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cyano


chimera

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I scraped off as much cyano from the rocks last night then mixed up enough RODI/ASW for a 20% water change. I let it aerate last night then changed water this morning (I lost about 5 litres on the floor when the tube coming from the eheim pump popped out the sump and sprayed around the room like a 14 year old boy with his first porno) I also tested the water coming out the nitratereductor (bacteria have been building up for a few weeks now) and Nitrate levels are about 1ppm compared to the main tank at 20ppm so that should help significantly too (relating to overall quality of water chemistry that is, not the cyano).

Anyways, I will monitor it over the next few days and let you know the results.

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Interesting cyanobacteria facts (from my plant bio course):

1. They were the original photosynthesisers and by altering the early atmosphere made the use of oxygen in respiration (breaking down food, not breathing). This allowed complex life to evolve. Without this change, we wouldn't be exterminating them from aquaria today. A bit ironic really.

2. Approximately 3.5 billion years ago, they used to form huge mounds called stromatolites up to 30 metres high in shallow seas. Compressed by the weight of the tower above, the bacteria on the bottom were compressed until they formed fossils.

3. They still contribute about 30% of the world's oxygen production, bubbling up to the surface of the sea.

P.S. Mass slaughter of these helpless organisms will incur the wrath of the New Zealand Bacterial Rights Group (NZBRG). Bet you're afraid now :D.

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Since posting last Tuesday, nitrates have dropped from 20ppm down to about 10ppm (colour appears to be little over 10, perhaps about 12-13) and phosphates have dropped from 0.20 to 0. Since then, I have done a 20% water change with ASW. The reduction in nitrates has also been helped by the nitratereductor working hard out (1 drop per second works out to something around 20 litres per day or 100 litres since last Tuesday) I am mixing up a batch of RODI water at the moment for another 20% ASW water change tomorrow night.

I have physically scraped off as much cyano from the rocks as possible. It is still coming back but not nearly as quickly as it was a week ago. I have the MH's now so will look at designing a hood for them to hang in today and see if this helps remove the cyano. Will have to design it (according to jetskitsteve) so the lights sit higher up for a few weeks then bring it down once the coral's have adjusted. I might put in 7.8K lights in (some spares that came with it) then change to 10K in a months time. Hopefully the better lighting will help reduce the amount of cyano too.

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I think the theory of those getting cyano when using NSW vs those who have not had it using ASW maybe true (or at least partially) IMO, using NSW means you are more likely to get cyano whereas using ASW you are less likely to get cyano. I say this from those who have posted previously regarding cyano and the type of SW they use. I also base this on having my tank and using ASW for several months, then switching to NSW and getting cyano within a month. Coincidence? Perhaps.

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sounds like a decent theory to me, and all the examples i can think of support it. although they have cyano problems in the US and nearly all of them use ASW?

im guessing the cyano comes in the water? or does the water promote its growth?

only way to find out i guess is find someone who went from NSW to ASW

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No need to test the theory. I already said that all people I know of have cyno and they all use NSW.

Nsw might have some type of bacteria in it or maybe it is the extra nutrients from run off.

Mind you, when I was using sea water I did not get cyno. Might be the dirty water at Takapuna beach.

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Well Im going back to ASW for "a little while" (reason is, I need about 600 litres of water when I get my new tank setup and I aint gonna wait for a RODI unit to produce that much water and spend $100+ on salt!!!) Until then though, I'll use ASW. I want to see if it clears up (which wont exactly say whether it is a definate or not) but it might suggest the cyano is less likely to appear with ASW than with NSW.

First time going back to ASW was 17th July (change about two weeks prior was NSW) I have done another 20% water change tonight with ASW and will continue at 20% each week until the new tank goes in (hopefully within 3 weeks)

Cant wait for the new tank, my fish will be so much happier with that much more water available to them!

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Mind you, when I was using sea water I did not get cyno.

Once again Reefs memory is slipping. I can remember a long time ago that reef had patches of Cyano in His tank!!!!

FYI. Cyano is present in all tanks, it is just out competed by other algae/bacteria so is not visable. It does not need an increase in nutients in the water (although it helps) as it can fix nitogen from water, substrate, rocks ect to form its own Nitrates. Hence it can be present in very clean tanks.

I beleive that is is very simplistic to say NSW=Cyano. I actually think that people who say that are Stupid and don't under stand basic reef chemistry

I do not have an out break of Cyano as reefs says. I have had over the many years in keeping marines using both NSW and Mixes. The last out break vanished when I moved tanks.

Anyway I am a believer and will stick to NSW

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I believe that is is very simplistic to say NSW=Cyano. I actually think that people who say that are Stupid and don't under stand basic reef chemistry

NSW =CYNO.

The main reason for this is due to the high level of dissolved organics that are usually present in most seawater collected because of pollution.

Using NSW from a clean source will most likely not cause cyno.

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Some minor specks of cyno in my tank is due to the tank load and overfeeding brine shrimp.

I am surprised you would even notice it, You sure you did not see coralline algae.??

Mine is nothing like yours which is out of control, i can still have a substrate in my tank.

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