Dark red algae won't go away.

[doodle1800]

Been trying to rid of it - with top offs of RO water, but it seems to not want to leave - I've also lessened my light time. Any other suggestions? Its only in sand in front mainly, but along the entire lenght.

 

[oregonbud]

Have you tested for phosphates?
How long ago was last light bulb change?
When you do a water change are you syphoning off the cyano then adding new water?
Also I just learned that some brands of carbon can leak phosphates - so are you running carbon, and if so what brand?

 

[col]

Tried Syphoning it off?
It will return, just keep at it.

 

[jimmyn]

It will eventually go away. Stuff like slime away -- just be careful -- it screws up your redox levels and I just don;t like putting chemicals in. Keep syphoning and it will go away

 

[beaslbob]

thanks to other responders. I have some in my tank and am glad to hear it will go away with syphoning
I though this was probably cyano bacteria and feeds off of phosphates. Why not use plant life to reduce the phosphates?

 

[doodle1800]

syphon it - like with a gravel cleaner?
And I am trying to grow plant life now - some of my LR has bright green growth on it - caulerpa most likely... hopefully it will take off.

 

[oregonbud]

I used a plastic cooking spoon, I directed a PH towards it so it would lift slightly then use the spoon to get it out, what I couldnt get off I just blasted away with a PH.
Suppose you could use a gravel vac, but I would be concerned about disturbing the sand bed.
I hate this stuff though - it seems I finally get it under control then a week or two later I start noticing it again. Although this last time I think I finally got it to go away, going on three weeks and havent seen it starting up again yet.

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by doodle1800
syphon it - like with a gravel cleaner?
And I am trying to grow plant life now - some of my LR has bright green growth on it - caulerpa most likely... hopefully it will take off.
And you will notice that as it does take off everything in the tank will just start being better. NItrAtes will fall and ugly algaes will be reduced. Hopefully the red stuff also. Controlling the lighting amount is one key. the uglies die off faster under less lights so the caulerpa's can be a greater portion of the total plant life.