Red slime?

[osuaquarist]

So I keep gettign this red slime/algae on my sand bed. I will remove it (it comes up in mats) but it will regrow in a couple of days. How do I get rid of this? My Params are all 0. I have a pair of True percs and some corals. This is a 12g nano.
Thanks

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by OSUaquarist
http:///forum/post/2619854
So I keep gettign this red slime/algae on my sand bed. I will remove it (it comes up in mats) but it will regrow in a couple of days. How do I get rid of this? My Params are all 0. I have a pair of True percs and some corals. This is a 12g nano.
Thanks
The red slime is cyanobacteria, and generally speaking it shows up in areas of low flow. Best way to get rid of it is to reposition your powerheads so you are getting more flow to that area, or to add another powerhead to your system.

 

[markeo99]

they make a chemi clean product but I recomend not using it cause for some reason it induces hair algae

 

[osuaquarist]

Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2619858
The red slime is cyanobacteria, and generally speaking it shows up in areas of low flow. Best way to get rid of it is to reposition your powerheads so you are getting more flow to that area, or to add another powerhead to your system.
The mats produce stings of hair and this hair is blowing around pretty good. But ill try a more direct stream after removing the new growth

 

[mr_x]

hi. don't add any chemicals to your tank, unless it's a matter of emergency.
cyanobacteria is not a matter of emergency.
what parameters are all zero?

 

[ibew41]

Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2619858
The red slime is cyanobacteria, and generally speaking it shows up in areas of low flow. Best way to get rid of it is to reposition your powerheads so you are getting more flow to that area, or to add another powerhead to your system.
also how long are your lights on for?

 

[majormaz]

What type of water are you using?

 

[osuaquarist]

Ammonia/nitrites/ nitrates all at 0 (nitrates prolly a little bit higher but not super accurate with my kit.)
I use ro/di water
Lights are not on a set scheduel because my timer went bad. Sometimes if I drink or go out they can be on for quite some time. I should just get a new one, you think a timer will probably seal the deal?
Also I have no skimmer so is this because of a buildup of nutrients?

 

[spanko]

Here is my take on cyano:
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 andh:
a. At water change time siphon off the cyano first. It will come up easily almost like a blanker.
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 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.

 

[osuaquarist]

Hey thanks a lot!