Help! Is this Cyano?

[bcampbe1]

Is this cyano?

Our 142g mixed reef has been setup for several months (moved from previous established tank). Have been experiencing browning on the sand. Thought it was cyano, so did a Chemiclean treatment. Seems it didn't have an effect. Have also noticed it on the rocks. There are 2 diamond gobies and a robust CUC.

Current parameters:
Alk 8.5
SG 1.025
Temp 78
NO3 15-20
PO4 0.07
Ca 440
Mg 1230
Par 250-350
Photo period 10hrs

 

[Dan_P]

Is this cyano?

Our 142g mixed reef has been setup for several months (moved from previous established tank). Have been experiencing browning on the sand. Thought it was cyano, so did a Chemiclean treatment. Seems it didn't have an effect. Have also noticed it on the rocks. There are 2 diamond gobies and a robust CUC.

Current parameters:
Alk 8.5
SG 1.025
Temp 78
NO3 15-20
PO4 0.07
Ca 440
Mg 1230
Par 250-350
Photo period 10hrs

Hard to say. Photo does not seem to be in focus.

 

[bcampbe1]

This is the best photo I can capture.

 

[Dan_P]

This is the best photo I can capture.

This doesn’t appear to be cyanobacteria, though I am only 50% confident about that. With 20% confidence, I suggest Chrysophytes.

 

[bcampbe1]

If so, how to treat?

 

[PharmrJohn]

This doesn’t appear to be cyanobacteria, though I am only 50% confident about that. With 20% confidence, I suggest Chrysophytes.

Without you stating the name I NEVER would have remembered. But Chrysophytes was my best guess. I don't think it's Cyano.

 

[GSPClown94]

This doesn’t appear to be cyanobacteria, though I am only 50% confident about that. With 20% confidence, I suggest Chrysophytes.

I agree it doesn’t look like cyanobacteria, it does look more like chrysophytes or diatoms but also hard to tell without magnification.

If so, how to treat?

I would just let it be and let your clean up crew handle it. This stuff seems to grow in abundance at first then becomes less and less visible as the tank matures.

 

[bcampbe1]

I agree it doesn’t look like cyanobacteria, it does look more like chrysophytes or diatoms but also hard to tell without magnification.

I would just let it be and let your clean up crew handle it. This stuff seems to grow in abundance at first then becomes less and less visible as the tank matures.

Which inverts are recommended (I do have several wrasses).

 

[Sleeping Giant]

do you vacuum the sanded?

 

[bcampbe1]

do you vacuum the sanded?

It's been a couple months.

 

[GSPClown94]

Which inverts are recommended (I do have several wrasses).

What do you currently have already?

 

[Sleeping Giant]

It's been a couple months.

might want to give it a shot

 

[bcampbe1]

What do you currently have already?

Conch, nassarius snails, turbo snails, tuxedo urchins, astrea snails.

 

[Paul B]

If so, how to treat?

No reason to treat but IMO using Chemiclean was a mistake.
Cyano and algae are normal things on any healthy reef. My tank is over 50 years old and I still have quite a bit of it. I like it as long as it doesn't get to proportions where it covers corals. But even then, I would not use a chemical as it is counterproductive and may, in time make the problem worse.

 

[bcampbe1]

No reason to treat but IMO using Chemiclean was a mistake.
Cyano and algae are normal things on any healthy reef. My tank is over 50 years old and I still have quite a bit of it. I like it as long as it doesn't get to proportions where it covers corals. But even then, I would not use a chemical as it is counterproductive and may, in time make the problem worse.

Thanks for the info Paul B. Whatever it is(?), it's is on the tips of my acro frags. It blows off with a Turkey baster but comes right back over night. I just visited my LFS. It was recommended that I increase CUC and replace my UV buld (which I am currently waiting delivery). I added turbos and another urchin. Also, I'm currently using any of the white channel of my LEDs. What other CUC would you recommend?

 

[bcampbe1]

Meant to say "no using" white channel.

 

[Uncle99]

Several months maturity is generally not enough time to keep pest type stuff from trying to outcompete the good guys, keep the parameters stable and remove what you can until good algae’s and bacteria over takes and keeps rocks clean and sand white.

 

[Paul B]

There is not much else you can do. These annoyances will pop up normally in a newer tank, and my very old tank and I take it in stride and realize it is a normal part of the ocean and no chemicals should be used.

ChemiClean is a type of antibiotic (I think) that will just screw up the biome of your tank probably making everything worse.

Just blow it off your corals and it will grow some place else until it gets bored and eventually leaves like all the pests do.

Think of it as one of the enjoyable aspects of this hobby and nothing to be to be concerned with.

 

[bcampbe1]

There is not much else you can do. These annoyances will pop up normally in a newer tank, and my very old tank and I take it in stride and realize it is a normal part of the ocean and no chemicals should be used.

ChemiClean is a type of antibiotic (I think) that will just screw up the biome of your tank probably making everything worse.

Just blow it off your corals and it will grow some place else until it gets bored and eventually leaves like all the pests do.

Think of it as one of the enjoyable aspects of this hobby and nothing to be to be concerned with.

Thanks again, your comments are encouraging! I've also read through your linked book. Great read!

How much oil soaked pellet do you place in feeder at a time? Also, do you use any white LED channels (%, duration)?

 

[Paul B]

If I were to feed oil soaked pellets, which I don't need to do any longer because I have live worms. It's enough to get one pellet into a fish so it depends on how many fish you have and if they will eat it.

But live worms are the best for health.