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180g Tank Build - 11 mos. and counting.

ARGG! Cyano just won't go away...

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7 Comments
by
blennyman
, 09-11-2012 at 06:07 PM (7848 Views)
I installed a SMR around January/February this year and had heard reports that it may trigger a cyano bloom that would eventually subside. In my case, that worked out to be true. I gave it a little encouragement with a popular product called Chemi-clean. But then it came back a month later. Slowly, but steadily. I treated again and increased the flow in my SMR to make sure I wasn't getting any dead spots in the reactor. I'm currently in process of my fourth treatment this year - and as a guy who hates putting supplements in his tank, I'm getting a little bit peeved. I'm about ready to disconnect the SMR, wait for results and potentially chalk up $150 in media & reactor to a terrible investment. For what it's worth, I wouldn't say algae growth has slowed to the point where I actually noticed. I expected all of the media to be consumed by now, but it hasn't really changed size much. Any input? I'm quite disappointed at this point, but maybe it's something else in the system causing the trouble. For instance, I've read that sometimes SMRs don't react properly if you have an aggressively tuned calcium reactor.

I need to post some pics soon - the corals have grown a ton while I was away this summer!

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Tags: smr cyano
Categories
‎ Plumbing , ‎ Questions - Need some input , ‎ Equipment

Comments

  1. blennyman's Avatar
    Just noticed I forgot to say the mystery media is BIOPELLETS!
  2. blakew's Avatar
    Couple things I've read about using bio pellets: (1) need to help the pellets along by dosing bacteria (Prodibio, KZ Zeobak, MicroBacter 7, etc), (2) need to direct effluent from reactor directly into skimmer inlet, (3) even though many of the manufacturers claim differently, you can overdose carbon with a biopellet reactor, only add the suggested amount per gallon for your system and adjust the flow so media is tumbling at the rate suggested for that specific media (this seems to differ depending on media manufacturer).

    Don't know if any of these potentially are contributing to the problems in your tank, but something to take a look into.

    Blakew
  3. Midnight's Avatar
    I have also read that dosing MB7 will encourage the correct bacteria to grow if you are have a cyano issue. I have not had this problem myself. I have also had my effluent directed straight to the skimmer though.
  4. Midnight's Avatar
    Any luck with the Cyano?
  5. blennyman's Avatar
    Well, yes so far. I treated with Chemi-clean twice and did the requisite water changes. I'm going to try to keep up a more regular water change regimen over the next couple of months and see how that affects the situation. If it doesn't do anything, I'll either try disconnecting the biopellet SMR or doing some bacteria dosing. My effluent goes into the sump because my system isn't sophisticated enough to allow for direct pump into the skimmer. That may be my next mod when I get to working on exchanging my GenX for the new reeflo in the basement. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) fishing and camping has distracted me from tank adventures recently. Cold weather is on its way though...
  6. blennyman's Avatar
    So far so good with cyano... I double treated the last outbreak and have been more religious about water changes. Didn't end up removing my biopellet setup. Keeping my fingers crossed. Flora is still growing quite fast...
  7. blennyman's Avatar
    I found the first hints of cyano algae again today It's too bad. I've been keeping up with pretty good water changes over the past couple of months - but I noticed today at a couple points of intersection between corals where some chemical warfare had heated up a bit, cyano now coats the junction. I'm going to be patient with this one - maybe it's feeding off the dead coral and will subside. If not, I'm going to turn off the bio reactor and see what happens.