This hobby has many different ways to accomplish cures to issues. As long as the remedy doesn't harm your tank, then go for it. Find a way that you are comfortable with. Chemicals are not the answer to all issues, and I really don't like using them, but sometimes action needs to be fast and effective, with imediate results. Anyone that doesn't feel comfortable using Maracyn, shpuld not use it, but its served me, and many other very well seasoned reefers in the past.
I still have to disagree. The nutrient problem that is allowing the cyano to grow is only exacerbated by the lack of protein skimming following the dose. I personally have seen one of the nicest tanks in MI crashed due to the chemical treatment of cyano. In the short term a turkey baster can be a great tool. In the long term the problem needs to be corrected through sound husbandry techniques. Cyano is one of the easiest pests to fight. Remove the nutrients, increase the flow. Done.
There are many different causes of cyno outbreaks- and not all are always the reason. This can be very difficult to combat. And even more difficult to diagnose, especially when its in full bloom, and everything you can do is done....and it still wont go away. Once its got hold, you can do whatever you want, and it might just refuse to let go.
As stated, cyno seams to prefer low flow areas, although I have seen it grow in spots where a powerhead is blasting, blowing in the flow, and spread.
It can be caused by high DOC's, yet just a quick parameter spike, come and gone, like a snail death, can do the same in a low nutrient tank.
Low alk, or ph can be an underlying cause- but your ph/alk can be perfect, and you can still get an outbreak.
Stepping up you water changes can fuel the fire- but doesnt always.
So many variables....with no certain answer....Its been a few years, but I have researched cyno, and a few other algea/bacterias very well- and have yet to come up with an absolute answer- or even a few absolute answers on the subject- so far just a lot of speculation. Maybe I have missed something? It has been a while. If there has been direct concrete findings to the cause to be gotten to the bottom of, please share. I am very interested in reading it. Until then, I will stick to my tried and proven "Band Aid" especialy when the health my corals are involved.
I have seen many of the nicest tanks in michigan helped greatly with maracyn. Have heard of many overdosed, or improperly dosed, and crashed. Also have heard of quite a few others crashed by chemical treatments- but have yet to personally witness it with an erethromyacin. There are many slime removers out there- and they are not all the same.
Side note- I do not recommend turning off your skimmer while dosing. I have always left mine on and adjusted it to skim very dry, in an attempt to aerate the water without taking too much of the antibiotic out of the water column. Agressive surface agitation is also recommended. I forgot to add these 2 pieces of information, as it was talked about with Heidi in person.
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanobacteria"]Cyanobacteria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:20100422_235222_Cyanobacteria.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/20100422_235222_Cyanobacteria.jpg/250px-20100422_235222_Cyanobacteria.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@comm ons/thumb/5/5a/20100422_235222_Cyanobacteria.jpg/250px-20100422_235222_Cyanobacteria.jpg[/ame]
Last edited by jimsflies; 07-01-2011 at 06:09 PM.
Reason: worked on wikipedia link
alright well i went with the treatment route. sorry but i feel like i was doing everything to combat it and i wasn't sure what i was doing was gonna help or how long it was gonna help.
the stuff i got had 8 packets of this junk 200mg's in each pack i think. i ended up putting 4 packets in the first night, the next morning i put 2 more packets in fallow by one more packet at night.
Did a 10g water chnage the fallowing day after blowing off the rocks of any dead cyano.
today most is gone, any left over stuff has turn green.
fish seem fine, one coral has a problem with this, only browned but i dont feel to worried about it.
I dosed half the recommended dosage for mytotal water volume Wednesday pm. Erythromyacin 1/4 tsp scoop per 20 gallons of water is the full dose which would have been six scoops. Because it can brown out some acros, I went with half dosage or three scoops. Most of the red slimmy bubbly crap I have been dealing with for the past month or so was gone within a matter of hours. It was recommended to leave it in the system for three days with the skimmer off, not running carbon, etc. By today, even the algae that was in areas of low flow, is gone. I have a ton of bubbles in my sump. I turned on the skimmer at the usual setting and you might as well forget that. Empty the skimmer cup, put it back on, turn around, empty the skimmer cup and so on. I am told the carbon is what removes it from the system, so I will be cleaning my frag tank tonight, replacing all the water and leaving it off the system. In the morning I will do the rest of a total 35% water change in the display tank, fire up the media reactors with new carbon, etc.
I have been very pleased with the results. I was beside myself trying to get on top of this. Following the same routine for years, nothing dying and for whatever reason, something is out of whack and you have a problem. I spent a ton doing water changes and the dang algae killed off most of the macroalgaes in my refugium, which then got broken up and some wound up half dead in the display tank. I noticed no browning of any acro. Many of my LPS look significantly expanded and healthier. I have noticed no adverse affect on any animal in the tank, so in that regard, I believe the half dose to have been a prudent move. I will let you know how the foam battle goes. Have a safe and Happy holiday weekend, all
Did you do a 1/2 dose of the freshwater dose or the saltwater dose?
I had to really restrict the air flow, and raise the skimmer cup to the max, to try and get a dry skim, while using this product. Getting the skimmer adjusted can be difficult.
So I love this thread! You guys are all so nice about your different opinions and that is like Russ said pretty rare in the forum scene. This is why I love Captive Reefs!! I have bought the erythromycin. I have not used it yet. I had changed my dose of MB7 to double at the time I did the lights out and I am still dosing double MB7. I also am on a very low maintenance dose of vodka (3ml a day) where as I was not dosing vodka at all for a while thinking that would help get rid of the cyano. I checked my phosphates and nitrates today and both are reading zero. I vacuumed my sand bed where it is growing and comes up in chunks pretty easily but will be back tomorrow. For flow so you all know I like a lot. I have 2 750 and 2 1400 power-heads. So as far as dead spots... ask my mushrooms... there are no dead spots. So I am just going to hold out for a little while and see... see if they don't get any worse... if they start going away... or maybe they will like they did before get so bad that it looks like my whole substrate is purple and it starts climbing the glass.. I can't get a good full tank shot or I would show you but you can see them in most of my recent pictures in my thread around my coral...never on (that was the dinos got rid of them with no light for 3 days.)
Great thread
Glad I started this one
Heidi
Reply With Quote
