red slime in fugium

[spnohio]

i have a ecosystem sump/fug with a filter bag, skimmer in the first chamber, caulerpa in the second chamber, bio balls and a return pump in the third chamber it seems like i am getting a red slime build up in the second chamber with the culerpa. Is this normal? How can I get rid of it?
Can I put some live rock in the second chamber with the caulerpa?
I have my lights on 24 hrs should i cut them back now?

 

[spnohio]

C'omon guys give me some suggestions

 

[rcoultas]

Yes - you should cut the lights back - most run the fuge lights in opposite the display - this helps to alleviate the PH swings between night and day. 24hrs is too much.

 

[socal57che]

How are your dissolved solids? Is your skimmer working? Take away the food supply. (and adjust the photo period as mentioned above)
Watch your caulerpa. With a day/night cycle it may go sexual.

 

[rort]

I am actually having the exact same problem. actually came on tonight to ask this exact question. I took a picture! I don't mean to take away from your thread, spnohio, just to add to it!

 

[krichardson]

you said the red slime is in your sump/fug...i wouldnt really worry about it until it gets into your display tank. but if you are really worried about it you can use blue vet red slime control. it works great! i had a red slime problem in my tank for months and i tried everything to get rid of it.. cutting back feeding, adding more flow, siphoning it all out, lowering phosphates with lots of water changes, but it would not go away! but i finally got the courage to use chemicals to get rid of it (which i was totally against) and it worked great and now 5 moths later it hasn't come back. just follow all the directions and under dose a little, i did. hope that helps!

 

[mr_x]

i'm still going to have to keep my stance against adding chemicals to the system. it's a nutrient issue, and it's not a drastic enough one to stoop to chemical measures. i had that power outtage recently that wiped out 90% of my livestock and i now have a sand bed riddled with cyano. i've been doing waterchanges and it's receeding. it's just not an overnight fix. there was a lot of die-off. probably enough to create a small cycle not unlike a new tank. it's a small matter.

 

[fraggle_a]

This crap spreads fast and can choke out anything in its path.
I speek from experience.
One soluton is to remove it by hand. Problem is, once its there its hard to get rid of.
Yes, cut your lights back. The sun is only up for 10 hours of the day at most. If you want to, install some night lights on your tank and give it the moonlight look.
The algee itself
You can get a chemical to remove it, its a little pricy and most LFS carry it.
You dont need a lot. But use it with caution.
It will suck the oxygen from the water if your not careful.
Remove as much of the algee as you can by hand first.
Clean your filters.
Then add a treatment of the stuff. It will turn your water a cloudy yellow color for a while. You can leave your filters running because you need to get all the algee.

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2723017
i'm still going to have to keep my stance against adding chemicals to the system. it's a nutrient issue, and it's not a drastic enough one to stoop to chemical measures. i had that power outtage recently that wiped out 90% of my livestock and i now have a sand bed riddled with cyano. i've been doing waterchanges and it's receeding. it's just not an overnight fix. there was a lot of die-off. probably enough to create a small cycle not unlike a new tank. it's a small matter.
I'm with you. If you can't test for it, don't put it in your tank. Treat the cause, not the symptom.

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by Fraggle_a
http:///forum/post/2723273
One soluton is to remove it by hand. Problem is, once its there its hard to get rid of.
Remove as much of the algee as you can by hand first.
just a reminder...
"It should also be noted that the slime you "see" is not the actual algae or cyanobacterium agglomeration, but what it/they exsude. The actual algae are underneath."

 

[mr_x]

Originally Posted by Fraggle_a
http:///forum/post/2723273
This crap spreads fast and can choke out anything in its path.
I speek from experience..
if your tank is full of nutrients, i can see how this could happen
Originally Posted by Fraggle_a
http:///forum/post/2723273
Yes, cut your lights back. The sun is only up for 10 hours of the day at most. If you want to, install some night lights on your tank and give it the moonlight look.
it's daylight on this side of the earth for more than 10 hours
Originally Posted by Fraggle_a
http:///forum/post/2723273
You can get a chemical to remove it, its a little pricy and most LFS carry it..
that chemical is usually an antibiotic like erythromycin. this is used to kill bacteria(cyanobacteria), and it does not descriminate. remember, we utilize, and depend on bacteria in our sensitive systems
Originally Posted by Fraggle_a
http:///forum/post/2723273
You dont need a lot. But use it with caution.
It will suck the oxygen from the water if your not careful.
i would like to see some literature on antibiotics "sucking the oxygen from the water" if you don't mind. i'm not convinced that this happens.
Originally Posted by Fraggle_a
http:///forum/post/2723273
Remove as much of the algee as you can by hand first.
Clean your filters...
good advice!