algae and cyano problems?

Discussion in 'Algae' started by marvollo, Nov 21, 2008.

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  1. marvollo

    marvollo Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2008
    Messages:
    64
    i am having a huge battle with this algae and i believe cyano. it is smothering everything and i have been hand cleaning the sandbed every 3 days. it is covering over my live rock and a few sps corals now. i believe my flow to be plenty stong enough.

    i show 0 nitrates and nitrites
    phos undetectable
    mag 1250
    8 dkh
    450 calcium
    0 amonia
    8.4 ph

    my sand bed is 2.5" of top half fine sand and the bottom argon. i feed my fish formula one and 2 pellets 2x daily at controlled amounts. i feed purple seaweed every 3 days and occasional mysis schrimp as a treat.



    Here are my specs:
    72 gallon bowfront
    megaflow sump 2
    2 228 zoomed power sweapers
    1 maxi 900 with mod 1600 gph
    quietone return pump
    125g coralife super skimmer
    2x 250w mh 14k lights
    4x65w actinics

    live stock:
    4 green chromis
    1 yellow tang
    1 clarki clown
    1 diamond goby
    1 blue damsel
    1 cleaner schrimp
    1 pepermint schrimp
    10 hermits
    5 nars snails
    6 jumbo zebra snails
    4 cerith snails
    1 conch
    1 bali star
    1 rose tip anemone.

    mix of soft, lps, and a couple sps corals

    anyone have an idea of what i should do and whats going on?
     

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  3. GuitarMan89

    GuitarMan89 Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2008
    Messages:
    5,736
    Location:
    Wilmington, DE
    yea, you def. have a cyno issue. The way I fought this was to first, make sure your bulbs aren't too old, as they age the spectrum they give off tends to grow algae better. It does look like you should have decent flow at least. Suck out as much as possible. Also, you are probably over feeding. I only feed once every other day now due to algae problems. Do a couple of water changes to lower dissolved nutrients. Also, i found that raising the alk. helps, or least seems to. Good luck
     
  4. marvollo

    marvollo Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2008
    Messages:
    64
    definatly becuase of old bulbs as they are 3 months old.
     
  5. marvollo

    marvollo Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2008
    Messages:
    64
    not the bulbs i meant:)
     
  6. lunatik_69

    lunatik_69 Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2007
    Messages:
    7,933
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    The same happened to me when I changed out my old for new sump/refug. After about 1-2 months I started to see alot of Red Slime(cyano) but it went away by itself in about 2-3 weeks. Did you add anything new in the last 1-3 months? Luna
     
  7. coral reefer

    coral reefer Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2006
    Messages:
    4,860
    Location:
    Wonderland
    You need to increase the water flow in the benthic part of your aquarium. You may have sufficient water flow in the pelagic areas but cyano will accumulate under low flow areas at the bottom of your tank.
    Flake and pellet food stuff provides more phosphate and other nutrients than frozen foods. Now, don't think that I am saying that feeding these is not to be done, as this is quite the contrary as these foods offer a more balanced vitamin and nutrient regimen.
    Just be careful how much you feed and when.
    Keep riding the tank of cyano and perform weekly water changes and increase water flow as mentioned above!
    Good luck!
     
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  9. unclejed

    unclejed Whip-Lash Squid

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2008
    Messages:
    2,964
    Location:
    Clinton Township, Michigan
    It's time to break out the old "Chemiclean".