Scott's 270g aka Project Mayhem

[kien]

Red plate?! What manner of sorcery is this?!

[Scythanith]

Originally Posted by reefermadness

Ya that red plate is killer.

Great progress. Is this your basement? It looks great.

Yep it's the basement. The other half that I am standing in while taking the picture has the snake wall and couch area with the tv.

[Myka]

Looks like the tank is settling in nicely! The basement looks great. I'm still in love with that red plate, and still kicking my own butt for not snagging it. You're right about that Hammer too - pictures don't do it justice - it is spectacular in person.

Is the cyano still on the back burner? Did you start up the biopellets again? Do you plan to?

[Scythanith]

The cyano is nothing but a bad dream now! I have not started up biopellets and I don't think I will any time soon. I like Colby's pov that they are a great fix to a problem, but they aren't a necessarily 24/7 media. I don't think I will bring it back online unless I start to see elevated nutrient values that water changes can't handle.

[Myka]

I've found a person has to be very careful with biopellets because they are VERY aggressive and can easily cause more harm than good. I'm glad to hear the cyano is nearly forgotten.

[reefermadness]

Originally Posted by Scythanith

The cyano is nothing but a bad dream now! I have not started up biopellets and I don't think I will any time soon. I like Colby's pov that they are a great fix to a problem, but they aren't a necessarily 24/7 media. I don't think I will bring it back online unless I start to see elevated nutrient values that water changes can't handle.

I actually have nothing but good experience using them and have the opposite philosophy. I believe the are good to run full time and are best as a preventative tool vs. something you want to use to correct a problem. Most people get into trouble using biopellets when they are added to a system with a build up of PO4 and NO3. Things change too fast and problems can occur.

[Scythanith]

So how then with my system which was brand new, and tested flat for nuisance nutrients started getting a cyano problem? Then I take them offline, the problem goes away AND my nutrients stayed at zero's. I did buy them and the reactor with the idea to run them at all times, but then got cyano which the pellets are supposed to prevent are they not?

My last tank had hair algae and bryopsis, so in planning this one I wanted to use everything I could to prevent that nutrient build up! I'm not saying I won't try to bring them online again, just for now I don't have any issues so I don't want to introduce them.

[Reef Pilot]

Well,... there is a simple sure preventative for cyano. It's called MB7, and a must use with bio pellets, IMO. I have discussed it here many time....

[Myka]

Scott, I think what happened with your biopellet experience is that you were using too many for the amount of available nutrients. That's what I find causes cyano with biopellet use. Discussions with some very experienced professionals seem to come to the same conclusion. The amount of biopellets used needs to match the amount of nutrients available for the biopellets to feed on. Since your tank is so new and you have such massive nutrient reduction equipment already in place, it is possible that 1/2 cup of biopellets would be too much. In my 90-gallon SPS tank I used fractionally less biopellets than was recommended - any more and I would get cyano growth.

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Well,... there is a simple sure preventative for cyano. It's called MB7

I've tried MB7 additions for cyano, and I've never seen any reduction in cyano. I know lots of people report success, but it's far from a "sure preventative".

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by Myka

I've tried MB7 additions for cyano, and I've never seen any reduction in cyano. I know lots of people report success, but it's far from a "sure preventative".

Exactly how did you use MB7, dose amounts and time, etc? Did you try it to reduce or eliminate cyano that you had in your tank, or use it as a preventative starting with a clean no cyano tank?

I stand by it as a sure preventative,... if used correctly. Like I said, I have discussed exactly how to accomplish that several times here in the past.