why does cyano only forming on the sand?

[bill109]

so an easy question hopefully..
why does cyano bacteria only form on the sand bed of my tank? the rocks all all fine, no cyano on the rocks.
i understand cyano bacteria will spread with warmer temps as any bacteria. i also understand it will form due to an excess of nutrients within your system..
i run a large remora C skimmer on my 90 gallon which is about 3 years old. every day cyano bacteria come back on the sand in certain spots.
could my sand bed have gone bad? i think that i have read somewhere that this is a possibility?
i make my own RO/DI water and my TDS meter reads its all clear at about.. .01 total dissolved solids. i have a return line from my sump, and one HK4. this seems to get okay flow around the tank. i have also tried to add a HK 3 on the opposoites side of the tank. flow was also not the problem.. well from my point perspective any how..
any ideas here?
my stock list includes..
yellow Tang
TOmani Tang
6 line
BLue damsel.
a few hermits for clean up, a complete mixed reef. with to many corals to list. i do not spot feed my corals to much. maybe once every 2 weeks ish al while feeding my tank one WHOLE frozen cube of marine fusion every other day to every 3 days.. algae clips every other day.
its frustrating.. any help?
thanks a lot to all who actually read this whole thread..
i will add a pic soon.. my bulbs are about 1-2 MONTHS shy of 1 YEAR. (8x 54W t-5's)
-bill

 

[meowzer]

Do you have any flow on the sand??? Plus what is settling on the sand (junk)...What type of sand cleaners do you have?

 

[pezenfuego]

It is probably only forming on the sand only because the flow is too good for it to form anywhere else. Increasing flow isn't a bad idea but you also need to deal with the problem at hand and that is excess nutrients. IMO, you don't appear to be feeding too much and it doesn't sound like your problem is too severe as of right now. Increasing water changes would probably do the trick.
T5 bulbs probably should be replaced soon, but that can't be considered the source of the problem.

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3241944
Do you have any flow on the sand??? Plus what is settling on the sand (junk)...What type of sand cleaners do you have?
a little bit. on the far end of the tank (in comparison to the HK4) i have a large birdsnest coral. it seems to be doing okay there. so there is some flow.. but not a whole lot. sand bed is crowded with frags so i try to minimize the sand bed cleaners and alot of flow. pics to come in a couple of minutes.

 

[bill109]

FTS

right side, under the HK4

from side view, looking across the front glass

Left side.. couple pics.

and the one thing i love about my tank.. the zoa rack.

 

[btldreef]

Definitely an issue of not enough flow on the bottom of the tank.

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3241974
Definitely an issue of not enough flow on the bottom of the tank.
how do i get even flow across the bottom across 4 ft?
i dont want to make everything close up and look terrible because i am trying to fix a problem. i never had this problem 2 months ago. i have not changed anything but add more corals.. on the sand bed as well. is there a shot that the corals could be blocking flow?
over the summer months i added almost all the frags on the frag tray on the left side and on the bed..

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by bill109
http:///forum/post/3241975
how do i get even flow across the bottom across 4 ft?
i dont want to make everything close up and look terrible because i am trying to fix a problem. i never had this problem 2 months ago. i have not changed anything but add more corals.. on the sand bed as well. is there a shot that the corals could be blocking flow?
over the summer months i added almost all the frags on the frag tray on the left side and on the bed..
I definitely think that all the frags are breaking up the flow. There are a million different methods for increasing flow. I'd suggest another power head of LOWER capacity than your main one and work on a position that works best for you and your corals.

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3241977
I definitely think that all the frags are breaking up the flow. There are a million different methods for increasing flow. I'd suggest another power head of LOWER capacity than your main one and work on a position that works best for you and your corals.
how does 2 feet of wire to the powerhead going down the bottom of the tank fair in SW overtime?
ill have to try a HK 2.. i had a HK 3 for a weekish on the opposite side and it didnt clear up the sand bed. so i gave up on that, did a 15 gal WC and didnt see ANY improvement.
dont mean to sound like i know nothing here, just tyring to get as many answers as possible.

-bill

 

[btldreef]

The main issue is flow.
You also are due for your bulbs to be replaced, but I still think flow is the main concern.
As I'm reading your CUC, it seems that you have no snails? I would definitely get some Nassarius in there. These guys will stir the sand bed up a little and that should lessen the cyano.
I had an outbreak of cyano when I first started up the 155 a few months ago. Added more sand sifters, siphoned out what I could and increased flow worked well. I also cut back on the food I fed the fish by about 1/3 for 2 weeks.
The powerheads I run now are expensive but, they create flow at all levels of the tank and that worked well.
I wouldn't necessarily have 2ft of electrical cord running through my tank for a power head, just try aiming the power head lower in the tank. I have a wireless PH, so can't really speak too much for the whole electrical aspect.

 

[mony97]

I had a similar problem and it kept getting worse, I tried feeding less, lowering the amount of time the lights were on and increasing flow. I then read that when lights age the spectrum of light shifts in the red direction which is the preferred light by this bacteria so I killed the lights for 3 full days now and no more cyano, I will be replacing the bulbs asap and hope this will put an end to the issue. The only problem is all your corals might not like the 3 day ban of lights, so IMO try replacing the bulbs and see how that goes.
Just my .02

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3241993
The main issue is flow.
You also are due for your bulbs to be replaced, but I still think flow is the main concern.
As I'm reading your CUC, it seems that you have no snails? I would definitely get some Nassarius in there. These guys will stir the sand bed up a little and that should lessen the cyano.
I had an outbreak of cyano when I first started up the 155 a few months ago. Added more sand sifters, siphoned out what I could and increased flow worked well. I also cut back on the food I fed the fish by about 1/3 for 2 weeks.
The powerheads I run now are expensive but, they create flow at all levels of the tank and that worked well.
I wouldn't necessarily have 2ft of electrical cord running through my tank for a power head, just try aiming the power head lower in the tank. I have a wireless PH, so can't really speak too much for the whole electrical aspect.

ooohhhh... vortech..

lucky lol
back to topic, i dont have snails, your right. they always seem to fall off the glass, and die. i had about 6 of them and they all just disappeared. my hermits seem to like to kill one another as well.

did i mention i have a sand sifting star?
ill have to try a smaller PH. maybe a HK2.. i have almost one of every HK for some reason

. ill give it a shot

 

[rotanisamix]

Wow thats seems really interesting. Thanks for sharing ...

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by bill109
http:///forum/post/3242002
ooohhhh... vortech..

lucky lol
back to topic, i dont have snails, your right. they always seem to fall off the glass, and die. i had about 6 of them and they all just disappeared. my hermits seem to like to kill one another as well.

did i mention i have a sand sifting star?
ill have to try a smaller PH. maybe a HK2.. i have almost one of every HK for some reason

. ill give it a shot
LOL, yes, that would be it! LOVE IT! Don't be too jealous, the credit card paid for it, which means, I haven't paid for it YET

Anyways, Nassarius spend almost all their time under the sand so they're far less likely to be hunted down by the evil killer hermits. Mine rarely go on my glass either.
I don't think your sand sifting star is really going to make that much of a difference since most of your sand is covered. They're great and sifters though, I have two.

Start with the PHs and see where that gets you. Also, if you can siphon some of it out, that will jump start the process of getting rid of it.

 

[rlablan]

Seems strange but I have had this work for me and few people that I have talked to (friends and fellow reefers)...
Try getting a hand held or a Hang on Side UV sterilizer. I popped that sucker in on really low flow rate and it did the trick... That combined with chemi clean. But the sterilizer is great to have on hand for a QT anyway... I got a cheapo one from petsmart and I ran it on a 200 gallon, in my sump, never had an issue with cyano in that tank EVER again. I have heard very many stories like that.... I don't know the science, but it works.

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3242010
Seems strange but I have had this work for me and few people that I have talked to (friends and fellow reefers)...
Try getting a hand held or a Hang on Side UV sterilizer. I popped that sucker in on really low flow rate and it did the trick... That combined with chemi clean. But the sterilizer is great to have on hand for a QT anyway... I got a cheapo one from petsmart and I ran it on a 200 gallon, in my sump, never had an issue with cyano in that tank EVER again. I have heard very many stories like that.... I don't know the science, but it works.
i have thought about this numerous times.. never thought to actually tried it.. glad to know im not the 1st one!

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3242006
LOL, yes, that would be it! LOVE IT! Don't be too jealous, the credit card paid for it, which means, I haven't paid for it YET

Anyways, Nassarius spend almost all their time under the sand so they're far less likely to be hunted down by the evil killer hermits. Mine rarely go on my glass either.
I don't think your sand sifting star is really going to make that much of a difference since most of your sand is covered. They're great and sifters though, I have two.

Start with the PHs and see where that gets you. Also, if you can siphon some of it out, that will jump start the process of getting rid of it.
haha, yes. very nice equipment but not cheap at all. i have thought about buying one for a long time but the 200-300 $ price tag always seems to keep my away..

i usually pick out all the cyano. sadly, i do this about every week almost 2x a week.
my next thought it this.. i have noticed that when my lights are off the cyano completely dissappears.. and early in the morning when the lights come on, no cyano. it seems to develop whiel lights are on. i havent replaced bulbs in awhile. i have some that could be a year old and some that are 2 months old. to bad i never marked them..

this leads me to think that i should just replace all my bulbs within the month.. luckily financial aid for school will cover that..

 

[rlablan]

lol Yeah I am thinking it is definitely a bulb thing then. Also, is your tank by any windows or skylights? I have a theory... If it is...

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3242172
lol Yeah I am thinking it is definitely a bulb thing then. Also, is your tank by any windows or skylights? I have a theory... If it is...
near yes, not geting direct sunlight though.. there are pretty good curtains.

 

[rlablan]

Well I ask because...
I was having blotchy brown stuff on my sand in my Living room tank and I couldn't figure out why...
Then I woke up one morning at an ungodly hour of like 6am and saw the sun rise. Though my tank wasn't getting any light from this window during the day, the sunrise fell at an angle (in winter only) were there was sunlight on the side wall of the tank. It only fell right across the front on my tank, only on the sand for about 3 hours... by the time I would wake up normally, it was gone.
Now I cover my tank with an old bed sheet before I go to bed and voila! It is fixed... My sand is nice and white and I have had no further issues.
Just thought Id throw that in there for you to think about. Maybe just try covering it any night with a towel or something... and see what happens after about 1 week?