Cyano in tank and refugium

[pinhigh1886]

Need help. Had a major vacation disaster and 4 years worth of food dumped in tank from a auto feeder. I would have let it go for a week but I was gone for 10 days and had some new fish. Anyway Amonia went to 2.0 lost 3 fish and it has taken major work every day to get everything back to 0. The big spike and food cause a brownish algae bloom in tank. I get professional advise from reef paradise and I shut down feeding and lights for the last 2 days. Algae is almost gone in the tank but is now in my refugium all over my chelurpa. I run my refugium light 24 hrs. I would rather have the algae in the sump but I am afraid when I turn the lights back on in the display tank it will be in the water from the sump and just come back. Any suggestions on removing it from fug without spreading it back into tank. Not absolutely sure it is cyano but pretty sure. I have at least 30 snails and none have died from eating the algae so I assume not dinos?

[pinhigh1886]

Originally Posted by pinhigh1886

Need help. Had a major vacation disaster and 4 years worth of food dumped in tank from a auto feeder. I would have let it go for a week but I was gone for 10 days and had some new fish. Anyway Amonia went to 2.0 lost 3 fish and it has taken major work every day to get everything back to 0. The big spike and food cause a brownish algae bloom in tank. I get professional advise from reef paradise and I shut down feeding and lights for the last 2 days. Algae is almost gone in the tank but is now in my refugium all over my chelurpa. I run my refugium light 24 hrs. I would rather have the algae in the sump but I am afraid when I turn the lights back on in the display tank it will be in the water from the sump and just come back. Any suggestions on removing it from fug without spreading it back into tank. Not absolutely sure it is cyano but pretty sure. I have at least 30 snails and none have died from eating the algae so I assume not dinos?

Forgot another question. My spiny urchin lost all of its spines on the top side. Still has purple and white ones on bottom. It had this algae all over it's back and I wondered if it ahead it's spines to lose the algae. Will they grow back it is still moving and eating? Or is this a sign it is dying from the amonia spike a few weeks ago?

[larryandlaura]

Best of luck with your battle. Have you been changing your water? Also i would cut back the light in the refugium as well. Sounds more like diatoms inbyour case do you have a picture?

[pinhigh1886]

Yes the water changes were half my problem. I was using RO but not RO DI. Because of the amonia prob I had to do a lot of water changes. I don't want to cut the light on the fug because I have chelurpa. I have heard of it going a sexual and spreading into the tank. If it is diatoms will it just go away? What do you think about the urchin?

Will 4 small moonlights grow algae?

[larryandlaura]

The moonlights should not grow algae. The diatoms should go away as they are part of a cycle. No clue on the urchin.

[binford4000]

Urchins are good house keepers.I would try one they will destroy several algae types including turf and diatoms.Down side is they are know to rearrange tanks also. Good luck

[pinhigh1886]

Here are some pictures of the brown algae or diatoms. 3 Days no lights and it was pretty much gone in the display. First day with lights on and its coming back. Snails are trying to keep up but can't. My parameters seem perfect what feeds this stuff besides light?

[larryandlaura]

Does it have tiny bubbles on it after the lights have been on for a few hours? It looks like cyano but hard to tell in the picture.

[Chris]

How old are your lights, I was having this same algae while waiting to switch from OOOOLLLLLLDDDD T5's to new leds, since the switch it has drastically cut down! The food may have caused it initially but the lights may be whats keeping it around and making it come back.

Also, I had a pink urchin do the same thing while my parents/ sister were watching my tank while I was in the process of remodeling my house (and creating a fish room) before moving in, and they overfed worse then I normally do.... it didn't make it, but if yours is still moving and eating it may have a chance. Goodluck!

Do you dose anything, like vodka/ vinegar or have you recently stopped dosing either?

[pinhigh1886]

Thank you all I am going insane. I do not dose vodka. Should I what does it do? I have heard of it but that it was old school. I have two reactors. One with GFO and one with carbon. Refugium is going great all parameters show zero that might be feeding the algae? Algae shrinks at night with lights off but comes back during the day. I did a 3 day lights off and it was gone in display and then lights on it comes back. Problem is I have Xenia now and maxima clam. They require light so I can't turn them off again. I have been doing FOWLR for 12 years and I started this 90 gal reef thinking I could do everything right and avoid algae but here we are mostly due to the vacation disaster.