Lighting Cyano?

rsreefs

rsreefs

New Member
Hello to start off let me say that i have a 29 gallon segrass/lagoon reef tank. It is a rectangle tank. i am having a problem with my red slime (cyano) algae. I am currently using chemiclean, but i want to get to the problem to solve this once and for all! I tried adding more flow, i have phosphate removal chips in my filter, i also use a protien skimmer, i have 3 fish (a clown and 2 fire dartfish), i do monthly water changes, i also tried using distilled water but that became too pricey and it didnt help, so i think the problem is my lighting. I am using 3 100 watt compact flourescant 6500 K DAYLIGHT bulbs (pictured below). I use them for growing all of my plants and they work great for the corals and the seagrasses! im just worried they may be the wrong spectrum for the cyano or something? COuld my lights be the problem? or does anyone know what could be???

 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
cyano can get its nitrogen from nitrogen gas vrs nitrates for the seagrasses.
If you nitrates are very low (unmeasureable) then it is possible the system is nitrates starved and cyano has stepped up by using the nitrogen gas.
Try killing your lights for a few days to kill off the cyano. Then adjust light duration so the grasses grow but cyano does not come back.
the idea is to return nitrates to the system as the cyano dies off.
 
rsreefs

rsreefs

New Member
so your saying i want to have more nitrates? and wont turnig off the lights for a few days harm the seagrasses or the corals?
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
A few days should not hurt the corals or the sea grasses. Plus the 6 " sand bed is probably consuming the nitrates through anoxic/anaerobic means. Which to me is another indicator the sea grasses could be nitrate starved.
my .02
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
when u do water change, u need to siphon out the cyano. if u dont, the nutrients stay in the tank. keep up with water change with ro water and add flow.
 
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