can not get rid of red slime algae

tbmoore

tbmoore

Member
Sorry for old topic but it is kicking my tail. have been doing water changes twice a week.. cut back lights from 12hrs to 9hrs. tank set up since mar. 110 gal. about 10 corals and 8 fish not counting 7 starfish, 3 sand dollars and 50-75 snails. running phosphate sponge even though test show none. the only test I do not run every other day is total alk and it tested ok about a week ago at the lfs. use only kent cb part A & b for chem. 600watts of light. 120lb of live rock. everythink doing ok but this red algae. no green to speak of. just this red slime. when lights are on will reform in just a couple of hrs on the sand bottom. Running preditor skimmer. Is there any other test I need to run or something else I can do. refill water has been tested. It comes from where I work right from a demin package for our steam boilers.. about as clean as you can get. .. Thanks terry :mad: :mad:
 
fender

fender

Active Member
The problem with trying to find the source of a bloom is often because when you test, everything looks fine. Thats because the nasties - algae, cyano, etc are consuming it, so it's not detectable. Try testing your newly mixed water before you do a water change and see what the readings are. Maybe that your salt mix/water does have some excess nutrients that are fueling the bloom.
 
tbmoore

tbmoore

Member
The problem is worse at the end of the tank with the less current. Could I be using too much Kent CB. Giving too many resourses?
 
alianated

alianated

Member
I had your prob last month.. it kept coming back for over 3 weeks.
I changed my water, added 10 more scarlet hermits and 5 more snails. Directed a powerhead towards the bottom of the tank (It was growing on the substrate and glass)
And did a 35% water change.
After that it never grew again. (now I just get that cruddy green stuff once in a while)
 
dburr

dburr

Active Member
I don't think maracyn is good for corels, I might be mistaken for something else, but I really don't think any meds would go good in a reef. Look for the problem. Check your water source. Are you over feeding? Foods contain phosphate. Increase the water motion,it wont get a foothold. Decrease your photo period. How old are the bulbs- what type are they, what is the k rating? Sometimes if you change bulbs it could help or hurt, but it will balance out. Does that make sense? :rolleyes: Keep siphoning it out with water changes but don't do any drastic changes all at once. It will balance out. ;)
 
tbmoore

tbmoore

Member
Is fresh water maracyn safe for reef and corals? How much do you use? Would salt water maracyn also work? thanks terry
 
tbmoore

tbmoore

Member
Have 600watts vho white and aquatic. Bulbs about 30days old. Have just cut back light time from 12hrs to 8hrs yesterday. Did another 10gal water change today. 10 gal yeaterday also. Tank is 110gal.
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
bloom may be in part from addition of lights....you said they are relatively new and was on 12 hrs a day ...but recently cut back to 8 hrs.....I heard someone once say to cut the lights off for approximately 24 hours....ya know have one shady day.....and it'll help....I've never done it but a while back I considered it.......however a refugium helped solve my micro algae problem ...that and a few 10-20% water changes............stay after it and search for the source.....you'll defeat this stuff.......
 
calvin & hobbes

calvin & hobbes

Member
use only fresh water maracyn, fresh water maracyn is completely safe to corals and inverts. I've used it about a month ago in my reef tank and it was gone after the full treatment of five days, use only HALF dose for five days per the directions. Do not use salt water maracyn as it will yellow your water, plus it has more stronger additives. Fresh water maracyn is not as strong plus it's cheaper. Red slime is not an algae, it is a bacteria fungus as maracyn treats for fungus....
 
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