diagnosis - cyano

Have you considered carbon dosing? If you have a big skimmer it can really help pull nutrients out.

 

Most everything I've read about chemiclean does not mention any harm to reef inhabitants including inverts which I love my inverts. yes, I've been dosing very small amounts of vinegar in my kalk top off but I plan on doing a regular dosing regimen.

 

I had cyano and almost used chemiclean. I read countless reviews and id say 97 pct of people who used it correctly did not have any issues. There was that small percentage of people that said they followed the directions and had disastrous experience with it. Unless I'm playing the lottery, my luck is usually in that 3 percent.

Love the maxis BTW!

 

Take a toothbrush to it. Cyano comes off with very little pressure. If its not coming off, it might not be cyano. Can you get a close up shot? Google Lobophora and see if that's what it looks like.

This is Lobo.

 

I have used it and loved the results, but and a huge BUT I know other experienced hobbyist that did and had problematic results. I agree just make sure you have some supplemental O2 running, as in an old fashioned pump and air stone.

I am still not sure it's Cyano though.

 

Your description sounds like cyno, but pics aren't clear. If you don't address the root of the problem, you're wasting your time and money with the chemi clean. Your lights can play a factor too, what kind and what kelvin is your lighting? You're nitrates are high and that's provably the issue. Try skimming heavy, also, when you do a water change siphon out the bad spots.

 

I've used chemiclean with success. Key is to turn skimmer off. Learned the hard way.
Turn skimmer off.
Dose.
After 24-48 hours siphon all algae out with partly water change. Should be enough there.
Can dose again and repeat. I made a video a long time ago on it from my old tank.
I was brand new in hobby when I made this. You can tell easily

 

This is my tank now. That was my 60g and embarrassed to show it. I ended up losing everything in there except clowns to ich

Tank now

 

I'm all for better living through chemistry and Chemiclean is a fine product I've used. It's a hassle though and comes with a small chance of going wrong. Look into Dr. Tims method for cyano removal then maybe some carbon dosing for the nitrates?

 

Interesting idea, something like Waste Away?