Cyano Overload and Flatworm Outbreak

hannanReef · 05-04-2011, 07:37 PM

I have recently been battling a huge outbreak of cyanobacteria as well as flatworms. I'm not sure what is the proper approach to these issues. I'm not a huge fan of chemical treatments and I always prefer the more natural approaches to fixing issues. My water parameters are right on where they should be, with regular testing. I run a chiller, so the maximum temp swing on any day is only +/-2.5 degrees. I still have a huge slick of cyano that has been occurring.

One thought I've had on the cyano is that my lights are old? I run 3-150W 20k HQI and 4-96W Dual Actinic on a 125 gallon. I have had the lights six months, but they were used when I got them. I was told the bulbs were six months old when I got them. So I have ordered new bulbs and they should be in by the end of the week. What other suggestions does anyone have on other steps I can take to battle the cyano?

The flatworms are mainly present on two pieces of coral but I think the population is growing. I did add some wrasse to my tank just this week to see if they begin to diet on them, but if the masses increase what should I do?

One thought I've had on the cyano is that my lights are old? I run 3-150W 20k HQI and 4-96W Dual Actinic on a 125 gallon. I have had the lights six months, but they were used when I got them. I was told the bulbs were six months old when I got them. So I have ordered new bulbs and they should be in by the end of the week. What other suggestions does anyone have on other steps I can take to battle the cyano?

jrwoltman · 05-04-2011, 08:17 PM

Chemiclean. I know you said you want to avoid using chemicals, but to put it simply, this one works amazingly well. It does not affect fish, corals, or other invertebrates. I use it from time to time, when the cyano gets to be too much to deal with and have had no ill effects.

Good luck,

Jim

Reeron · 05-04-2011, 08:28 PM

GFO - Granulated Ferric Oxide. I had a cyano problem a couple of months ago, and after 2 weeks of using GFO, it was gone. I just put some in my mesh bag that I use in my Whisper 40 power filter and change it out every 2-3 weeks.

DarkEarth · 05-09-2011, 08:31 PM

Two thoughts actually...

tank1970 · 05-10-2011, 05:59 AM

This is my experience with cyto - It will happen if you don't use RO water, over feed or don't have enough flow (or well positioned flow)

This is what I did and it took 2 weeks to eliminate.
Stopped topping up with tap water (no chlorine )
Use chemipure elite
use cheto in my refugium (allow it to mature)
Sold one of my sun corals
Daily blew off the cyto from the sand
wet skimmed
checked PH daily (cyto will effect ph)
increased my CUC by 20% (mostly nuss snails)

It worked 100% for me - I have not had an issue since.

m2434 · 05-10-2011, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reeron

GFO - Granulated Ferric Oxide. I had a cyano problem a couple of months ago, and after 2 weeks of using GFO, it was gone. I just put some in my mesh bag that I use in my Whisper 40 power filter and change it out every 2-3 weeks.

+1 chemiclean is not a solution in itself, GFO is. Even if you ran chemiclean you'd need to run GFO to remove all the PO4 anyways or else it will just come back....

m2434 · 05-10-2011, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tank1970

This is my experience with cyto - It will happen if you don't use RO water, over feed or don't have enough flow (or well positioned flow)

This is what I did and it took 2 weeks to eliminate.
Stopped topping up with tap water (no chlorine )
Use chemipure elite
use cheto in my refugium (allow it to mature)
Sold one of my sun corals
Daily blew off the cyto from the sand
wet skimmed
checked PH daily (cyto will effect ph)
increased my CUC by 20% (mostly nuss snails)

It worked 100% for me - I have not had an issue since.

+2 all good suggestions

ezz1r · 05-10-2011, 07:12 AM

hannanReef:

I had a Cyanobacteria issue with my 39ga and took the advise of a fellow 3reefer "NO light " for four days and Chazam... ALL Gone. As I'm sure you are aware however address the problem as many here have mentioned Flow,Overfeeding may be culprits that was my problem.

As far as the flat worms if they are contained to one rock i would nuke the rock done....

E

gcarroll · 05-10-2011, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezz1r

hannanReef:

I had a Cyanobacteria issue with my 39ga and took the advise of a fellow 3reefer "NO light " for four days and Chazam... ALL Gone. As I'm sure you are aware however address the problem as many here have mentioned Flow,Overfeeding may be culprits that was my problem.

As far as the flat worms if they are contained to one rock i would nuke the rock done....

E

Wow, I've been doing this for years. It is 100% effective. I actually hesitate on recommending it because no one ever tries it. They would much rather spend their money on antibiotics. I have always coupled this with an aggressive filtration of GFO.

gcarroll · 05-10-2011, 08:37 AM

As for the flatworms, I have always had good luck with yellow coris wrasses.

05-04-2011, 07:37 PM	#1
hannanReef Astrea Snail Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Cottonwood, California Age: 31 Posts: 33 Skin: Mint Karma: 1	Cyano Overload and Flatworm Outbreak I have recently been battling a huge outbreak of cyanobacteria as well as flatworms. I'm not sure what is the proper approach to these issues. I'm not a huge fan of chemical treatments and I always prefer the more natural approaches to fixing issues. My water parameters are right on where they should be, with regular testing. I run a chiller, so the maximum temp swing on any day is only +/-2.5 degrees. I still have a huge slick of cyano that has been occurring. One thought I've had on the cyano is that my lights are old? I run 3-150W 20k HQI and 4-96W Dual Actinic on a 125 gallon. I have had the lights six months, but they were used when I got them. I was told the bulbs were six months old when I got them. So I have ordered new bulbs and they should be in by the end of the week. What other suggestions does anyone have on other steps I can take to battle the cyano? The flatworms are mainly present on two pieces of coral but I think the population is growing. I did add some wrasse to my tank just this week to see if they begin to diet on them, but if the masses increase what should I do? One thought I've had on the cyano is that my lights are old? I run 3-150W 20k HQI and 4-96W Dual Actinic on a 125 gallon. I have had the lights six months, but they were used when I got them. I was told the bulbs were six months old when I got them. So I have ordered new bulbs and they should be in by the end of the week. What other suggestions does anyone have on other steps I can take to battle the cyano?

05-04-2011, 08:17 PM	#2
jrwoltman Skunk Shrimp Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Plainfield, IL Age: 41 Posts: 269 Skin: Mint Karma: 74622	Chemiclean. I know you said you want to avoid using chemicals, but to put it simply, this one works amazingly well. It does not affect fish, corals, or other invertebrates. I use it from time to time, when the cyano gets to be too much to deal with and have had no ill effects. Good luck, Jim

05-04-2011, 08:28 PM	#3
Reeron Blue Ringed Angel Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kingston, NY Posts: 1,551 Skin: Mint Karma: 1040735	GFO - Granulated Ferric Oxide. I had a cyano problem a couple of months ago, and after 2 weeks of using GFO, it was gone. I just put some in my mesh bag that I use in my Whisper 40 power filter and change it out every 2-3 weeks.

05-09-2011, 08:31 PM	#4
DarkEarth Spanish Shawl Nudibranch Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Orlando. FL Posts: 85 Skin: Mint Karma: 18022	Two thoughts actually...

05-10-2011, 05:59 AM	#5
tank1970 Bubble Tip Anemone Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 693 Skin: Mint Karma: 2761899	This is my experience with cyto - It will happen if you don't use RO water, over feed or don't have enough flow (or well positioned flow) This is what I did and it took 2 weeks to eliminate. Stopped topping up with tap water (no chlorine ) Use chemipure elite use cheto in my refugium (allow it to mature) Sold one of my sun corals Daily blew off the cyto from the sand wet skimmed checked PH daily (cyto will effect ph) increased my CUC by 20% (mostly nuss snails) It worked 100% for me - I have not had an issue since.

05-10-2011, 07:12 AM	#8
ezz1r Ritteri Anemone Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 646 Skin: Mint Karma: 1095871	hannanReef: I had a Cyanobacteria issue with my 39ga and took the advise of a fellow 3reefer "NO light " for four days and Chazam... ALL Gone. As I'm sure you are aware however address the problem as many here have mentioned Flow,Overfeeding may be culprits that was my problem. As far as the flat worms if they are contained to one rock i would nuke the rock done.... E

05-10-2011, 08:37 AM	#10
gcarroll Stylophora Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Eastvale, CA Age: 43 Posts: 975 Skin: Mint Karma: 9299259	As for the flatworms, I have always had good luck with yellow coris wrasses.