Can someone answer my question about cyano algae!

[jherrin215]

I have had my tank sucessfully up and running for about 4 years now. Started dosing 2 part about 2 years ago then got lazy about 9 months ago and ran out and did not re-stock. In the last few weeks I decided to start dosing again and since I have started back I have had a terrible outbreak of Cyano on the sand. I have ALWAYS had a problem with green algae on the glass, which I asusmed was semi-normal but seemed to get worse with aging MH bulbs. I have replaced the bulbs and started dosing 2 part again. Would this cause a cyano outbreak or should I be looking for something else as the culprit. I guess it just could be coincidence that the outbreak started at the same time I started dosing again. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

[reefgeezer]

IME, Cyano is the result of elevated nutrient levels. Light or flow changes may increase or decrease its growth. Did you neglect things like water changes, vacuuming sand and rocks, changing GFO/GAC, and other things that limit nutrients along with the dosing?

[downbeach]

Good article here:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm

[jherrin215]

I did do away with my GFO but that was before I got lazy with the dosing. I have still been doing water changes like I did before (sporadic to be honest). I will look at the article that you posted downbeach, thanks for the replies.

[rtparty]

Cyano is a bacteria. I've read many many differing opinions about what it eats. I've seen it present in low nutrient systems do nutrients aren't always to blame. I've also heard that silicates can be the problem and you need to reduce those.

A picture of your setup would answer 99 questions. What salt are you using? How much do you feed? What lighting are you running? Do you have a skimmer?

[jherrin215]

I've been using reef crystals, I have 3 250 watt metal halides with 2 6 foot vho actintics. I do have a skimmer. Its a modded Berlin 250 that seems to do the job. My tank is a 180 with sump and fife in the basement. What do you want a pic of and I'll take it? This problem only surfaced in the last 2 Weeks. Only thing that changed was that I upgraded the flow with a wp40 and started dosing again.

[jherrin215]

Here are some pics, Main lights were already off, sorry for the terrible quality.
http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g460/jherrin215/ctano3_zpsaccb7027.jpg
http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g460/jherrin215/cyano_zps70a66c9c.jpg
http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g460/jherrin215/ctano2_zpsfd440bee.jpg

[jherrin215]

It's not the whole tank, mainly the one place shown in both pictures where it is center of the screen.