sugar for cyano

[darklcd]

hey all

just a quick question. In my quest to get rid of the cyano in my tank I came across someone that used sugar and vodka to get rid of it I personally don't like wasting vodka but if it will work I am willing to try it.

I tried sugar a couple days ago but the cyano seems to be getting worse. I used 1 table spoon per 25 gal and I have a 55 gal tank.

Anyone have any other ideas of it this will work or if I did something wrong?

please let me know

thanks

 

[HumblePie]

So I have heard of vodka dosing but haven't looked into it much. I wasn't aware of any sugar additives, though. In any case, dosing with vodka seems to be the buzz lately (pun intended). I believe it was mainly for Nitrates with the added bonus that it can also aid with Phosphates. However, any new dosing regimen should be done over a long period of time to ensure proper acclamation by your livestock. Hope the link helps.

 

[treehugger]

the only thing the sugar is going to do is fuel it...you have to have your system running really well before you even attempt sugar, vodka, vinegar (in any combination)...read read read cuz it's also a great way to crash your system. Cyano can be difficult but focus on consistent water chemistry, good flow, good skimming, reduce your light a bit and watch what and how much you feed....your tank should cycle through it...hang in there

 

[JoshF]

In addition to all the great advice that Treehugger just gave you, adding carbon in various forms will fuel bacterial growth. In some specific cases, in extremely careful applications can provide more bacterio-plankton to the corals for food and increase the amount of skimmate. The main nutrient export here is adding carbon to drive bacterial growth. The bacteria uptake nitrogen and phosphates and then your skimmer goes nuts.

So, you have to have a really good skimmer, and you can't have a lot of cyanoBACTERIUM. The cyano will happily eat up the carbon from the sugar (or alcohol or vinegar). With cyano, reduce feeding, increase flow in the affected areas, do water changes, and directly siphon out cyano growth.

Cheers and good luck!

Josh

 

[estanoche]

I've also read that depending on the extent of your cyano outbreak it could be outcompeting your macro algaes and feeding on them as well. Do you run chaeto or anything in your sump? Have you noticed it dieing back?

Cyano can prosper in lower nutrient levels than some of our larger macros, so you may want to look at finding ways to bring your macros back into the top feeding spot in the foodchain to help stave off future cyano outbreaks....

 

[darklcd]

I am lucky that i have not added anything else in my tank there are no fish or anything in it at all. I was trying to avoid using chemiclean but I think i am going to have to.

my skimmer also sucks lol its a seaclone I know they are bad but its all I have right now

 

[treehugger]

just let it cycle...it will be gone in a couple of weeks...if it's a new tank it takes time and more time and then some time...patience is key

 

[darklcd]

thats the interesting part my tank has been running for the better part of 3 months and I started it with cycle to get it going faster. All my levels are perfect which is the upsetting part. I was going to put fish in it this week but not if i don't have the cyano under control.

 

[hernluis]

vodka too expensive to use on my tank, ill use it on myself though. hic up, hic up

 

[braddo]

I've never read a trusted review that said Cycle or any other additive was at all effective at speeding up the cycle process. Like TreeHugger said, cyano is a common element of the tank cycling itself.

In my experience common observable elements of a tank cycling tend to include the following items in this order.
1. Ammonia -> Nitrite -> Nitrate Spikes
2. Diatoms
3. Cyano and or green algae

As long as the tank has enough rock, enough flow, RO water changes and isn't being over fed all the bad stuff should clear up soon.