Red Slime?

xcdennisx

xcdennisx

Member
it kinda looks like red slime but not really sure cant really tell. is there any bubbles in it or anything.
 
aztec reef

aztec reef

Active Member
that's cyanobacteria, that means that part of the sandbed is not getting enuf aeration...what's your turnover rate.(how many gph powerheads)
 
aztec reef

aztec reef

Active Member
i just found out it that is rated at 106 gph, so you're way off.. you need at least 15x turnover, and that's a low minimun...
 
aztec reef

aztec reef

Active Member
that's still low , you want at least 360 gph that's =15x turnover. so even a small powerhead will help alot....
 
aztec reef

aztec reef

Active Member
definetly,
this is what you can do in the mean time, waterchanges, and when you do this waterchanges syphon some of that heavy part of cyanobacteria,(but don't suck up too much sand, you only wanna syphon about 1/8 of an inch of sand.
p.s. any other suggestions are welcome!!
 
aztec reef

aztec reef

Active Member
ok .here's another one: decrease your feeding a little and reduce the lighting period by a few hours. and soon you'll have white sands again. ***)
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
I am not sure but I think I read somewhere that the lighting period does not have an effect on cyano. Reduce nitrates, phosphates, increase flow are the things that directly affect the causes of cyano. In the meantime you can add some cerith snails. They are cyano vacuums.
 
reefreak29

reefreak29

Active Member
CYONO BACTERIA: red slime algea has to be one of the most frustrating for new reefers.It usually breaks out on the surface of the sand substrate.2 ways that i know to remove the cyono is to firstincrease your water flow u want to remove any stagnent areas by the substate. Two remove excess nutrient, I prefer to do a 10 percent weekly water change with ro di water or di water. (do not use tap water) while doing a water change syphon out as much red algea as possible,also dont be afraid to cut your light back and your feeding, I leeve my light on for 10 hrs a day in my 90 gal tank its ok to cut back to 5 hrs for a couple of weeks.
 
larryndana

larryndana

Active Member
Originally Posted by Jcarroll
Hey! I had the same stuff and got a sand sifting starfish. Now, I have white sand again!!
IMO, I wouldn't suggest a sand sifting starfish in your small tank, it will die off in a matter of months. The eat the beneficial infauna in your live sand, once its gone they will starve and die. They are for a much bigger tank, if any at all.
 
reefkprz

reefkprz

Active Member
look up a thread called "red slime observations: mybe useful maybe not" it may help. there are also tons of other threads on red dlime.
 
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