Cyano in prop tank but not main tank?

[boobookitty]

Hey, all...

I recently rebuilt a prop tank hanging off of my main 240g reef tank. The prop tank is a 35 gallon cube and has its own 250W MH and sea swirl/Mag 18 circulation, and is attached to the main tank through a pump and overflow.

The main tank is established and has been around for around 4 years. I had a hair algae problem a while back but no issues with cyano for a long while. The new prop tank, however, is going through a serious cyano burst.

I know that new tanks go through cyano bursts and had thought that since it shares water with the main tank that it wouldn't have this issue, but that's apparently not true. Is this common? Anything I can do to wipe out the cyano? I can't disconnect the tanks since the chiller is on the main tank...will the cyano leak into and cause issues with the main tank? The only control I have over this so far is manual removal using water changes out of the prop tank...very annoying.

Thanks...

Arthur

[Untamed12]

I have this same situation. My 400 gallon display has no cyano and looks great. The refugium that is attached to it is full of cyano.

I don't think it is anything to be concerned about. Instead of growing Chaeto, I'm growing cyano. Either way, I'm using up some nutrients. I remove significant amounts each week.

[boobookitty]

Interesting. The unfortunate part is that mine is a prop tank with frags, so I'd like to keep it clean. Good to know it won't seem to bother the main tank, though.

[jimwat]

If the water is the same, what is different? My guess is the lighting and/or the circulation. I'd start there.

[corbett_n]

you need more flow

[boobookitty]

Hmmm...I have a Mag 18 in a relatively small cube, and the sea swirl makes sure the flow is pretty robust everywhere....

[Nano Chris]

Id rather have it in a prop tank than in the main tank (better yet the fuge/sump.) Maybe needing more flow?

[pherbert]

Change 20% water every week for a couple of weeks. That's what it took to get mine under control, and it never came back. I hear old lights can also contribute.

[fishnut321]

maybe the lighting, are the bulbs old?

[boobookitty]

Yah, bulb is actually old, so that goes next...

[fishnut321]

yeah, its the bulb then, my tank would have none at all, i scrape the glass maybe once a week... but i have a 6500k compact flourescent spotlight on my sump and the thing is covered in cyano