Sump Cleaning and Cyano

[dustybrannum]

In my sump i have some CC that has adopted many pods, small starfish, and probably lots of life I cannot see. Also the walls of the sump are covered in what looks like a gelatin mounds( i.e. filter feeder, sponge?). Should I clean these off or leave them as they may help more than hurt? Also could this area not being cleaned cause my cyano problem. All my parameters are in range except pH is a little low (8.0) and the KH and alk are low 6.6 for KH and 2.2 for alk. Could these low parameters cause it? When I feed my fish eat like junk yard dogs and barely any food touches the bottom unless it is so small I cannot see it. I have a 30 gallon fuge that is packed full of caluerpa prolifera so that should help on any excess nutrients. I use RODI water with my TDS stating less that 5. My lamps will be 1 year old in September but they are run only 8 hours a day. I tried chemi clean before and it did not seem to do anything.
Any suggestions or thoughts would be wonderful. Thanks

 

[cmor1701d]

If your lamps are PC then you should replace them every 6 months. I've heard 7-9 months but I get algae outbreaks if I go past 6 mnths.

A tdsl of 5 after DI is high. It should be 0. What is your starting (faucet) tds? Time to change your DI cartridge.

 

[dustybrannum]

Starting tds is above 250. my lights are 400w mh's.

 

[seafan]

The truth is tds doesn't tell you anything except when the unit starts to fail. If your tds is five after replacing the resin/cartridges your safe until it starts to rise.

 

[dustybrannum]

This still leaves the underlying question of whether or not I should clean my sump walls.