Algae question...

[rs1831]

I have the dreaded red slime algae right now and I tested my phosphate levels and they're at 0. I question is could they be at 0 because the algae is using it to grow. I purchased a phosban reactor and I was going to use it to run carbon but now I'm wondering if I should just run phosban for a little while.
thanks

 

[copernicus45]

Cyano can also be cause from a lack of water movement, you should still try and get you Phos down but maybe you have a water movement problem

 

[rs1831]

I have really good flow. I have a Seio 820, the return from my sump and then another power head on the opposite side of the seio. I just wondering if the phosphates would show 0 if the algae is using it to grow?

 

[badoleross]

Maracyn for fresh water will get rid of the red slime algae but you will still need to figure out what the source is. Just add 1 crushed up tablet for every 10 gallons of water and it will be gone in a couple 3 days. I just used it on my 220 that was covered. My entire sand bed and all of my rock was covered. Now, not a sign of it!

 

[mcelvain]

Originally Posted by BadOleRoss
Maracyn for fresh water will get rid of the red slime algae but you will still need to figure out what the source is. Just add 1 crushed up tablet for every 10 gallons of water and it will be gone in a couple 3 days. I just used it on my 220 that was covered. My entire sand bed and all of my rock was covered. Now, not a sign of it!
BadOleRoss do you have any mandarin gobies? The reason i ask is that i used a product called "Chemi-Clean" which wiped out the algae alright but it also wiped out my Mandarin. Think it stripped his slime coat.

 

[aztec reef]

first you got to figure the source.high nutrients ,dead spots ect. A month ago i had a little of cyano.i dont do additives other than kalk&buffer and water was quality was good so i new that wasnt the prob. then i notice that it was only in one corner of tank. so i came to the conclusion that it was due to lack of water movement. so i got a 1200 maxijet inthat corner to replace the 900 maxijet and just pointed it little different angle and guess what Cyano is history.

 

[sly]

What is your SG? What do you use to measure it with?

 

[jocca]

It may be worth noting that the red slime is actually bacteria and not algae. Just FYI. I'm not sure if cyano feeds off of phosphates or not. Someone else may know???