Red Slime or Cyan?

interj

Member
My tank is about 5 months old. No problem with algea brown or green but I've been getting this red stuff for the last month.
90 Gallon FOLS
W/D Overflow
Fluval 404 running carbon
Turboflotor 1000
Lights (Standard, Came with Tank) on 10 hours per day
Temp 79
SG 1.021
Amonio 0
Trites 0
Trates 0
PH 8.2
RO Water
Water changes 10 Gallons every 2 weeks.
I have yet to measure any Nitrates on my tank so I wouldnt expect it to be cyan. I do not run any power heads in the tank since its fish only. Circulation is just from the returns of the filters.
What do you think this is?
 

birdy

Active Member
Looks like the start of cyano to me, touch it, if it feels slimey then that is what it is. It usally grows into a mat. Best thing to do is put a couple powerheads in your tank, circulation is not just for reef tanks, it helps the overall water condition. I think the fish like the current, good circulation keeps the nasties suspended in the water column so your filters can pick it up, otherwise you will wind up with junk on your LR in places it will just build up and then you will start having problems. Along with increase circulation. Suck out as much of the stuff as you can.
Good luck!
 

interj

Member
It is not really slimy. I have some on my glass about the size of a dime and I had to go over it 4-5 times with a magnet to get it off.
If I use ROwater and my trates are low, what else can I do to prevent cyan?
I probably should add a power head any way. Nothing too strong right? Just for circulation.
 

007

Active Member
look for a thread by JustinX on "how to rid your tank of red slime" Its got all the info you need about cyano
What you have could very well be coralline algae. Especially if it takes several passes from a magnet to get it off.
 

logen32

Member
i has the same probleam when i had this red slime i read all that was posible to get rid of it i cleaned and cleanedand it still cam back. then i heard that there is a product called red slime remover that dose not harm coral inverts of fish. It really helped the next day i cleaned and it never came back.
 

birdy

Active Member
Actually if it is hard to get off then I am thinking it may just be a really dark form of coralline. I have some spots in my tank that are really dark.
 

interj

Member
I know I am low in circulation in the tank. I dont have any pumps in the tank. Just the returns from my 2 filters. Between my 2 filters I should be turning the water over 7-8 time per hour.
It is not slimy and no way can I suck it off with a turkey baster as recommended. I don't care about keeping the bleached corals clean. The color actually looks nice. I just dont want to leave it if it's not good for the tank.
 
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