Cyanobacteria Outbreak - Update!
- Thread starter Marcosreef
- Start date
Marco,
Not unheard of, unfortunately. Tell us more about your tank, critters, detrivore populations, feeding habits, nutrient transport, water flow, water source, etc.
Siphon out what you can and often. Hang in there for a potentially long and arduous battle.
best of luck,
-rw
Not unheard of, unfortunately. Tell us more about your tank, critters, detrivore populations, feeding habits, nutrient transport, water flow, water source, etc.
Siphon out what you can and often. Hang in there for a potentially long and arduous battle.
best of luck,
-rw
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by reefworm:
<strong>Marco,
Tell us more about your tank, critters, detrivore populations, feeding habits, nutrient transport, water flow, water source, etc.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Equipment:
Aqua C Remora Skimmer, 1 Mini-Jet 606, 1 Mini-Jet 404, 175w 10,000k MH, 2-28w PC Actinics (Photoperiod 10 hours MH, 12 hours PC's).
Feeding:
Frozen Mysis, Prime Reef, Clam, Pygme Angel Formula (1/2 tsp.) w/Selcon or Vita-Chem every other day. (few drops) DT's 3 times a week (3ml) alternating with Kent ChromaPlex (3ml).
Inhabitants:
1 Coral beauty, 2 Ocelaris Clowns, 2 Fire Gobys, and 1 Orange Spotted Shrimp Goby.
12 Nassarius snails, 6 red leg hermits, 10 astreas, 3 Turbo snails, 1 urchin, 1 serpent star, 1 emerald crab, 1 red marble star, Flame Scallop (16 months old). Feather duster.
Corals:
Xenia, Torch coral, hammer coral, Assorted mushrooms, Yellow polyps, GSP's, Sm leather, Purple gorgonian.
60 pounds of oolite sand, 30 pounds live rock.
Current parameters:
<ul type="square">Calcium: 430 ppm (Tropic Marin)
Temp: 78
Salinity: 1.024 (SeaTest)
Phosphate: 0 (Seachem)
Alkalinity: 10 dKH (Tropic Marin)
pH: 8.2 (5pm) (FasTest)
Mg: 1200 ppm (Salifert)
Nitrate: <1 ppm (Tropic Marin) [/list]I use a TWP for all top off water. Also Bio-Calcium.
I have been very fortunate to have very good water quality with low phosphates, low nitrates. Everything has gone so well, so I don't understand why Cyano has showed up.
[ April 06, 2002: Message edited by: Marcosreef ]</p>
Marco,
Looks like you've got a great set up
Beautiful tank, BTW.
Given that the cyano is showing up in that one spot on the right side, what's the water flow like in that area of the tank? You might try increasing the flow through there.
Another question [that may have already ocurred to you], how old is your lighting? Aging lights can sometimes contribute to an outbreak. Can't see anything else from your description that looks like a smoking gun.
FWIW, maybe increased nutrient transport via caulerpa harvesting in a refugium?
Just groping.
Good luck!
rw
Looks like you've got a great set up
Given that the cyano is showing up in that one spot on the right side, what's the water flow like in that area of the tank? You might try increasing the flow through there.
Another question [that may have already ocurred to you], how old is your lighting? Aging lights can sometimes contribute to an outbreak. Can't see anything else from your description that looks like a smoking gun.
FWIW, maybe increased nutrient transport via caulerpa harvesting in a refugium?
Just groping.
Good luck!
rw
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by reefworm:
<strong>Given that the cyano is showing up in that one spot on the right side, what's the water flow like in that area of the tank? You might try increasing the flow through there.
Another question [that may have already ocurred to you], how old is your lighting? FWIW, maybe increased nutrient transport via caulerpa harvesting in a refugium? rw</strong><hr></blockquote>
The water flow is circular, the two powerheads are on opposite corners of the tank, facing towards the ends, horizontally.
The lighting was installed in Dec. 2001. All 3 bulbs are about 4 months old.
I would love to have a refugium, tough setup w/o a sump, and also the tank can be viewed from all sides! I'll save that for the 120 reef ready SPS tank of my dreams!
Thanks for the help, I am as puzzled as you are...
<strong>Given that the cyano is showing up in that one spot on the right side, what's the water flow like in that area of the tank? You might try increasing the flow through there.
Another question [that may have already ocurred to you], how old is your lighting? FWIW, maybe increased nutrient transport via caulerpa harvesting in a refugium? rw</strong><hr></blockquote>
The water flow is circular, the two powerheads are on opposite corners of the tank, facing towards the ends, horizontally.
The lighting was installed in Dec. 2001. All 3 bulbs are about 4 months old.
I would love to have a refugium, tough setup w/o a sump, and also the tank can be viewed from all sides! I'll save that for the 120 reef ready SPS tank of my dreams!
Hi Marcosreef, nice tank, here are 2 sites that might help you out.(www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm, www.netpet.com/fish/referen...obacteria2.htm) Good luck.
Try adding another PH pointing from lower left to lower right. Cyno is normal in your phase of setup. Your bacteria is achieving efficiency of converting raw nutrients into NO3, yet you do not have enough export "mechanism" to export the NO3 out of the solution. Cyno is just taking advantage of the available nutrients.
However, it's interesting you mentioned the cyno growth increases and decreases from day to night as in a continuous cycle.........Hmmmmmm, very interesting..
However, it's interesting you mentioned the cyno growth increases and decreases from day to night as in a continuous cycle.........Hmmmmmm, very interesting..
good point danmhippo. I just re-noticed the 3 1/2 month age of the tank. The problem may go with time then, as the bed matures.
Marco, even if it does go away [and lets hope so
], the input you've gotten is still valid for future use [and lets hope that doesn't become necessary!]
-rw
Marco, even if it does go away [and lets hope so
-rw
Posted by Marco:
It seems to slowly creep during the day, and disappear at night. In the morning, seems to be all gone, then when I get home at 5pm, sand covered again...
I have a similar cyno outbreak recently which resemble yours.
What I did was simply blowing it off with a turkey blaster and immediately netting it out.
It works!
After the first removal, I need to repeat once more after a week and the amount was about the face of a gents wristwatch.
Happy reefing
It seems to slowly creep during the day, and disappear at night. In the morning, seems to be all gone, then when I get home at 5pm, sand covered again...
I have a similar cyno outbreak recently which resemble yours.
What I did was simply blowing it off with a turkey blaster and immediately netting it out.
It works!
After the first removal, I need to repeat once more after a week and the amount was about the face of a gents wristwatch.
Happy reefing
Greenchromis post above has a good link...thanks!
Quote from link www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm "they’re actually fueled much more by DOCs, dissolved organic carbon compounds… hence the careful cleaning and use of a decent protein skimmer as a first line of defense, limiting DOCs in your water. And, ahem, where do these celebrated DOC’s come from? Principally (over)feeding. Be especially leary of liquid invertebrate and gelatin based frozen foods… these are notorious sources of DOC."
Wow, that rings a bell with me. In one tank I have a butterfly that just loves those geletin based frozen foods and I am fighting cyanobacteria now (3 month old tank). There is no skimmer on this tank, by the way. My other tank does have a skimmer (Remora), the fish eat primarily non-gelatin foods and they always find and finish all of the food. I've never had a cyanobacteria outbreak and that tank is 1 year old. Nothing against geletin foods but careful feeding and frequent water changes may be the key.
-Steve
Quote from link www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm "they’re actually fueled much more by DOCs, dissolved organic carbon compounds… hence the careful cleaning and use of a decent protein skimmer as a first line of defense, limiting DOCs in your water. And, ahem, where do these celebrated DOC’s come from? Principally (over)feeding. Be especially leary of liquid invertebrate and gelatin based frozen foods… these are notorious sources of DOC."
Wow, that rings a bell with me. In one tank I have a butterfly that just loves those geletin based frozen foods and I am fighting cyanobacteria now (3 month old tank). There is no skimmer on this tank, by the way. My other tank does have a skimmer (Remora), the fish eat primarily non-gelatin foods and they always find and finish all of the food. I've never had a cyanobacteria outbreak and that tank is 1 year old. Nothing against geletin foods but careful feeding and frequent water changes may be the key.
-Steve
I did what Henry did, get out the turkey blaster.
I have even just let it "disappear" into the water column if theres not a lot. Just keep blasting and blasting a couple times a day.
Or i did use a canister filter to clean up once, when it got more serious.
I fill it may even go on its own. It has with me.
Remember your tank is still new and going through its changes.
I have even just let it "disappear" into the water column if theres not a lot. Just keep blasting and blasting a couple times a day.
Or i did use a canister filter to clean up once, when it got more serious.
I fill it may even go on its own. It has with me.
Remember your tank is still new and going through its changes.
The war on Cyano has finally been won! 
These are some things that I think helped:
It's obviously hard to say which of the above or what combination helped the best. (Except the bulb one, could not say why this would help)
I want to say thanks to everyone who read and posted during this. I am very thankful!
Regards, Marco
These are some things that I think helped:
- Replaced TWP filter with a Kent Maxxima RO/DI unit
- Cut back quantity of feedings and liquid supplements
- Replaced True Act 03 PC bulb with a 50/50 CSL bulb
- Added a Queen Conch
- Clean skimmer collection cup often
- Began dosing Kalkwasser to boost pH from 7.9 to 8.3
It's obviously hard to say which of the above or what combination helped the best. (Except the bulb one, could not say why this would help)
I want to say thanks to everyone who read and posted during this. I am very thankful!
Regards, Marco
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