GFO or Bio Pellets - cyano
 

I am thinking of buying a GFO Reactor. I've been trying to read up on them, benefits etc., as well as bio pellets, but find more information regarding various reactors, rather than the function of them. The reason I am looking at this, is I've got a good outbreak of cyano and its getting worse, not better. I've got 2 mp40's set on reef crest - both at 100%, and a RO 5000 skimmer, 180 gl tank. Livestock is 7 fish total - 2 clowns, 2 wrasses, 1 cardinal, 1 royal gramma and 1 hippo tang. Mix of LPS, couple of SPS and softies, snails, hermits and shrimp and sand sifting starfish, approx 140lbs of lr. Fish are fed every second day, the only place that is clear of cyano at the moment is the front centre of the tank.

Running radions at 60%, sunrise at 10 am, sunset at 11 pm, peak intensity at 4 pm.

I have photos of the tank if it will help, just haven't loaded them to photobucket yet.

Any suggestions?

I would reduce your light a bit until the Cyano goes away, then slowly bring it back up.

Oh, and you probably already know to baste it off the rocks... but just in case.

That's it?? I knew about the lights, just need the bf's laptop to change. Will baste the rocks, and remove what I can.

Is this all I need to do? Seems too simple....:lol:

Try MB7. It adds beneficial bacteria that will out compete cyano.

It's a simple organism :mrgreen: It needs light and nutrients (not much) to survive.

Adding GFO would also be a good idea. Having low or no phosphates in your tank will definitely help.

Hi,

Limiting phosphate will definitely slow down the cyano. The cheapest and easiest method to get rid of Phosphate is with Foz Down. Here is a link to the product website.

http://www.oceanfreshaquarium.com/foz-down/

I use the Foz Down in my SPS culture system to control phosphate and I use VSV dosing for the nitrates.

Cheers,
Tim

I have rowaphos (sp) in a sock placed at the first baffle in the sump. I don't have filter socks/holder but was told this would work regardless. I'm concerned I don't have enough flow.

I will check out the products noted and see if I can turn this around. I took this pic last night, all issues are in the front on both sides of the tank, flow seems to blow the sand where the bare spot is.... thanks for the help!!

http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...3/DSC_0024.jpg

we use biopellets in our SPS LPS tanks.

when we stop the pellets for a day cyano takes over

So which is the better option? I ran carbon and rowaphos in my 55 all the time in the canister filter and had no issues. I've increased the flow from the return pump, changed the setting on the pumps, basted off the rocks. Will add carbon tonight....water change tomorrow

are you removing what you can manually?? if you suck out as much as you can, shut your lights down for a couple of days, do a hefty water change and increase flow it should dissapear in no time;)

but once you do this you need to continue to starve the bacteria by cutting off its foodsources:)

Well my turkey baster sucks, I tried to get it out but it would just drop it back in the water, so I stopped. I dont think I'm over feeding as the feeding routine hasn't changed, flow maybe?

another thing you can do is brush it off and net some of it out:)

cyano can be caused from alot of different things in my small tank snail spawning would do it for me. if something dies and isnt found it could do it too.


a blackout is another option to look at after a few days without anylight would help alot:)

if the net is too big or the holes to large aim all yor powerheads towards your overflow and get it down the overflow.if you dont have a filter sock a pantyhose will filter it all out:)


when i had outbreaks in my zoa tank i would vacumn it out and run it through pantyhose over a bucket to get my water back lol:P worked great:)

but if you keep removing what you can when ever you can and keep starving your bound to win:)

i think you have enough flow for your tank more flow wont hurt but your not lacking either:)


gfo is great i run it all the time i would never run a tank without it now its amazing what it does b y its self alone.

rowaphos to my knowlege is a type of gfo, but it works better in a reactor in a tank as large as a 180g you need to run it through a reactor.


a cheap reactor is very easy to build google "gatorade reactor" i built one and it worked great on a small tank.reactors are cheap though you could get one for $30-50

Great suggestions, will try the net. A blackout isn't an option as we are leaving this weekend for a week, tank sitter won't deal with anything except top ups and feeding. Have cut the lights back.

I've been looking at a BRS reactor, not a diy kinda girl as much as I try....:redface: I think part of the cyano is new tank, the 55 did the same thing, but not as soon. I've got the afternoon off tomorrow, will pull out as much as I can. Thanks for the help!

Cyano update
 

Its all gone!! Woot! I just basted off my rocks and there's nothing. I added 3 types of macro algae, brs dual reactor running carbon and gfo, filter sock and an orange diamond goby. I manually removed what I could every couple of days. Will post updated pics when lights come on!

:bananahuge: