Anybody have a clue?

mouse03245

mouse03245

Member
Ok.I thought we had red slime. I think I was wrong...we did the turn timing of lights down,even leaving them off for a day or so, the lights are brand new so we dont need to change them, all my water tests are are perfect ...specific 1.024 ph 8.2 ammon. 0 nitrites 0 and nitrate is only 10ppms. temp is 79 degrees. We only have a electric scallop, a 6-10 snails, pepermint shrimp (i think its a pepermint) , tiger cowry and about 4 sand sifting snails. We bought the red slime remover and used it for about two days last month and then again last week.We also have scooped out what we can each week during our water change. But it still comes back a day or two later. Now it looks like its growing fur (?) thats the only way I can explain it or maybe hair. Can anybody help? our lps is telling me red slime is ok to have and most of their reef tanks have it...is this true? Thanx to anyone who can help!!!!

 
smarls

smarls

Member
Mouse,
The red stuff looks like cyno-bacteria to me. The little brown specs on the sand might be diatom-ish, but it is hard to tell from the pictures.
Some tank specs would help. Are your nitrates high? Your phosphates? (I would bet on those being high) Also how much circlulation do you have? Do you use tap water? Many times cyno is just a result of not enough flow in the tank and/or tap water usage (high phosphates in the tap water). I belive diatoms are caused by high silicates (again, often found in tap water).
Do a quick search on cyno bacteria and diatoms and see if those look anything like what you have. Also, try and list some more tank details so we can figure out what is causing this.
HTH
Stewart
ps - do not stress about this, it is fixable once you manage to figure out what is causing it.
 
mouse03245

mouse03245

Member
smarls...dont take this the wrong way,but if u read my post u would see that i did post the specs except the phosphates.oops sorry! its 55 gal with aqua c remora protien skimmer. we switched from tap water to the water at walmart with the green cap for a few months and believe it or not i think thats why the diatoms are there...we never had them before that or the red stuff either. So...(i know the tap water police r comin!) we went back to that as of last week. I do have askimmer and it has a maxi jet 1200 on it,plus we have another one going at the other end....maybe i should add the other one we have? I will look up cyno bacteria , and stuff right now. THANX ALOT! i appreciate it
 
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