Best way to get rid of Cyano?

[APISTOBORELLI]

I have a growing cyano problem. It needs to go. Whats the best way to get rid of it? I don't have an alk test yet (having trouble finding one) but hope to have one this weekend. What is "washing soda"? I've heard that mentioned before. Thanks in advance for any info....

 

[Bidadari]

My suggestions would be lots of water changes (20-30% water changes for 3 days in a row), siphon the cyano while changing water & feed less.

 

[ReeferMedic]

Red cyano bacteria is usually a nutrient, flow, lighting(old bulbs)problem, or a combination of them that causes it. Have you checked your nitrates and phosphates recently? I've found increasing your alk a bit helps get rid of it also. Red slime remover or chemiclean work very well if you need immediate results. Just make sure you follow the directions and siphon as much out as you can before treatment. If you don't, the dead cyano will cause a nutrient spike in itself. But, if you don't fix the root of the problem, it will return. Also keep in mind, it decreases the O2 saturation in the water. I usually do it at night when the fish are no so active and not consuming so much O2. Turn your skimmer off and remove any carbon during treatment also. I haven't had it return ever since I got my orp up over 400. I run ozone, but it's doesn't come on unless the orp reading goes below 350, and that hasn't happened in months.

 

[gurumasta]

yep. increase flow, surface agitaition, and get your levels in check. refugium can help if you dont have one for nutrient export. there are some temporary solutions but it will usually slowly make a comeback if whatever its feeding off of remains present. also, imo dripping kalk can help because it helps keep ph up, and your alk a little more stable.

 

[RichConley]

lots of flow, and wet skimming.

 

[focus]

Sugar, worked for me. Only did it for a couple weeks and no more cyano. Try it at your own risk. Some believe and some don't.

 

[JavaJones]

I found that shifting to target feeding helped deal with the nutrient problem. ALso, when I introduced several large Mexican turbo snails they just cleaned up the problem right away.

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

Sugar, worked for me. Only did it for a couple weeks and no more cyano. Try it at your own risk. Some believe and some don't.

Sugar?! I'll research that.

 

[this is me]

Siphon it out and increase the flow.

 

[me2003]

Syphon out as much as you can. A length of rigid tubing the width of typical
air line tubing work well for this. It allows enough flow to remove cyano
from gravel without syphoning the gravel if you are careful. Lots of flow, and wet skimming help but if the increase in flow spreads fine particle around
you will get more cyano.
The alk level may be incorrect varying pH. Fix the alk and raise the pH to the correct level.
I have seen correcting your alk and increasing ph will reduce cyano if they are out of balance. This may only be temporary and the cyano can return
a week or two later.

 

[OceanGuy]

Use a sea squirt and suck it all out. The Mexican turbo snails also work, but they are large and do a job on moving the rockwork.

Check the phosphates. Usually high levels of phosphates contributes to this.
I had some starting this week and they're pretty much gone now.

 

[dz6t]

Chemi-Clean then big water change.

 

[Frag Freaks]

I have had a problem also lately. Its finally starting to go away. What i did was i been doing large water changes every few days (about 10g on my 65). When i siphon the water i out try and suck up as much as the cyano as i can during the water change. I also am in the process in re stocking my cleanup crew. I am adding a dozen or so more hermits, a few dozen snails ( a mixture of nass, astria, and a few turbos). I added a queen conch and that has cleaned up a good amount of the cyano i didnt get to on the sand. I also notices that my alk was a little low, throwing my ph off a little, so i been dosing with baking soda every few days or so and checking alk to get it a little on the higher side. Another thing which helped alot was i added more flow. I had a few smaller powerheads which i upgraded to a maxijet 1200 and a maxijet 900. I have one pointed over the sand surface just barely brushing the top leaving really no chance for algea to stick and the other around mid tank. All this seems to be working well for me i hope to get it completely gone over the next week or so.

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

Skimmer is now posessed!

Added a 2/3 dose of red slime remover after a 5 gallon water change. I've emptied my collection cup twice in 3 hours. I have it all the way up at this point and plan to do a 15 gallon water change late Sunday. Looks like I stay up and watch movies tonight. Don't want the skimmate on the carpet.



Who else is up at 1A.M.???

 

[Moe_K]

I am.
Red Slime remover didn't work for me in the past.
Good luck to you.

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

I just turned off the skimmer after dumping the cup a third time. It was clear so I figure it's not doing much tonight. Just started "The Dark Crystal" though. My son got it last year and is scared of it. They are at grandmas and I'm home alone with my beer and my tank. Figure this is the most time I'll have to work on it in the next few months with kiddie #2 less than a month away!

 

[JayM]

My cyano is growing in my chaeto......not on the sand

 

[Aquaman_68]

I have a growing cyano problem. It needs to go. Whats the best way to get rid of it? I don't have an alk test yet (having trouble finding one) but hope to have one this weekend. What is "washing soda"? I've heard that mentioned before. Thanks in advance for any info....

Break down your tank!!! JK

 

[DanStL]

I have amber colored stringy slime. Is this cyano?

 

[SteveDola]

might be dinoflagelettes (sp.) Totally different beast. Ive heard that its the devil incarnate in a reef tank.

is it bubbles trapped in a string of red "algeaish" material??