How do I get rid of this?

jamescameron1

jamescameron1

Member
I am getting worried about this algae bloom. It started small and I didn't think much about as I thought the CUC would take care of it... but as far as I can tell nothing is touching it and it appears to be spreading. Is this red slime algae? How can I get rid of it?
This picture was taken maybe a week and a half ago

This one was taken today

I'm getting worried... it seems some of this is starting to grow in 2 other places in my tank... help? please?
 
R

roxannej

Guest
Here's how I deal with cyano......
First, try to figure out what is causing it. Most of the time it's overfeeding, but high phosphates & nitrates will feed it. Many times with cyano, testing will reveal no detectable phosphates and/or nitrates, but that's because the cyano is using it up to grow.
At any rate, I get a length of hose, a fish net and some floss. Put the floss in the net and put this in your fuge. Then take one end of the hose to use as a vacuum in the tank and put the other end in the net contraption after you start a siphon. (It helps if you have 2 people to do this.)
Once you have the siphon going, vacuum up the cyano. By sending the water into your fuge, you're getting out the cyano without doing a water change. Of course, you can vacuum it out while doing a water change as well - in that case skip the net.
The best time to vacuum the cyano is just before lights out because it has collected most of the nitrates/phosphates and you are removing the collected waste and the cyano.
 
R

roxannej

Guest
Originally Posted by JamesCameron1
http:///forum/post/3145484
Thanks for the tip... I was planning on doing a water change anyways so I will do it then! Thanks again!

You're welcome. Good luck.
Also, try to find out the cause or you'll be vacuuming out cyano forever. Another hint is to direct some flow where the cyano is - perhaps it's not overfeeding, but food collecting in places where there is little flow. There's a reason it is growing in specific places.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Red Slime (Cyano Bacteria)
Cyano grows on top of nutrient rich areas of low flow. There are a number of things that need to be correct or possibly corrected to combat this without the use of chemical additives. The biggest thing is to get rid of the extra nutrients.
1.Evaluate your feeding. If you are feeding more than can be eaten in about 1-2 minutes it is too much and the remainder of it is falling to the rock and sand and becoming nutrient.
2.Evaluate your flow. If you have areas in the tank where there is little to no flow this can be corrected by adding power heads or repositioning the ones you already have. You don’t need to create sand storms just have water moving over the area to keep detritus suspended in the water column for removal by your filter – skimmer.
3.Evaluate your water changes. The solution to pollution is dilution! You want to continually remove unneeded nutrients as well as replace those things that are used by the system. 10% weekly is a good change schedule. Some do 20% every other week and some vary the schedule from there, but a good start is 10% per week.
4.Evaluate your lighting schedule. About 10 hours of daylight is all that is needed.
5.If you have a Cyano outbreak do the above 4 items and:
a.At water change time siphon off the Cyano first. It will come up easily almost like a blanket.
b.After siphoning stir the affected areas a little to suspend any detritus for the water change and filtering - skimming removal.
c.Use a turkey baster on the rockwork now and at every water change in the future to again suspend the detritus for removal by the water change and your filtering – skimming.
Keeping nutrient levels low to non-existent will help to avoid Cyano outbreaks and any algae outbreaks as well as keep your tank and you happy happy.
Hope that helps.
 
jamescameron1

jamescameron1

Member
Thanks for the help... I will give it a try! I haven't done anything to the tank yet other than feeding a little less and it already looks like its starting to go away... I will do a water change tonight and vacuum out the cyano if I have time... if not I will do it tomorrow. Thanks again guys!
 
jamescameron1

jamescameron1

Member
Just wanted to say thanks again for the info... it took awhile but I think its all gone. I did a nice big water change... siphoned out the slime, cut down on feeding and left the lights out for a couple days and it appears to be gone! Thanks again guys... you are life savers!
 
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