Will Skimmer Help Cyano

[badfish]

A buddy of mine has a 35 gallon hex, he has two MJ-900's a biowheel rated for a 20 gallon tank, two 100 watt heaters, 40lbs of liverock, with a 4 inch sand bottom. He uses RO water and instant Ocean salt. He said he has a reddish alage on his sand and on the glass, and some bright green spots. Is this Cyano, and i told him that a skimmer like a BakPak2 would help clean it up but he doesnt beleive me. Will a skimmer clean up CYANO? Any other recommendations?

TIA

- Jeff

[mjvincent]

Cyano is slimy. I have some reddish algae (with green) under my sand on the glass too but it isn't cyano. Give us a better description of the algae...

[malkore]

Cyano is usually red, reddish brown, sometimes so dark it looks black.

Doesn't sound like cyano. I'd test phosphates anyway, as they fuel cyano growth.

If it was cyano, a skimmer could help, as it will remove some of the organics which are breaking down into phosphates.

[ogden10]

I have the best stuff in the world for the reddish black algae. I put in one scoop, and literally the stuff was gone overnight. The only thing is I can not remember the name of it. I will look when I go home and let you know if you are interested.