Cyano (Don't understand why need help)

[InfernoST]

Hi All
This has been an ongoing problem which has me at my wits end. I just got done tearing apart the tank over this past weekend and cleaned it from stem to stern and put about 1/2 the live rock from the DT into the sump to help reduce any dead spots (Sand, rocks and walls) and performed a 30 gallon water change. 2 weeks ago I did a complete cleaning of the sump along with a 30 gallon water change. I noticed some tiny patches of Cyano starting again. Below is all of the tank/livestock info and water parameters as of yesterday. Any and all help welcome, I would really like to start enjoying this hobby instead of fighting with this stuff.

Tank
-120 gallon 60 x 18 x 26 (Online for 1 1/2 years)
-Lighting 2-250 MH 10000K (6" above the water) w 4 T5HO with a 660 icecap ballast w/4 420 actinic tubes),
-Northwest Aquatics Sulfur denitrifier
-BRS double canister GFO/Carbon reactors
-40 gallon sump w/quiet one 3000 return pump
-Eshopps PF1000 dual Overflow
-SRO XP 2000 cone skimmer
-2 MP40w circulating pumps, BRS 5 stage RO/DI.
-Salt Mix = Reef crystals (from Day 1

Parameters

Note- all tests were performed with Salifert test kits and are not expired

-PH = 8.1
-MG = 1200ppm
-Si = undetectable
-NO3 = undetectable
-PO4 = undetectable
-KH/ALK = 9.6 DKH
-Ca = 430ppm
-Salinity = 1.023 (Bringing it up to 1.025)
-RO water TDS = 0 (Dual TDS meter being used
-Water temp = 77 degrees

Livestock

-1 Yellow Tang
-1 Kole Tang
-2 Firefish Gobies
-1 Flame Angel
-1 Lawnmower Blenny
-12 Turbo snails
-5 Nassarius snails
-1 Blood Red Shrimp

Feeding = once every three days

Photo Period = 5hrs MH only. T5HO are left off.

Corals

-1 5 Branch Hammer
-1 50 polyp Zoa (Forgot name, bad case of CRS)
-1 Other softie

I can take picks if it would help.

Thanks

 

[ocholoco]

hey

Welcome to the club...lol...

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

Red Slime Remover bro..it's that simple . Best stuff out there and it's not too expensive under $20 no more BS.

 

[nanchil]

Dont use red slime remover...

 

[InfernoST]

Thanks. I know that the option is out there but want to get to the bottom of the cause. I'm starting to suspect its the salt I'm using.

 

[NYreefNoob]

check ur tds lately ? and your rock could be leaching phos

 

[MIKE NY]

my phos was only .04 on a meter and still did battle with cyno went crazy with WCs(TDS 0 before salt),run phosban, carbon, purigin etc....the only thing that seems to help is using Special Blend which I think is out competing the cyno for what ever nutriants its feeds off which I believe maybe a form of silicate or nitrate thats not showing on a test..I wouldn't use red slime remover...almost had a mini crash a few years ago because I think it kills good bacteria as well...

 

[Staaan]

my phos was only .04 on a meter and still did battle with cyno went crazy with WCs(TDS 0 before salt),run phosban, carbon, purigin etc....the only thing that seems to help is using Special Blend which I think is out competing the cyno for what ever nutriants its feeds off which I believe maybe a form of silicate or nitrate thats not showing on a test..I wouldn't use red slime remover...almost had a mini crash a few years ago because I think it kills good bacteria as well...

+1 on Special Blend..

Thats what I did for my cyano... in conjunction with water changes.

Also --> You're better off getting the biggest bottle of Special Blend they have..

It lasts a while.. and isn't bad as a tank maintenance supplement .

 

[jadakiss]

Special blend!!!!!!!

 

[InfernoST]

check ur tds lately ? and your rock could be leaching phos

TDS is 0, before I changed the all of the elements and is still 0 before salt. According to the test kit the phosphates are undetectable.

 

[InfernoST]

What is Special Blend and where can I get it. What do you guys think about changing from Reef Crystals to another brand? The other thing, does it make the skimmer go nuts?

 

[Will C]

I had the same problem and I thought it was reef crystals - still do. I did A LOT of wc's, siphoned daily and switched to ESV after a month the problem cleared up - I also increased the GFO volume in my reactor. I agree that better husbandry should solve the cyano problem rather then a chemical. Good Luck, you will be successful if you stay vigilant.

 

[Imbarrie]

+1 on better husbandry.

Red slime remover has been known to kill livestock.


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[tentacles]

You should find someone with a hanna meter/checker that can check your PO4 levels for you, the test kits really aren't that accurate.

Special Blend is a bacterial additive. I too have found it to work quite well in clearing up cyano.

 

[Alex]

I've been battling Cyano to the point of madness. I've lost many corals and have done everything short of a chemical solution. where can I get this special blend?

 

[Alex]

You should find someone with a hanna meter/checker that can check your PO4 levels for you, the test kits really aren't that accurate.

Special Blend is a bacterial additive. I too have found it to work quite well in clearing up cyano.

I just did a search, is this the item?

http://www.marinedepot.com/Microbe_...cological_Laboratories-EL20490-FIADAO-vi.html

 

[nanchil]

I just did a search, is this the item?

http://www.marinedepot.com/Microbe_...cological_Laboratories-EL20490-FIADAO-vi.html

Yep

 

[Alex]

Thanks, Hopefully I can get it locally. Does anyone know if will at Aquatic obsessions has it?

 

[InfernoST]

The only thing I haven't tried was changing out the Salt Mix so I located and picked up a 200 gal mix of ESV Salt. I plan on mixing some up today, lets see what happens.

 

[InfernoST]

I had the same problem and I thought it was reef crystals - still do. I did A LOT of wc's, siphoned daily and switched to ESV after a month the problem cleared up - I also increased the GFO volume in my reactor. I agree that better husbandry should solve the cyano problem rather then a chemical. Good Luck, you will be successful if you stay vigilant.

Thanks Will C. I have been keeping on top of it to no avail, so now it's time to start changing out the salt (Today).