help!! i have red algae all over my decor and sand

[nycwaters]

my tank has been running for about 7 months , i usually got green algae here and there nothing out of control
all of a sudden i got a boom of red algae and it looks like its caked on , very thick on the decor and sand ... what should i do?
is this normal ? my lfs says is high phosphate from the water changes
i don't want my fish to die
thanx for helping jr

 

[demosthenes]

It's the plague of all SW tanks. You have cyanobacteria. It's attributed to mainly high phosphates, like your LFS told you. Do some major WCs to bring the phosphates down, but use RO water, otherwise you'll just exacerbate your problem. HTH

 

[nycwaters]

is there any water treatment porduct i can buy?
and should i take out the decor to wash out the red algae?
thank you for you response jr

 

[nerdy]

I used a product called AntiRed and it took it away overnight.
This is the best product I have used but I am not sure of the avaliability of it.

 

[nycwaters]

is this toxic?
thank you

 

[entice59]

a lot of people say it will only get rid of the cyno but would not stop it at the source. I would do weekly water 5-10% changes with Reverse Osmosis water as stated. After a month and a half it should be almost gone. ShortCuts tend to have their disadvantages

 

[small reef]

I have the same problem...I've been told that its actually a bacterial infection...They say to use Chemi Clean, but I don't know if I want to risk my corals...............

 

[demosthenes]

Cyanobacteria is an algea, and that's all I believe. It was the original form of life on this planet, for all those believing in Evolution, and it is what produced O2 at such levels to sustain oxygen-dependant life. Personally I don't believe in Evolution, but this isn't the time nor place. All I can say is that I'm pretty positive it's not a bacterial infection. Also, I would advise against all products such as the ones mentioned above, and go about it the natural way. Using phosphate sponges can harm your corals indirectly, as well as Chemi-Clean and Anti-Red.

 

[entice59]

just go the natural way and you will be happier in the end, sure it looks bad now but why even risk your corals and tankmates? plus using RO water with weekly waterchanges will also lower your nitrates and make your tank more clean, if you have deep sand bed i would use an airline tube to try to suck up the cyno without disturbing the sandbed... hover over the sand bed, in no way you should come in contact with the sand bed. This way also helped me fight against the battle with cyno

 

[dreeves]

Cynobacteria is just that...bacteria. It is not an algae. Water quality will affect it, disturbed biological filtration will cause it as well. Other causes of red slime are excessive nutrients. Mainly, nitrate and phosphates.
Being it is a bacterial type infection, erythromycin is the antibiotic of choice. Treating it naturally would be the preferred road to take. As any antibiotic can, and usually does, damage your biological filtration. Also, antibiotic is treating the condition and symptoms, it is not treating the cause.
These are my own opinions and thoughts. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[nycwaters]

thanks guys and gals
jr