Is this cyano?

[Mebbid]

this has popped up since I stuck my skimmer on my qt tank temporarily. I'm pretty sure it's cyano, but would just like a positive id.

 

[Sniperhank]

Looks like it to me. May I ask why skimmer on the QT? I wouldn't think it would slow down the need to do water changes on it.

 

[Mebbid]

Looks like it to me. May I ask why skimmer on the QT? I wouldn't think it would slow down the need to do water changes on it.

I get a reading of 0ppm trates and phosphates with or without it on my dt and I had a fairly sizable trigger in qt when I had to leave town for a few days. Figured it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Gregcoyote]

Cyano is influenced by spectrum of lighting, flow and available nutrients. Your tests show zero because cyano is good at binding those organics even before they show on a test. Even in my low nutrient SPS system I fight a bit of cyano in areas of low flow. Increase flow to the areas that accumulate the bacteria and remove as much by hand as possible.


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[Mebbid]

Cyano is influenced by spectrum of lighting, flow and available nutrients. Your tests show zero because cyano is good at binding those organics even before they show on a test. Even in my low nutrient SPS system I fight a bit of cyano in areas of low flow. Increase flow to the areas that accumulate the bacteria and remove as much by hand as possible.


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I figured as much was going on there. I added an extra powerhead just to put some more flow there. If it gets out of hand I'll reduce feedings, although I don't really want to because I'm trying to fatten my yellow tang up a bit. He was a little skinny when I got him.

 

[Gregcoyote]

You run GFO or another phosphate binder? The increased flow should help.


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[Mebbid]

You run GFO or another phosphate binder? The increased flow should help.


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No I do not, making a reactor is on my to do list though.

 

[Sniperhank]

Even with gfo, even I have a cyano spot from the flow issue right in the middle of my tank. The distilled water doesn't help either.


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[Mebbid]

The cyano has toned down a bit since I put the skimmer back on, so I'll consider that a success. It pulled out a huge amount of skimmate at first.

 

[Gregcoyote]

Take a wiff of that skim mate. First line of defense in filtration. I wouldn't run a system without one IMO.


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[mrvincent]

Add flow to this area.