Cyano help...

[JasonandSarah]

So I've been battling some issues for awhile. Started out by getting some Gha because I took my gfo offline. I then put the gfo back into action and slowly got my phosphates back in check.
Problem now though is ever since I started getting my phosphates in check my tank has slowly started growing cyano, witch from what I know is kinda weird?
I've got my phosphates down to 0.02 for the past 2 weeks and my nitrates are nearly undetectable. Testing phosphates with a Hanna ulr phosphors checker and nitrates with a salifert kit. It's gotten to the point now that the cyano is growing all over my tank especially in high flow areas(defies logic) like my back glass that has a power head pointed right at it. I've been doing a 10% water change every week and it seems to go down for a day or so and come right back?
Like I said I've done everything I know to do and have been fighting this fight for awhile and my level of frustration is just to high. So I'm asking for help. I've won a battle against cyano before when the tank was first set up but it wasn't like this, this time it just seems to almost thrive on everything that's supposed to kill it?
Tank parameters...
Cal-460
dkh-4.2-11.8
Ph-8.3
Mag-1400 ish
Phosphates-0.02
Nitrates-0.2
Lightly stocked 75g with 40b sump. Running a 4 stage Ro/Di with 0 tds coming out. Gfo online in a brs reactor, Also have chemi-pure blue. 2 skimmers running right now just upgraded and kept the second online because I'm having the trouble. Skimmers, bubble Magnus curve 7 and sca-302.
Hope this is enough info to get some help ty ahead of time.

 

[mnavick]

How much/often/type do you feed?

 

[jrushlow]

You may want to take a water sample to your LFS and compare them to your readings to make sure your testing is accurate. I would recommend higher percentage water changes for a while too.

Joe

 

[JasonandSarah]

I'm actually doing roughly 17g water changes with a total water volume of maybe 90g.
I feed once a night and always have. I only feed what my fish eat and right now that's not much considering I only have 5 smaller fish.
I'm pretty sure my testing is accurate and bringing a water sample to pet co (my lfs) is almost useless imo. They use api test kits.

 

[JasonandSarah]

If really like to know if there's any info on cases like mine with low nutrients and cyano still thriving? I haven't been able to find any really. Everything I find says if you bring down your phosphates and nitrates you'll be cyano free witch isn't true obviously.

 

[mnavick]

Where did you get your rock and sand from?
Something is leaching phosphates.

 

[JasonandSarah]

Most of my rock was dry rock. But my phosphates are 0.02? For at least the past 2 weeks so that doesn't really make sense to me? I'm using a Hanna ulr phosphorus checker so I'm pretty sure it's accurate and it's testing very similar twice a week.

 

[PSU4ME]

was it dry marco type rock?

 

[this is me]

I had algae when I was running ULNS with undetectable nitrate and phosphate. Keep sucking it out and weekly waterchange and it'll go away.

 

[mnavick]

You're reading .02 because all the cyano is feeding off of it.

 

[jrushlow]

Some chem person needs to step in here...

Are "phosphates" the same as "phosphorus" from a testing point of view? I apologize in advance for my ignorance.

I assume you have this meter: http://hannainst.com/usa/prods2.cfm?id=030011&ProdCode=HI 736

I have this meter: http://hannainst.com/usa/prods2.cfm?id=030011&ProdCode=HI 713

 

[JasonandSarah]

You're reading .02 because all the cyano is feeding off of it.

I only believe in this to an extent. I mean it can't suck up all the phosphates in the water column and I've had this rock in my tank for some time without these issues. I didn't have half this much trouble when my phosphates were up to 0.21 and that's relatively high.

 

[JasonandSarah]

Phosphorus kit test for phosphates and organic phosphorus from my understanding. Witch is why it's supposed to be a more accurate test and tell the whole story per say.
I had the low range phosphate checker before this one and sold it because of inaccuracy.

 

[biscuit]

Just curious, and you may have checked this already, but when was the last time or how often do you change your media? (GFO and the Chemi-pure)

Slightly off topic question, how do you like the Chemi-pure Blue vs. Elite?

 

[JasonandSarah]

I change my gfo when my test results start to go up. Normally 4-5 weeks and carbon every 2 weeks.
Chemi pure blue is sill up in the air. I just started using it and would like to try it when I resolve these problems to give an honest opinion. Normally I have it as a back up in case I slack on changing gfo or carbon.

 

[reefstarter]

I juat went through the same thing, here's what I did and it worked . first change GFO even if you think it doesn't need it . do 2 water changes a week for 3 weeks . Get yourself some narrite and black turbo snails . and call me in the morning . And plus 1 to the person who said the cyno is eating all the phosphates . yes it and fast . Also if you see any red in your sand bed suck it out , thats cyno too

 

[JasonandSarah]

+1^ I've already been doing that.
I think I got out really good last night. I aggressively removed as much cyano as possible and vacuumed the top layer of my sand bed.
When I started adding the new water into the tank the cyano that was still left started filling with air and rising to the waters surface! Very awesome just started scooping it out. Fingers crossed, I'm hoping I got it.
But I got more water in the works and plan to do another water change tonight if I see to much in the tank. Also just changed out all of my Ro/Di filters and added a second sediment filter, even though I was still getting 0 tds coming out. Just to be sure!