http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Sun, 28 Jun 2026 05:20:08 +0000 Sat, 08 Jun 2013 19:28:59 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=64852 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=526022&title=cyano-help#526022 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 64852
Posted: June 08 2013 at 7:28pm

Aloha,

+1 what ReefdUp said

What is an acceptable TDS for using tap water for a reef aquarium? Well, it depends. Yes, it depends on the tanks filtration capacity, meaning how is the system set up and what stuff is growing in the tank that would use/remove those impurities. ReefdUp pointed to several; #1, #6, #7, #10, and #13 would all work. I believe Adam Blundell uses tap water for his tank and it looks great because it uses several of those 5 items.

I'm confused or maybe I don't understand, but there is no need to go all the way to Orem for RO water. SF has a grocery store and a Walmart where RO water can be purchased for less than the cost of gas to drive to Orem.

Two part additives are based on the principle that most marine organisms need two major ingredients, Alkalinity and Calcium. These get depleted quickly in a well stocked reef tank. They cannot be mixed together in the same bottle and they cannot be added to the tank at the exact same time. Go to the "Reefkeeping Tips" thread linked below in my signatiure line and read down a few posts to see more info on the two part solutions. ESV is the brand name of a product which because of a special formulation, includes a third ingredient, Magnesium(Mg). Surprisingly, these three ingredients are available in pure form in some inexpensive household products; baking soda for Alk, driveway ice melt for Ca and Epsom salt for Mg.

It's difficult to say whether the tank is being overfed because we don't know what type and size of fish they are. Six clownfish would be slightly overfed with an entire cube. I would probably do 1/2 cube 5-6 days/week. More frequent, but lighter feedings is more like how most fish eat in the wild.

With RO water, you may find less crud build up on the rocks.
Are you vacuuming the sand with the water changes?

Mahalo,
Mark
808-345-1049 anytime
]]> Sat, 08 Jun 2013 19:28:59 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=526022&title=cyano-help#526022 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=526011&title=cyano-help#526011 Author: ReefdUp
Subject: 64852
Posted: June 08 2013 at 5:46pm

The vast majority of phosphate test kits are junk...and the ones that are decent usually still can't test for organic phosphate (most test for inorganic phosphate.) Even with a top-of-the-line laboratory one, you may still get a zero-reading due to algae uptaking the phosphate quickly. That said, I don't bother with phosphate tests.    

How old are your bulbs? My guess is that the tap water and feeding are the majority of the root cause.

You can try a few things (in no particular order)...I would do one...wait two weeks...then do another. If you do them all, you'll have no idea which actually fixed the problem.

1. Skim wetter
2. Change bulbs if the spectrum has shifted
3. Increase flow
4. Decrease food (including the Fuel)
5. Wrap your tank and leave the lights off for 3 days
6. Install a remote deep sand bed
7. Run carbon/GFO
8. Use RO/DI water
9. Blow out all rocks with a powerhead during each water change
10. Install an Algae Scrubber (not always beneficial)
11. Dose good bacteria to out-compete the cyano
12. Use a "quick fix" chemical to kill it...I don't recommend this one.
13. Grow more algae in the sump

Edited by ReefdUp - June 08 2013 at 5:47pm]]> Sat, 08 Jun 2013 17:46:06 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=526011&title=cyano-help#526011 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=526007&title=cyano-help#526007 Author: laynframe
Subject: 64852
Posted: June 08 2013 at 5:40pm

Esv is a 2 part calcium and alk solutions that maintain your perams in your tank. Check out marine depot with their reviews. ]]> Sat, 08 Jun 2013 17:40:19 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=526007&title=cyano-help#526007 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=526006&title=cyano-help#526006 Author: beege29
Subject: 64852
Posted: June 08 2013 at 5:07pm

whats esv?]]> Sat, 08 Jun 2013 17:07:48 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=526006&title=cyano-help#526006 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=526001&title=cyano-help#526001 Author: laynframe
Subject: 64852
Posted: June 08 2013 at 4:30pm

My ro is 0 tds out. Tap water is loaded with tds and phosphates, not to mention chlorine. I'm not sure what's in fuel that causes it but since I stopped using it, I haven't had a problem. I started doing esv 2 part and my corals love it. If your doing water changes that often then there really isn't a use for the fuel anyway. Just my 2 cents]]> Sat, 08 Jun 2013 16:30:29 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=526001&title=cyano-help#526001 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=525995&title=cyano-help#525995 Author: beege29
Subject: 64852
Posted: June 08 2013 at 3:44pm

and with the feeding am I doing, 1 cube mysis, 6 fishes , 2-3 times a week, am I technically overfeeding? There is no waste they eat every bit of it as well as my clean up crew. I think I do need some more crabs though, need to replenish them.]]> Sat, 08 Jun 2013 15:44:59 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=525995&title=cyano-help#525995 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=525994&title=cyano-help#525994 Author: beege29
Subject: 64852
Posted: June 08 2013 at 3:42pm

what is in fuel that would cause cyano, extra nutrients?  I have used it forever and never had a problem?  Mark, what is a good number for tap water TDS?, also no fuge in sump, filtration is just overflow into sock, skimmer, and i blow my rocks off with power head with each water change, and it makes sense about the 10% monthly water change, I will try it, and just make the trek to orem for R.O.. Thanks for your advice. ]]> Sat, 08 Jun 2013 15:42:38 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=525994&title=cyano-help#525994 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=525949&title=cyano-help#525949 Author: laynframe
Subject: 64852
Posted: June 08 2013 at 10:10am

I had to stop dosing Fuel because of cyno. ]]> Sat, 08 Jun 2013 10:10:20 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=525949&title=cyano-help#525949 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=525941&title=cyano-help#525941 Author: Dan9554880
Subject: 64852
Posted: June 08 2013 at 9:14am

Yeah but just a small one. So I just doce cyno solution and it clear up within a day. None of my corals and invert were harm by that. ]]> Sat, 08 Jun 2013 09:14:13 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=525941&title=cyano-help#525941 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=525930&title=cyano-help#525930 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 64852
Posted: June 08 2013 at 1:25am

Aloha,

RDP - Reverse Daylight Photosynthesis. Read more about it here if you like: RDP Filtration

The Spanish Fork Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2012 says TDS(total dissolved solids) ranges from 233-550 ppm. That's much too high for my comfort in using it for my reef.  The report is online here: http://www.spanishfork.org/dept/pubworks/utilities/water/pdf/2012ConsumerConfidenceReport.pdf

RO water is only 25-35 cents/gal at grocery stores and health food stores. (I found my used RO unit for $50 on ksl.com)

What did you experience that took you to changing greater than 10% twice as often? I would say that tap water was the reason. A reef tank will do much better with 10% monthly water changes using two five gallon buckets of salt water made with $3.00 of RO water. (I just looked it up - Chemiclean/red slime remover is about $20)

A 6 month old tank is fairly new. I wonder what the biofiltration is like. Would you mind posting a pic of the tank? (just the tank, not the stand please)

If a chemical additive like Red Slime Remover is used to get rid of Cyano, it will come back in 2-3 months requiring repeated chemical dosages every 2-3 months. If the root cause of the the Cyano is found and easy changes are made to eliminate the root cause, it might just never return as a nuisance.

Mark
808-345-1049 anytime
]]> Sat, 08 Jun 2013 01:25:46 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=64852&PID=525930&title=cyano-help#525930