what causes cyano?

[AstroCreep]

ive been having this problem for a couple months...cyano seems to enjoy growing in my sump and then i usually have to pick the stuff out with my hands and i was just wondering what causes it to grow?

 

[Meloco14]

Typically excess nutrients and low flow. My guess is it's growing in the sump because of the lower flow.

 

[Anonymous]

I have found through personal experience that the flow argument may not hold in some instances. I have tried (in tanks with high TDS) to increase the flow, and the cyano increased around those areas.

If you eliminate the waste from the water (skimming, water changes, carbon) then the flow rate will not matter.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

Decrease lighting will help to get rid of it in addition to what Chip said.

 

[AstroCreep]

i have a skimmer going 24/7....i do leave the sump lights on for around 16hrs a day, maybe i should decrease, but if i do will it cause my caulerpa to not grow as well? and i try carbon...thats something that i have not used yet..

thx

 

[Anonymous]

Crissy is right...I forgot to mention I also decreased my photoperiod from 13 hours to 10 each day.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

What kind of lighting do you have and when has it been changed last?
Are you using RO, DI or RO/DI water?

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[AstroCreep]

im using ro water, its the stuff you get from machines in front of supermarkets...and the light i use for my sump is a home depot curly light, the cyano only seems to grow in my sump..its never been in my display

thx

 

[Anonymous]

im using ro water, its the stuff you get from machines in front of supermarkets...and the light i use for my sump is a home depot curly light, the cyano only seems to grow in my sump..its never been in my display

thx

I'm not familiar with Home Depot Curly lights but I believe that's the source of your cyano.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Anonymous]

Can you post the link for the light from Home Depot so we can see?

 

[Meloco14]

If you can read the base of the bulb there might be a color temperature written on it. Anything less than about 7500K could be causing the undesired growth.

 

[Anonymous]

Is this what you're talking about?

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[bleedingthought]

Wait, I use a 6500K Lights of America, 100W compact fluorescent bulb that looks just like that for my fuge. Mistake? My chaeto is growing very, very, very slowly but I have a lot of coraline in the fuge...