Cyano Question

I have a 20g w/ 10g fuge/sump combo, maxi-jet 1200 (293gph) powerhead, Gen-X 2400 return pump (~600gph - but dialed back to about 300gph), 20lbs LR, 20lbs LS.

My params:

NH4 - 0
NO2 - 0
NO3 - 0
pH - 8.1
dKH - 8.5
Ca - 320
Mg - 850
Temp - 79


I realize my Ca and Mg are way low....but otherwise everything tests fine...

I have a section of LR with 3 polyps of "Midnight Purple" Zoas and 6 Polyps of "Nuclear Green" Zoas....

On that rock looks to be about a 1" x 2" patch of red slime algae...or cyanobacteria I guess?

It looks like a slime, candy red to maroon in color, small air bubbles forming below it...I can't get pics right now, so I'm describing as best I can.

I just noticed the stuff 3 days ago, but is now more obvious/apparent. I had a peppermint shrimp dying this morning too...I just removed him to avoid any further problems etc.

Any suggestions on how to best handle this? This section of rock is small, I could remove it, but don't wanna lose those Zoas...

 

Cyano is a bacteria that usually blooms because of excess nutrients in the water and low flow. The best ways to get rid of cyano are to reduce feedings and increase flow to the are(s) where the cyano is growing. It can take awhile to eradicate it, but it can be done! I had pretty bad cyano and it took about 3-4 weeks to get rid of it.

 

tripnbili

sounds like cyno from you good description IMO
Next water change, carefully syphon off the cyno from that rock

I would suggest you dial up that return flow slightly as increased flow has helped me on any number of occasions I have had cyno issues

if that return flow is dropping downwards, then its not going to help much IMO
But if its coming back, in an across the tank direction, increasing that flow will help

alternatively - swap out the maxijet for a K Nano which is slightly higher flow and its better spread out , so gives more coverage and helps to avoid flow dead spots

the wavemaker type powerheads are great IMHO and since using these types, I would never go back to the small focused type power heads for water movement in salt water tanks ( they are OK for running equipment like skimmers and reactors though)

Steve

 

I know....that's why I thought it weird...nutrients look fine. Forgot to mention phosphates were at 0 too...and that thing is like a whirlpool in there! Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..................

 

I've been told that even though nitrate is reading 0, there really are nitrates in the water, it's just that the algae, or in your case cyano, is using the nitrates so they don't show up when tested. Does that make sense?

 

That last post was to the previous poster, Steve I think I may do what you suggested. I've been looking into a Nano...you just nailed it for me. I'll suck off the cyano tomorrow...thanks for the help

 

Sure does...man this stuff is tricky

 

Yeah lol. Just take care of it before it explodes! That stuff expands quickly!! Manually remove it as much as possible.

 

Will do...thanks again

 

Another thing to keep the cyano down is to get a couple blue footed hermit crabs to eat the algae, that is about the only thing I know besides Emerald Crabs that feeds on cyano. I put an emerald crab in there and he had a field day with the stuff, I only see him about 3 times a month because he is nocturnal but still awesome to have because mine had babies in my tank without another crab in the tank and a few survived the process out of extreme luck.