Top 3 ways of dealing with cyano

Discussion in 'Algae' started by Billme, Jul 12, 2014.

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  1. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    Just wanted to hear about how others have dealt with cyano. My top 3 are:
    1) increasing flow and using a wave maker
    2) using phosguard and changing it regularly
    3) regular water changes

    Not that I have completely eliminated it, but it's under control
     
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  3. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    Most recently i have used methods 1 and 3.

    Increasing the flow does seem to have stunted the cyano growth in the middle of the tank but not so much in crevices and where the PHs are blocked somewhat by rock. I have been blowing it off the rock with a turkey baster before i change my filter sock and before WCs to help with removing it from those spots.

    My WCs at my regular 10% weekly were not making much headway in controlling they cyano. When i really started taking better measures to reduce the cyano i had increased to 20% weekly. However, I also started using Dr. Tim's Waste Away at the same time and there was a noticeable change in how much cyano was in my DT.

    I never intended for the Waste Away to be an regular additive which i would always use, therefore i stopped using it. And unfortunately my schedule was really hectic last week with me trying to fix an electrical issue in my house and i missed my WC for last week and I have begun to notice a new outbreak of cyano creeping back in.

    I have also added an algae turf scrubber to my system which at this point has not grown to a point where it is effecting any algae growth.
     
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  4. Dyonopses1

    Dyonopses1 Skunk Shrimp

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    Good quality media reactor and GFO.
     
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  5. Pdxile

    Pdxile Coral Banded Shrimp

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    #1 : nutrient export via manual removal.
     
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  6. Thor

    Thor Coral Banded Shrimp

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    One aspect that has not been discussed yet is doing the above in conjunction with reducing the nutrients you are putting in the tank. Be it feeding less, changing the types of foods your are feeding, or making sure your change water is clean may be important parts of the equation as well.
     
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  7. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    Is it just me, or is cyano impossible to get rid of completely once it starts? I'm constantly fighting a low grade battle with it.
     
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  9. Ballgame

    Ballgame Millepora

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    How do you get rid of nutrient? Besides water changes. Not sure what a GFO is. Know what it means but how to do it
     
  10. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    I think gfo can either be in a reactor or in a mesh bag in the sump or overflow. I think it will clump unless in a reactor or mixed with carbon. Not sure on that as I've never used it. Maybe someone else will give more info on it.
     
  11. Pdxile

    Pdxile Coral Banded Shrimp

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    The reason manual removal from the tank is to remove the nutrients bound up in the cyano. Our water tests only measure the nutrients in the water column; this why we get phosphate or nitrate reading that is lower than you would expect seeing algea and cyano growth. If you remove the cyano out of the tank you are removing bound nutrients. Water changes will reduce the nutrients in the water column that are feeding the cyano. Aggressive skimming is a must also.
    Billme, how old is your tank? If it's around 4 months old you may be experiencing the "the uglies" like a lot of tanks do around that age. Cyano can be like uninvited guests: they show up unexpectedly, eat all your food then leave.
     
  12. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    Billme, how old is your tank? If it's around 4 months old you may be experiencing the "the uglies" like a lot of tanks do around that age. Cyano can be like uninvited guests: they show up unexpectedly, eat all your food then leave.

    My tank is just over a year old. I did have the original flare of cyano that eventually settled down. Now it's just a low grade consistent amount that lies mostly on parts of the sand bed. It doesn't get any worse or better. I vacuume it up most every week and it slowly comes back. Also I do feed the critters pretty well. I'm not terribly worried about it as long as it's in check, just wondering if this is somewhat normal.
     
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