cyano goes or tank does

[bryant]

Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 5:43 am Post subject: cyano goes or tank does Read this post

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I am so bummed on this tank its a 180 (new hope to be reef) 120 lb lr cured 100 lb l/s mag 9.5 return mag 5 driving built in skimmer mag 5 powerhead with pvc splitting flow 400 w pc lighting. it was originally set up 6 mos ago for a tang and a clown I had (my sons nemoitis) in a 55 no l.r and just flouro lighting I have up graded to try to set up a reef and added l.r, sump lighting and added flow after adding l.r and lighting fish died and cyano took over (3 months now) I have added phos. pad to sump and added ro unit, I've been doing 10% daily changes and vaccuming substrate with no changes cyano back in less than 24 hrs covering l.s.
ammonia 0
nitrate nitrite 0
ca 420
ph 8.2
all on aquarium systems kits
temp 77
I.O salt
photo period 9 am-7pm
cleanup crew 20 small unknown snails
3 large turbos
2 peppermint shrimp
6 red leg hermits
only other inhabitants 1 small cabbage coral
2 pink tipped anemones ( stick fed krill 2x weekly)

 

[Anonymous]

Whats the flow like in the areas you're getting the cyano growth?

 

[bryant]

high enough to move the sand in some spots theres 1700 gpm flow in the tank not counting the mag in the sump

 

[Anonymous]

what are the chances that the water has become contaminated to a point where 10% is not enough to cause much of a difference?

 

[Anonymous]

Also, is the output of your RO/DI confirmed good?

 

[Carpentersreef]

A couple more questions-
What were you feeding the fish?
Is the skimmer actually pulling out anything?
Have you tried placing some activated carbon in the system, refreshing it every few days?

I'm having a bit of difficulty understanding your set-up:
180g with 400w of total halide lights with 96 w of pc, some existing live rock along with some live rock that was added later? If so, was it cured properly 1st?

How is your sump equipped? (lighting, any macro algae?)

What did the fish die of?

3 months isn't all that unusual for cyano, unless it progressing more and more to the point of taking over and killing corals, ect.

Mitch

 

[Anonymous]

I believe the first 6 months is crucial for beginning aquarists..this is where you are made or broke... CarpentersReef is right, its not too unusual for cyano outbreaks in the first 3 mo. a tank can take up to a year or longer to mature...i battled brown diatoms for about 6 mo...that was frustrating...The best advise i can suggest, is taking the advise of the other members here...I know how frustrating it can be but once you figure out what to tweak in your system to fix the problem, you'll be more than pleased with the results
Good luck and welcome to Reefs.Org

 

[Anonymous]

I believe the first 6 months is crucial for beginning aquarists..this is where you are made or broke... CarpentersReef is right, its not too unusual for cyano outbreaks in the first 3 mo. a tank can take up to a year or longer to mature...i battled brown diatoms for about 6 mo...that was frustrating...The best advise i can suggest, is taking the advise of the other members here...I know how frustrating it can be but once you figure out what to tweak in your system to fix the problem, you'll be more than pleased with the results
Good luck and welcome to Reefs.Org

Ditto! - Diatoms included.. :evil: - Finally worked past 'em and I'm extremely pleased!

#1 ingredient in successful reefing - patience.

 

[bryant]

thanks for the welcome the tank ran 30 days just live sand and flouro. lighting with clean up crew and 2 fish ( clown and tang) . I then added lighting and the l/r that ran a few weeks the fish passed shortly after addition of l/r no spots or visable sighns of disease. I checked paramaters the highest amonia was .05 the inverts are doing ok no apparant die off on the l/r lots of pods. I have taken the halide off for now since my canopy spends more time on the floor than on the tank here is a pic link to see tank photos
http://www.msnusers.com/tankphotos/shoe ... ?Page=Last

 

[Carpentersreef]

Looks like diatoms to me...
If you're still getting positive ammonia readings, your tank's not finished cycling yet. The LR that you added may not have been cured properly. Don't add anything else and keep up the frequent RO water changes. Test the water periodically for things like PH, nitrate and ammonia. After the readings are stable for a couple of weeks, and especially after ammonia = 0, start adding small inverts. No more LR or fish for a while.

Mitch

 

[bryant]

10 4 will try this

 

[Anonymous]

phosphates is another thing to check for...goes hand in hand with diatoms...the problem you are having is plain and simple...the break in blues...you tank is cycling..and this can take a few months..unfortunately its enough to discourage future hobbyists cuz it (the tanks chemistry) isnt RTR (ready to run)...In the Saltwater/Reef world this is a fact..trying to recreate the ocean isnt a quick and down and dirty job, it can be time consuming and patience testing...If you are willing to wait out nature, i guarantee you will be pleased with the results of your patience...in the meantime do more reading and plan for the future investment of corals and fish etc...

 

[Carpentersreef]

One problem with testing for phosphate....you could have a nusiance algae problem and still come up with a reading of zero.
If you've got excess phosphate, chances are that there's some algae using it up as fast as it comes available. :wink:

Mitch

 

[bryant]

the tank looks much better after the 12th change in 2 weeks tank has a noticible drop in return thus far hopefuly a good sighn, the last few changes I have moved the l/r in an attempt to remove any die off under it as well as any leftovers lots-o- gunk under them