red slime algae

[greg_keyser]

See my recent post titled "Tired of scraping algea from your tank?"

Basically, if you use a foam pad for any part of your filter process, you need to make sure you clean that puppy regularly.

Greg

 

[guppychao]

greg,
i did read your article on foam pads (thanks), i do regularly rinse out my foam pads, however the red slime algae is not the glass but on my rocks

any advice?

 

[Anonymous]

Cyanobacteria is from excessive nutrients in the tank. Chiefly phosphates. It could be resulting from insufficent protein skimming, the usage of mechanical filtration (sponges, canisters etc) or poor quality input water.

If you just purchased an RO unit - than eventually over time it should go away provided that the water before was coming straight from the tap. When I say awhile I'm talking within the next few months - not overnight.

 

[guppychao]

thanks, i appreciate the input

happy reefing!!!

 

[GMH320]

I have red slime algae that grows only on the Halmeda plants...why's that? Anyone have any ideas?

 

[wasabi]

THIS I NOT FACT. this is my opinion. when i raised my calcium level up over 450 all red slime disapated. this began when i started dripping kalk. i alo supplement the kalk drip with a 2 part additive. i believe this will help precipitate out your phosphates.i dont think the cyanobacteria can thrive when calcim and alkalynity are high.

 

[Bucktronix]

it's not algae, it's a bacteria!

 

[Anonymous]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by wasabi:
[Qwhen i raised my calcium level up over 450 all red slime disapated. this began when i started dripping kalk. [/QB]<hr></blockquote>

This has nothing to do with the calcium levels and everything to do with the fact that calcium hydroxide dosing will cause Phosphates to precipitate out and become unavailable.

Remove the nutrient source and you remove the problem. Same thing would have occured if you had a bigger more efficient protein skimmer.

 

[guppychao]

hi all, does anyone know how to get rid of red slime algae? or any critters or fish will eat it?
i know that the red slime is due to water movement but what is strange it that i did place another power head in nmy tank and its growing where the water movement is the greatest (strange)
i rub the algae off at least once a week but it reappears
i think its my phosphates also, just recently purchased a new r/o unit, so i hopeing that will help, any suggestion will be greatly appreciated

 

[Anonymous]

I believe it was Jacob Neilson who said that if you raise,and maintain,your PH to an 8.5-8.6 it will kill your cyano. The reason that the kalk works is partly true in that it precipitates phosphates. The other reasoning is that it raises and maintains a high PH. Keep a higher PH for a week or two and the cyano will die off.

Queen conchs love cyano,but,they only eat it off the sand. They do not like rocks. Many turbos will readily eat cyano. The mexicans seem to eat more in my experiences. Astreas will also eat cyano and are longer lived than turbos.

The other factors are
1. How long has your tank been up for?
2. Do you use RO or DI water for startup,makeup,and water changes?
3. Is the tank heavily stocked?
4. Do you use a skimmer,deep sandbed,live rock or all the above or none of the above?
5. Is the tank fish only or FOWLR or a reef?
6. Lighting?
7. Feeding what and how much?

These are just some of the questions you have to ask yourself to get to the root of the problem. Don't overreact it may just be a cycle or a small outbreak,just be cautious and correct things as necessary.

Good Luck

 

[guppychao]

anemone,
thanks for the input, i know i need to do water changes regularly but here are you answers to your questions:
100 gal tank 6 ft long, 8, 55wt pc
1. tank up for a little over a year
2. just got a new ro unit for makeup water (water changes were with just a carbon filter due to old ro unit output too low)
3. tank has a total of 11 fish, biggest one is my chevon tank (about 4 inches)
4. tunze skimmer, live rock
5. reef tank
6. 8, 55 watt power compacts
7. feed when i come home from work, at dinner, and before i go to bed, (frozen food, about 1/4 to 1/2 a cube each feeding)

i do a kalk drip , but for some reason my ph is around 8.3 but my calcium level is over 450

any advice would be great, thanks

 

[Anonymous]

I would first suggest that you use the RO/DI for your makeup and water changes. Then make sure you have adequate circulation. If that does not do it,try raising your PH to an 8.5 - 8.6. In about 3 days to a week you should have no cyano. Just be sure to raise it slow and monitor the PH closely.