red algae??

[rphman]

is this red algae?
cause?
how to get rid of it?
will any critters eat it..like snails in particular?
Thanks
Wade

 

[jim2766]

Looks like red slime algae, i vacummed mine out, and it did reappear but slowly went away. Is it a new tank setup? Maybe your light cycle is too long, the more light, the more it grows, turns brown while the lights are off.

 

[rphman]

tank is about 5 months old...
so turn off my lights for a little longer?
water changes? i usually change 10 gallons every 2 weeks..in a 75 gallon tank...
cut down on fish feeding..i feed once daily and just a little...
Thanks
Wade

 

[jim2766]

Water changes did not help mine at all, i adjusted my lights, as i had it for the first 6 months after setting up. I have a 215 gallon with 3 150 watt halides running now from 8-9 am, and again from 415 to 1015pm. I sucked it all out, some came back, eventually it all went away. I currently have it in my refuguium, but its staying there and not populating. The light stays on longer in there. Feeding really had no effect, i feed about 2 times a day, flake in the am, and shrimp pellets, vitamina and either frozen foods or flake seaweed at night

 

[flower]

That is cyano bacteria not an algae. It is caused from too much phosphates, overfeeding and low water current.
Suck up as much as you can with a turkey baster marked for FISH ONLY. Then do water changes, about 25% each week until it is gone. Check to make sure you have good water flow to all areas of your tank and use phosban pouches or puegin in the filter to lower phosphates. Be careful when you feed coral and fish, don’t overdo it.
Always use RO never tap water. How long your lights are on make no difference. It isn't an algae.

 

[jim2766]

Well I had the exact bacteria, and it grew with the light. It was red, and is was like a slime.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by Jim2766
http:///forum/post/3182195
Well I had the exact bacteria, and it grew with the light. It was red, and is was like a slime.

Yes it lives in light and pitch black will kill it and everything else. It is not caused by too much light. Phosphates, overfeeding and low water flow are the causes.
Increase water flow, watch and don’t overfeed, and use RO water never tap. Do water changes and it will clear up.

 

[crypt keeper]

ahhh the whole ro vs tap thing doesnt work. I use ro water and it still grows. Just add flow. I had it in my 75 then added another power head it went away. Now I have a my 150 and obviously not enough flow. I will be adding two more Ph and it will go away. I feed 4 times a day too.

 

[jim2766]

I used ro water, and never overfed, and still had it, it was all gone in 6 months though after sucking out as it grew back it was smaller and smaller. Maybe we had different species.
Anyways, good luck!

 

[flower]

Here is something you can do to test your water flow. Take a stick and attach a ribbon to the end. Move it around the tank and see where you may have low or no flow and adjust your power heads accordingly. That is what I do to prevent any dead spots. It works great.
I bet if you use my method and hold the stick right over where the red slime grows you will see the difference in water flow.
Also phosphates feed this stuff like crazy. Frozen foods should be thawed and rinsed before adding it to the tank.
Hope this helps.