Cyano or Dino

[stingythingy45]

Agree,that only cycno there.
How old is this tank?It's not really all that uncommon to have a large cyano bloom about 2-4 weeks into a new set up.

 

[The River Reef]

LR is decent amount... About 60lbs.
I am doing well with the corals and canister. I want to get rid of it now I know more, but the $220 I spent has me trying everything to justify using it. Also at one point it was the only flow I had. I was considering pulling everything out and turning it into a reactor for media. Turn the flow down and keep carbon and GFO in it only. But have read people think this is bad idea.
I bought this setup blind and have been trying to replace everything piece by piece. I totally let Petco tell me what I needed and here I am... I am getting a new tank on wed from a member. A 54 corner that I will drill and sump. So I want to keep this tank clean, learn my mistakes and do it right this time. I will slowly swap the inhabitants from the existing tank into the new one.

Back on track... What can I do differently on this new setup to help avoid this algae issue? A reactor, more flow,I guess?

 

[The River Reef]

my tank is about 4-5 months old... and for the coral question, here is a fts i took today. Other than the algae everything looks well:

 

[The River Reef]

I am also starting to question the water that I am buying for .50 a gallon from a LFS. Maybe it isn't all that pure? I am purchasing a 5 stage RODI tomorrow in the bulk reef group I recently organized. So that will fix that question.

 

[banshee1]

Syphon as much of it as you can out on your next wc and start rinsing your food and you will see it start to dissapear.also add a little more flow.I would cut friend in half at the least

 

[afsportsguy000]

I am also starting to question the water that I am buying for .50 a gallon from a LFS. Maybe it isn't all that pure? I am purchasing a 5 stage RODI tomorrow in the bulk reef group I recently organized. So that will fix that question.

Thanks for the tank shot! I am glad a canister will work and I can be successful with it. The RBTA seems to out a little bit more? I could be wrong....The RODI unit is awesome I just bought it myself a couple of weeks ago and I have been getting about 4-5 gallons an hour so over the 75 it said it does. at a pressure of 60

 

[The River Reef]

Canisters will work, you have to clean them well and often. But they do a good job and allow many options for media... I will be slowly removing mine from my system or just using it as a glorified close loop reactor. I just don't want to clean it out every 4 days or so and I was replacing the filter pads about every 3 weeks, gets pricey. Make sure you use the tank or RODI water to wash out any of your media. It has bio life and you don't want to use tap water on it. Good luck!

 

[The River Reef]

I increased the flow, run the lights 2 hours less, feed every other day pellet food for now, and scooped out as much of the stuff as I could with a net. It has been a few days and I have to say it seems to be getting better. A water change is up next...

 

[snowmaker]

Over the past 6 or 7 years, in various set-ups, I have used a product for this (maybe 3 or 4 different instances) that is amazing. It's called "Boyd Chemiclean Red Slime Cyano Bacteria Remover"
If used exactly as instructed you will have no evidence of cyano within 48 hrs. and IME nothing else in the tank is affected.
The last time I used it I had a persistent cyano problem for about 6 mos and it just kept getting worse. This product nicked it in 48 hrs and all livestock was fine until I took the system down a couple years later.

 

[The River Reef]

I just ordered that stuff and I Will give it a try. Itis getting bad again... I really want to figure out why? What should I look into next?

 

[The River Reef]

Something I noticed the last time I just tried to blow the stuff off my rocks was how much crap is on my rock work. There is little piles of detritus all over the rocks. I noticed the last 2 nitrate tests are starting to climb. Very low still about 5ppm but still rising none the less. Could this be the reason? How should I be cleaning that rock? I try with my siphon but it doesn't work.

 

[Privateer]

If you have Cyano, and it looks like you do, they are consuming some nitrate, which would give you an artificially low reading.
If you are using a gravel siphon, it will not provide enough suction to clean the crevices on the rocks, I just used 1/2" ID hose and stuck the end in all the little crevices I could reach as the water siphoned. I would end up with a bunch of crap in the bucket.
As an aside, I have the same tank and am also experiencing a cyano outbreak. My setup is about 3 months old and I think I've been feeding my 2 clowns too much, even though they are just on flake.