Extreme Water Clarity and Cyano Eradication, Made Easy!

[eg8r210]

Glad it worked out well for you. The clarity you have at 7ft is impressive.
Thank you for mentioning the removal of surface film as it was something that I glossed over. Removing that surface film can have important and positive implications on PAR, O2exchange and PH.

With continued use, things will only get and look better from here.

-Sonny

It is great to see you posting again. I can remember 8-9 years ago hitting up Max at BioReef to bring me a frag of your PC Rainbow when you first released it. I don’t understand why your PC Superman never caught on but will soon be picking one up to add to my collection.

Just recently I went through a terrible cyano issue with my new setup and this is exactly what I used to combat it. KZ Coral Snow, KZ ZeoBak and KZ CyanoClean. Took about 2 weeks to notice the cyano “looking different. Week three the cyano was noticeably thinner. At that point I vacuumed as much as I could and scraped the walls. After that I haven’t seen cyano since. I have always loved Coral Snow and will continue a maintenance dose every week to keep cyano at bay.

 

[Steve2020]

Can anyone recommend an alternative brand of Calcium Carbonate than the one the OP recommended? Thank you!

This is what I used. $12.56 on Amazon. Others have used this also. I tried to add a link but couldn't get it to work.

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[wrz0170]

This is what I used. $12.56 on Amazon. Others have used this also. I tried to add a link but couldn't get it to work.

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Thank you!

 

[Chortanator]

Still got more clearing up to do. I think it looks a little better. I do use activated carbon though, so I don’t think I’ll be a good example of someone who has drastic results.

I'm curious to see how the tank looks now that it's had a few days to clear! Do you have an update picture? I'm especially curious because you have clams, and I know how sensitive they can be

 

[Miami Reef]

I'm curious to see how the tank looks now that it's had a few days to clear! Do you have an update picture? I'm especially curious because you have clams, and I know how sensitive they can be

Sure, but I’m out of town until next week so it will be after. lol

I saw the tank the next day after I did DIY Coral Snow.

In my opinion, the water clarity hasn’t really changed. My water is generally clear as it is.

When I do a water change and mess around with tank maintenance/scrubbing glass; the tank usually looks ultra clear for about a week. I personally don’t see the need for dosing this product if you use activated carbon.

And dosing carbon (vodka) would generally makes the water cloudier if anything, because the bacteria grow in the water column.

 

[Miami Reef]

Oh, and the maxima clam is more than fine.

 

[Sean Clark]

Diatomaceous earth filters were and still are a thing. The principle is a little different but the results are the same. Here the flocculent binds particles together to allow them to be more readily trapped by the filter media. With Diatomaceous earth, you introduce the small particulate DE powder into the filter to essentially reduce the pore size which allows it to capture smaller particulates within the filter.

 

[Chortanator]

I'm very interested about this method, but I still have a few questions before I give it a try

Does it raise the calcium levels of the tank? Are there any parameter fluctuations I should be worried about?

 

[Kieran McBride]

Hello all!

I have been reefing now for about 25 years, and over those many years I have picked up many tips, tricks, and best habits/practices. From a hobbyist and even a coral vendors perspective, I have gained quite a bit of valuable information. Many of you likely even have a coral that came from company, Pro Corals. The most popular of which being the PC Rainbow Acro.,

Over those years I attempted to pass on as much information and knowledge as possible. Now, I am compiling all the knowledge into one area and will be releasing articles and likely some YouTube guides on a weekly basis.

This is a great hobby and what makes it great is the wonderful community of reefers. Almost all are extremely helpful and it is our duty to aid one another and when we can, impart the little knowledge that we pickup along the way to aid others in their journey. We, and myself included, can easily forget what it was like entering the hobby. Its a minefield and much livestock and funds can be wasted. For someone like myself, books and online forums were my only sanctuary as I did not have any local hobbyist to gather knowledge from. There were many issues, losses and way too much money needlessly spent. Hopefully this series of guides will help those just entering the hobby and perhaps even help some reefing veterans to polish up their game.

The articles will be posted on my blog and right here on Reef2Reef. I am slowly building up my online presence through FB, Instagram and YouTube. If you'd like to follow along and receive the most up to date information please feel free to follow. I will try and keep the articles and video brief. We all have busy lives so I will attempt to post only the cliff notes.

www.ReefSite.com
Instagram: @Reefsite
Fb: @ReefSites
Twitter: @RimlessReef
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SonnyM63



Now, enough yammering. Onto the article!


Extreme Water Clarity and Cyano Eradication, Made Easy!

One of the most frequent questions I receive is how do I have such amazing water clarity and an overall clean looking setup. Well, it quite simple and you can easily do the same while also helping rid yourself of cyano or and the very least not allowing it to gain a foothold in your system. While this is not a cure-all, it will help you achieve your goals and help maintain a healthy aquarium.


For a number of years I had purchased branded products of Coral Snow to help achieve water clarity. That is, until I asked around and found that you can simply make you own Coral Snow solution, saving you hundreds of dollars.

What is Coral Snow?

At its simplest, Coral Snow is a Flocculant.

Flocculant’s work by binding small particles together into a larger mass that can be easily removed via filter socks or a proteins skimmer. The Coral Snow can also help to removal yellowing compounds such as phenols while at the same time helping neutralizes some undesirable chemicals in the system.

Personally, I use this powder Calcium Powder and one jar should last you years. Creating the solution couldn't be any simpler.

• Select a clean container, one that is resealable and able to be shaken. I use an old creatine bottle.(Yes, I am on the GAIN TRAIN)
• For 500ML of solution, add 10 level tablespoons of powder to roughly 425-450ML of RO/DI water.
• Shake the bottle up, and let it sit for two hours. After which, it will be ready to use.
• Now, I don’t believe that you can overdose with this product, but a good recommended dose is 5ml per 50gl of aquarium volume.
• Be sure to shake up the bottle prior to each use as the powder can settle.

The best time to add the solution to you aquarium is after conducting maintenance such as blowing off the rocks, cleaning the glass, siphoning the sand or conducting a water change. Ideally, you should be doing all of the aforementioned maintenance items during a water change, but that discussion is for another time.

Now, on to my personal favorite use of the product: preventing and getting rid of Cyano!

Cyano Solution

Cyano, in all its forms, has been the bane of many a reefers existence. Nothing can upset or ruin the appearance of an aquarium display like that nasty, slimy cyano! The algae is present in all systems, and dates back to the dawn of planet but you can keep it from taking over your aquarium and causing you heartache.

Ideally, you want to be taking preventative measures to ensure that cyano does not gain any real estate in your reef. Prevention is always easier than treatment, but if you can always treat it too.

To amplify the Coral Snow, you will need a bacterial solution. Most will do, but I like Microbacter7 by Brightwell Aquatics. What we are doing here is mixing the bacteria with the Coral Snow, allowing it to bond and adhere to the surface of sand and rock. Basically, we’re trying to eliminate land for the cyano to stake its claim. While most of the Coral Snow will be removed via filtration, there will be a bit that coats you aquariums surfaces, in this case with bacteria that will out compete algae.

The Mix

Take your measured solution of Coral Snow and add it to a small container.

• A plastic or glass cup will suffice.
• Next, add 10 drops of Microbacter7 per 5ML of Coral Snow.
• Allow 5 minutes for the solution to sit and then dose into your aquarium.

Note that Coral Snow will cloud your aquarium for at least two hours. Filter socks and Protein Skimmer(s) should be left on.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you find this Coral Snow solution to be advantageous. I have used it for years with great results. My aquariums are devoid of cyano and nuisance algae. The fish look like their floating in mid air and the true colors of the corals are allowed to shine through.

I dose once a week but there is no issue dosing it daily if you are dealing with a particularly bad breakout of cyano. For best results, siphon out as much cyano as possible before dosing Coral Snow.

Good luck and if you need any additional help please feel free to reach out.

Sonny [email protected]

In essence this seems it is the same or similar to Zeovit Systems Zeozym product. After using Zeozym many times, as much as there is a chemical reaction taking place and elements being formed, replaced or manufactured to assist and help in many other ways, for water clarity I have found bubble scrubbing does as good a job.

 

[Dbichler]

First dose of 20 ml into my 210 definitely makes it hazy will report back results tonight or tomorrow

 

[Dbichler]

Top two pictures currently still a slight haze but water clarity much clearer had to tell in pics but definitely noticeable bottom picture before calcium carbonate just cleaned glass and blew off rocks. Can’t wait to see long lasting effects.

 

[anthonygf]

This is what I used. I thought my water was clear until I tried this method. Works great, better than the bottled water clarifier and will never have to buy again. Thanks SunnyX for sharing this info.

 

[Soren]

I'm assuming this dosing would have a detrimental effect if used with filter feeders? (such as turkey wing clams and bivalves that come in on live rock)
Recently, I added some common blue zoanthids to my 30g Work tank that came in on the shell of a living large turkey wing clam. I've been experimenting with CaCO3 dosing in a QT at home and decided to try a dose on my 30g Work tank after reading here that it helps with eliminating cyanobacteria. Hopefully it does not cause troubles for the clam.

Thanks for the article, @SunnyX ! I am definitely looking forward to more articles from you since your reef follows the same aesthetics that I prefer.

 

[DavidinGA]

Diatomaceous earth filters were and still are a thing. The principle is a little different but the results are the same. Here the flocculent binds particles together to allow them to be more readily trapped by the filter media. With Diatomaceous earth, you introduce the small particulate DE powder into the filter to essentially reduce the pore size which allows it to capture smaller particulates within the filter.

Curious to hear others' thoughts on this: DE filtration vs in-tank binding agents for water polishing.

DE filtration never really took off in the reef market because quite simply they are too efficient at filtration. They will clog very quickly and strip the water of nutrients coral need.

In light of the theme of this thread (that of using a flocculant agent to bind to particulates in the water and thereby enhance the clarity of the water) and this being an occasional process, it might be a better option to us a DE filter to accomplish the same purpose if it weren't for the additional costs associated with the DE setup. I would tend to believe a DE filter would polish the water substantially better than a flocculant approach.

Thoughts?

 

[Chortanator]

I'm assuming this dosing would have a detrimental effect if used with filter feeders? (such as turkey wing clams and bivalves that come in on live rock)
Recently, I added some common blue zoanthids to my 30g Work tank that came in on the shell of a living large turkey wing clam. I've been experimenting with CaCO3 dosing in a QT at home and decided to try a dose on my 30g Work tank after reading here that it helps with eliminating cyanobacteria. Hopefully it does not cause troubles for the clam.

Thanks for the article, @SunnyX ! I am definitely looking forward to more articles from you since your reef follows the same aesthetics that I prefer.

I've checked through this thread and there are some people who have followed this with (expensive-looking!!!) clams in their tank. Miami Reef was one of them, which was why I asked that user in particular how it went for them.

 

[dvgyfresh]

I've checked through this thread and there are some people who have followed this with (expensive-looking!!!) clams in their tank. Miami Reef was one of them, which was why I asked that user in particular how it went for them.

I think it would definitely be to the detriment of filter feeders , that said you can still feed them yourself or dose AB+ ect

 

[Chortanator]

I think it would definitely be to the detriment of filter feeders , that said you can still feed them yourself or dose AB+ ect

I'm sure after it clears up you can fill the water column with phyto again, since it only needs about a day or two to clear completely from what I see.

 

[Soren]

Curious to hear others' thoughts on this: DE filtration vs in-tank binding agents for water polishing.

DE filtration never really took off in the reef market because quite simply they are too efficient at filtration. They will clog very quickly and strip the water of nutrients coral need.

In light of the theme of this thread (that of using a flocculant agent to bind to particulates in the water and thereby enhance the clarity of the water) and this being an occasional process, it might be a better option to us a DE filter to accomplish the same purpose if it weren't for the additional costs associated with the DE setup. I would tend to believe a DE filter would polish the water substantially better than a flocculant approach.

Thoughts?

I've wondered about this question as well, but do not have any experience or information to share.

@Paul B still uses a diatom filter on his reef, if I am not mistaken.

Maybe a good option is to control the use of a diatom filter with a specific schedule or as-needed basis as a nutrient remover? I'm not sure how one would balance the removal precisely without removing too much, but I assume it would follow a similar procedure as other forms of dosing.

 

[Sean Clark]

Curious to hear others' thoughts on this: DE filtration vs in-tank binding agents for water polishing.

DE filtration never really took off in the reef market because quite simply they are too efficient at filtration. They will clog very quickly and strip the water of nutrients coral need.

In light of the theme of this thread (that of using a flocculant agent to bind to particulates in the water and thereby enhance the clarity of the water) and this being an occasional process, it might be a better option to us a DE filter to accomplish the same purpose if it weren't for the additional costs associated with the DE setup. I would tend to believe a DE filter would polish the water substantially better than a flocculant approach.

Thoughts?

I would use the de filter in the same use of the flocculant; as an occasional treatment as needed. Leaving a de filter running continuously would strip all of the good stuff out too and clog up quickly as you stated. The setup does not need to be complicated or expensive. You can use any cartridge style filter and introduce the de media once the filter has been running for a few minutes.
Here is a video demonstrating this method.

 

[chipchipbro]

I'm very interested about this method, but I still have a few questions before I give it a try

Does it raise the calcium levels of the tank? Are there any parameter fluctuations I should be worried about?

anyone an idea?