Tank Help!

[racin24fan]

As you can see in the attached pictures.... My tank is not pretty. Its filthy. I have to scrub this nasty looking purple goo off my tank once or twice a week. I have had my tank set up for one year. I have had this problem for months but now it is annoying. I have tried numerous things to clear it it. It always comes back. I am ready to sell my tank and everything I have with it the problem has become so bad.
I have a 55 gallon tank with probably 100lbs or more of live rock. I have probably 20 or so snails and 15 or so hermits. I have a mean coral banded shrimp and 5 pepperment shrimp.
Fish:
1 Yellow Tang
1 Heniochus Butterfly
2 Firefish (Red and Purple)
2 Maroon Clowns
1 Haitian Anemone
1 Urchin
1 Orange Linka
My test readings are:
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Ph 8.0-8.2
Nitrate 0
This is my last resort. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[maryg]

Looks like Cyano aka. Red Slime. It is a bacteria. Either from too many phosphates or overfeeding. You probably need more flow.
Try to manually remove as much as you can. Suck it up with a vacuum hose you use for water changes. Blow as much off as you can with a turkey baster. Use a dry paper towel and wipe off the glass and throw it away. Do a major water change with many frequent changes and change your filter media quite often. Check your water for phosphates. We all go through these outbreaks. It will go away if you are persisitant. At a last resort you can try "Chemiclean". I hear it works better than "Red Slime Remover". Try to resolve it the old fashioned way first.
Good Luck!

 

[racin24fan]

I have 2 hangon filters, a wet dry sump, and 2 power heads. I have the Koralia 3 (850GPH) and Koralia 4 (1200 GPH). Do I need more than that?

 

[maryg]

Sounds like you should have plenty of flow. Maybe it is a nutrient issue. Cut back on feeding and change your filter media. You can try (after you manually remove as much as you can) running some phophate pads in your sump and filter trays.
Blow off your rocks at least once a week with a turkey baster to "free float" any debris caught in dead spots.

 

[meowzer]

What do you feed? I had/have this problem in my 54g horse tank, I only have a koralia 1 and a small maxijet for flow...But I added a phospure pad to the filter and Started using ro/di water for my water changes, AFter 2 weeks, I have notice a Big change...It's not all gone, but it's going...I also do what Mary says...clean the glass and suck it up with a baster.

 

[racin24fan]

I have been giving them flakes every evening. Myabe onces a week or 2 I will treat them to frozen brine shrimp.

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by Racin24fan
http:///forum/post/2921522
I have been giving them flakes every evening. Myabe onces a week or 2 I will treat them to frozen brine shrimp.
Probably should change your food...tangs and butterfly's need special food like algae, from what I read...brine offers no nutritional values at all....what kind of flakes are you using?

 

[racin24fan]

I use Ocean Nutrition Prime Reef Flakes. It says it has low phospherous and low ash. I have put aglae/seaweed strips in my tank before but my fish would not touch it.

 

[maryg]

Not a big fan of dry foods. I only use frozen. That may be your problem right there. Try frozen mysis, emerald entree, or a multi-pack. Put in a 4" piece of algae sheet every other day.

 

[marcb]

Originally Posted by Racin24fan
http:///forum/post/2921437
I have probably 20 or so snails and 15 or so hermits.
I think you may need more and better snails. Sand sifters will help keep the sand white, and some more herbivores to take care of the glass may help. There's obviously enough food to support some more.

 

[racin24fan]

Thanks for all of your help. After you said food I noticed the nasty slime is the same color has my flakes. I am going to clean it good and change foods to see if that helps.
I am also planning on ordering a big batch of clean up crew when Uncle Sam gives me my taxes back.
I have had cleaner, camelback, and fire shrimp before but the only ones that seem to stay alive is the coralbanded and some of the peppermint shrimp. =( My coralbanded is really mean. He chases my fish if they come into his area with his claws. I think he is the culprit but I am not sure. I never find bodies.