[GoinSalt]

Hello all,

First post in a while. Last time, I had a cyno problem. Still there, been there for months now. Added a refugium and some macro. Helped a little. Use RO/DI water, water changes 10% every week. I know my VHO bulbs (4 180w - 2 10k, 2 actinics) are old and need to be changed and my photoperiod is probably too long as well (12 hours).

Anyway, right now I have a ssb and wanted to go to a dsb, mainly because my wife likes the look better. But with a dsb, would that help in battle with cyno? What would be the best way to add the sand? All at once or a little at a time? How would affect what's going on in my sandbed right now? Do I have to worry about my snails being buried alive?

Also, i have about 60lbs of LR in 100g. Light bioload - blue-throat trigger, yellow tang, hawaiian soldier fish and one chromis, some shrooms, zoos and open brain. Would adding about 40lbs of LR - which would get me to the one lb/gal mark - help with the cyno outbreaks?

Thanks,
Nate

[GoinSalt]

Anyone?

[BubbaWPB]

I haven't heard that sand bed depth has any effect on cyano - the major influence is nutrients and tank hygiene.

Regarding adding sand, I've only added small amounts to replace what vacuuming has removed. I've never tried to add several inches at once. However, adding a couple of inches to a live tank all at once sounds like a big nasty mess. Just my opinion.

[GoinSalt]

I've added a little back -- same reason, vaccuumed up some. But I used a 1" pvc pipe and dropped the sand down it. Other than the fact that I need a bigger diameter tube, it worked like a charm

Nate

BTW - I notice you're in West Palm Beach. My sister-in-law lives in Royal Palm

[GoinSalt]

As far as the nutrients go, man, I don't know where they're coming from. I feed the tank pretty light -- one cube of frozen "marine cuisine" once a day. My nitrates read less than 10. I haven't tested for phosphates and the sand I do have is silica play sand. I just can't get a handle on the cyno!

[BubbaWPB]

I get recurrent cyano in my 75 gallon tank. I try to minimize it, and keep it off the corals, but it keeps coming back. I know it is probably due to overfeeding. I had more than a couple anthias slowly starve to death because I had read to feed the fish 2 or three times a week. Now I know better - some fish (like anthias) need more frequent feedings (2-3 times a day). My anthias are now looking fine, but I still get a little red stuff once in a while. I vacuum it out and keep cutting back on the amount I feed twice a day. I also quit feeding the tank the "Black Powder" stuff for coral - that really caused me problems. Maybe one day I'll get there...

Technically, I live in unincorporated Palm Beach County - about half way between West Palm Beach and Royal Palm Beach. The mailing address is West Palm Beach though.