Cyano Survey

[Dan_P]

Cyano Survey

Would you mind sharing four bits of information about your aquarium:

1-current nitrate level in ppm,
2-current phosphate level in ppm,
3-age of your aquarium,
4-current cyanobacteria growth situation (none, strong growth, light growth)?

If you have more than one system, share the data for all of them if you wish, just let me know if they are separate or connected through a common sump.

You aren't wasting your time by answering the survey. Whether we have a high (100) or low (25) participation rate, we should have some interesting results. I will collate, analyze, and post the results for our discussion.

A word on the data and definitions. Please, only submit measured values for nitrate and phosphate levels. With regard to cyanobacteria growth definitions, "none" would mean no growth observed; "strong growth" means vigorous or rapid growth, it could be a large or small patch at this time but you definitely feel it is a potential threat; "light growth" would mean there are some areas but growth is slow and non-threatening at this time.

If you don't measure nitrate and phosphate levels, submit your cyanobacteria growth and tank age anyway.

The idea behind the survey is to crowd source a study on red slime algae (cyanobacteria) growth. By tapping into our forum's big data, I believe we can gain some interesting information about cyanobacteria growth in our aquariums. I also think that we can have some fun with the numbers.

With a good level of participation we can have a look at the relationship between cyanobacteria growth and: 1) levels of nitrate and phosphate, 2) the ratio of nitrate to phosphate, 3) age of the aquarium, and 4) age of the aquarium and nitrate and phosphate levels. High participation level will be important to be able to decently address question 4.

I hope this interests you and thanks.

Dan

 

[jackson6745]

1) 20ppm Nitrate (salifert)
2) .04 Phosphate (Hanna low range)
3) 9 months
4) none

 

[samksy]

1) i don't test
2) i don't test
3) 1.5 months
4) light growth - just started to appear

 

[SteveZ15]

1.2Ppm
2.0
3.1 Yr 7Months
4. Green CyanO Having Trouble Getting Rid Of

 

[lnevo]

I think you're too smart for MR

Here's my results:

1) 14ppm
2) 0ppm
3) 2yrs 30days
4) some cyano, very little growth

I went through a bought maybe 6 months back. I was basting it off where I could. It would move around. Some here, blast it away, then over here...etc. now there's still some bits here and there but its no longer overtaking anything. I feed heavy once a day. Sometimes every other.

 

[tomtoothdoc]

1. 16-20 ppm (pinpoint nitrate monitor)
2. .05-.09 (hanna)
3. 5-6 yrs.(total time....had a major crash 2-3 yrs ago. now no longer running....broke it down a couple of weeks ago)
4. light to moderate cyano depending on the water change schedule(weekly none to light/ 2-3 weeks light/ 3-4 weeks light to moderate)

 

[Paul B]

1-current nitrate level in ppm,
2-current phosphate level in ppm,
3-age of your aquarium,
4-current cyanobacteria growth situation (none, strong growth, light growth)?

1 40 ppm
2 .25 LFS checked it, I have no test kits
3 43 years. Give or take a few hours
4 none

 

[Moneymaks24]

35ppm nitrate
0 phosphate ( means nothing as test kits are useless)
1.5 years
No cyano. Had it once in the beginning hit it w ChemiClean an never saw it again.

 

[liverock]

1) 5ppm nitrate (salifert)
2) 0.2 phosphate (hanna tester)
3) 1 1/2 year
4) light to moderate, only on 2 small rocks almost always.

 

[TUSI]

1] 2 ppm [red sea tester]
2] 0.5 phosphate [hanna tester]
3] 8 yrs
4] none

 

[vio]

1 Nitrate ......0
2] 0 . 00 to 0.07 , try to have some PO4 , the MOST dif. issue in my opinion, very hard to balance, [hanna tester]
3] 6 months ( new system , 220 Gal.)
4] i got some Cyno, i think is normal for new tanks, gone, i increase water flow.

Huge chance to got Cyno, when start dosing Carbon (Sugar, Vodka, Vinegar, Biopeletts , etc.) the best way , start , very slow, 3 hour ON 3 hour OFF, 1/2 or follow the chart.

Low water flow and high nutrition also help Cyno. to grow.

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

1) don't test
2) don't test
3) 3 years old.
4) zero cyano growth.

 

[dadat1968]

1) i dont test
2) i dont test
3) 3 months
4) strong growth of cyano. But, after dosing vodka .01 ml a day its clearing up.. Will stop after changing my media to chemi pure, purigen and filter floss..

Please also advise if someone knows... If ever i run both chemi pure and purigen, should i lower my light? I know the water will be clear and my corals will get more light.

Please advise. Thanks

 

[JoeJawz]

1. 20 ppm
2. 5 ppm
3. 2 Years ( Approx)
4. None

 

[Montaquelaveist]

1. NO3 - 0ppm (salifert and red sea)
2. PO4 - 0.08ppm (Hanna)
3. Approx 1 1/2 ( tank upgrade )
4. None now cleared it out with chemi clean but prior to that all over entire tank
5. Light is on location cycle based on weather from that area

 

[Paolissimo]

1-current nitrate level in ppm,
2-current phosphate level in ppm,
3-age of your aquarium,
4-current cyanobacteria growth situation (none, strong growth, light growth)?

1 -0.3 nitrate (salifert)
2 - 0.02 (Hanna)
3- approximately 2 years.
4 - I see a little bit where I have little water movement.

 

[jackson6745]

I think salinity should be listed as a variable as well.

 

[oh207]

1-current nitrate level: I don't know (last tested 9 months ago)
2-current phosphate level in ppm: I don't know (last tested 9 months ago)
3-16 months old
4-current cyanobacteria growth situation: 1st and only bloom of cyano 4 months ago. Took over most of the sand and LR. I stopped bi-weekly water change (20%), started manual removal, and just let the tank sit. I read that water changes fuel its growth (I don't know if this is true). I have always run a mix of Carbon+GFO in a single BRS reactor and continued to run the same mix (media change every 3 weeks). Now instead of doing a 20% water change every 2 weeks, I do 20% every 3 weeks when I change reactor media. Cyano has disappeared.

 

[Nandez13]

I have two tanks, 75G & 15G and my cyano experience was almost identical:

1- Nitrate: 10-15ppm
2- Phosphate: I took API readings in my first tank but know better now than to trust them. Never used a Hannah meter
3- Saw cyano after about 2.5-3 months in both tanks; took about 5-6 weeks for it to fully go away. I didn't add any chemicals like some of the previous posts, just kept manually removing it and doing weekly water changes.
4- I haven't seen it again in my established tank and it's just about wrapping up in my newer tank. Both experiences were the same though. Irritating growth to the point I though it would never go away no matter how much I removed it. Eventually it began to subside. It reduced in growth rate and was secluded to certain parts of the tank and then one day, it was gone..

 

[ZANYMASTER]

Don't conduct any test since I went to fowlr.But have slight issue with cyano.Running no sump with LEDs . Running pellets,Doing smaller water changes but still seeing it.Installing a UV to see if it helps.