 2nd dose tomorrow, I hope it works out.
- Location
- Howell, NJ
special blend usually takes about 5-6 weeks to see a big difference
First thing that come to mind is that your rock is 10 years in captive systems. It must be holding organics. Definitely could be the cause of cyano, or possible an old dirty sand bed? How deep is your sand bed?
Did your bottle of special blend stink? Reason why I ask is because if it didn't than the bacteria in the bottle is dead and ineffective (explained from the people over at microbe-lift). How long did a bottle last you? It takes at least a month, usually 6 weeks to see the difference. I am on the maintenance dose several months later and i plan on always dosing it. Did you dose 50% more for saltwater?
Water changes never helped cyano outbreaks for me, I actually think they made it worse. :idea:
6 ampules of both every two weeks? What size is the tank?.I dose 1 ampule of each every two weeks and 1ampule of reef booster weekly,no cyno thus far.This is 90 g total volume,phosphate is always around .05 . M aye cut back,see what happens.
Yes 6 ampules of both bio optim and bio kit. My tank is a 240 gallon plumbed into a 125 gallon sump and 75 gallon fuge. Total water volume approx 300 gallons. Yes my phosphates are high. Everything else is within normal range
- Location
- Westchester, N.Y
Rich, I used the 16oz and just finished the bottle used it for 6 weeks. Plus still using prodibio once a week. Bottle smell very bad. I removed as much of the sand in front of tank. Only LS is in the back for wrasse. Maybe 20 lbs if that. Going to buy another bottle Special Blend. Hopeful another dose will work. Are you still running skimmer while dosing.? I stop carbon and still run GFO.
- Location
- Bellmore, NY
- Location
- Westchester
B Ridge
Try Brightwell Microbacter7. I use 5ml/40g weekly.
Sounds like your phosphates are out of whack or your feeding too much.
If it were me I'd replace the filters on your RO source, do a 25% WC weekly for a month, and if that doesn't kill it, try using Chemiclean according to instructions.
That said, you also might pick up a bunch of Turbo snails. Like .5/gallon. They'll make short work of your Cyano.
Check that RO water for phosphates!
Try Brightwell Microbacter7. I use 5ml/40g weekly.
Sounds like your phosphates are out of whack or your feeding too much.
If it were me I'd replace the filters on your RO source, do a 25% WC weekly for a month, and if that doesn't kill it, try using Chemiclean according to instructions.
That said, you also might pick up a bunch of Turbo snails. Like .5/gallon. They'll make short work of your Cyano.
Check that RO water for phosphates!
Yes I know for certain my phosphates are high. I know I'm not over feeding cause I'm running the tank fallow. Something killed all the fish in my tank. I don't know exactly what it is or was so I'm not putting any fish in for another 6-7 weeks. Has been fallow for 2 weeks already. Will make sure I quarantine everything from now on. My RO is fine. Just replaced filters last week. Yes I need more snails and crabs. Turbo snails are known for eating/cleaning up cyano real good huh? Anyone selling/getting rid of any? I will need a bunch for a 240 gallon tank
- Location
- Westchester, N.Y
That is other problem I need to restock the cleaning crew. I had alot more when I started.
b-ridge sounds like you possibly had Velvet. Spreads and kills almost all fish. I had a run with that too. This could all stem from Bacteria which spread and weaking fish immune. I didn't lose all my fish. But lost 6 fish that had over 4 years. It's funny because I was at LFS and said to myself. I haven't bought fish in years. So I know its wasn't that I added a new fish. Something going on with bacteria and my bioload.
b-ridge sounds like you possibly had Velvet. Spreads and kills almost all fish. I had a run with that too. This could all stem from Bacteria which spread and weaking fish immune. I didn't lose all my fish. But lost 6 fish that had over 4 years. It's funny because I was at LFS and said to myself. I haven't bought fish in years. So I know its wasn't that I added a new fish. Something going on with bacteria and my bioload.
I don't know what it is or was. All my fish were happy and eating. Made the stupid mistake of buying a beautiful powder brown tang from petco because he was isolated from the rest of the tanks and his colors were extra bright. Looked healthy and the price was lower than normal. Didn't quarantine at all even after hearing all the horror stories that come from petco. Then after about 3-4 days, fish started dropping 1 by 1. All the newer fish started dying. The older fish started dying thereafter. I believe it was ich or velvet. I think ich because my purple tang was looking like he was dipped in salt. The other fish I didn't see anything but with ich we know it engulfs the gills therefore preventing breathing. But in the same breath I think it was something more than ich. I'm running the tank fallow besides the corals. I am going to find a reef safe medication and dose the tank. Allow it to stay fallow another 6-7 weeks. It's already been fallow 2 weeks. I will quarantine from now on for sure. So while I'm waiting I'm addressing all other needs that come up. Now I'm addressing this nasty looking cyano. Didn't know bacteria was deadly like that
- Location
- Westchester, N.Y
That is why we should keep our arms out of water instead in water. If you have open wound you never know what you get. I just started buying a few fish and QT them. Already yellow coris has open wound in belly and flame looks thin . Doesn't look I'm adding any fish t'll July. By than cyano better be gone. I have some on rocks but not much. Are you buying fish yet b-ridge.
No no. Not buying any fish for another 6-7 weeks. May buy 1 and leave in quarantine tank until I'm ready. But that's only after I deal with this cyano and reduce my phosphates. Phosphates are way high. Where in westchester are you located?
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