Cyanobacteria and laminar current

[DaFrog]

I had a small patch of cyano in front of the tank, so positionned a powerhead to increase the flow - i now have a strong laminar current going over this spot - To my surprise, the cyano is growing crazy! Should I work on a turbulent flow?

 

[Brian5000]

I would say your problem isn't flow (or at least not the biggest problem).

When cyanobacteria grows in stagnant areas, it's because something is decaying there creating a microevironment of high nutrient, low pH water. You can clean out the area and point some flow at it and the slime won't return.

When it's growth is because of a systemic nutrient build up, not just a microenvironment, it still starts from a single point (I suppose it has to start somewhere) but quickly spreads accross the tank. Directing flow on it a that point only seems to feed it faster.

I think you may have a systemic nutrient build up that you should try to troubleshoot.
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[DaFrog]

Thank you - I will start by reducing feeding

 

[Anonymous]

You may want to consider backing your daylight down as well, what are your "on" hours now?

 

[DaFrog]

Light is 9 hours per day right now - I also realized that I had a dying sponge just upstream from the cyano patch - So removed it - Also removed the top layer of sand and started replacing it with new sand - How my light hours per day would you suggest?

 

[Anonymous]

Light is 9 hours per day right now - I also realized that I had a dying sponge just upstream from the cyano patch - So removed it - Also removed the top layer of sand and started replacing it with new sand - How my light hours per day would you suggest?

Go with a minimum, say 6 hours for a while. Also, when was the last time you changed your bulbs? Shifting light spectrum from aging bulbs can make cyano worse IME.

 

[DaFrog]

Will do - I have some Sunpaq Power Compacts - How long do they last?

 

[Brian5000]

Power compacts start to degrade after 6 months. Ideally, they should be replaced then, but many people (including myself) stretch it out to a year. Even a cheap person like me won't risk keeping a bulb more than a year, and by that time, you can really tell a difference when you first turn on the replacements.
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