Another red slime algae thread

[jackcarp]

I have had my aquarium up and running with no problems with red slime until recently my Dragon Goby died, which was my primary sand stirrer. Since then I have seen a big change in the amount of red slime algae over the sand. Is this outbreak due to a lack of sand stirring? I have done multiple 10% water changes since then and was able to pull out a majority of the carcass. I have tested the water and the parameters are normal. I also changed my lightbulbs about 9 months ago (they are due again-I just dont think that would cause such a difference.)
What do I do?

 

[sk8rreefgeek]

must be that time of year haha. I'm trying to figure what's going on with mine too.
I am focusing on my CUC right now, what all do you have as far as hermits and snails?

 

[davocean]

Yep, usually see more cyano threads w/ summer temps.
More WC's w/ RO/DI, siphon cyano while doing, more aggro skim, lighter feedings, rinse mysis/frozen in RO/DI, chaeto in fuge, maybe lower or break in light cycle will all help.
I doubt has anything to do w/ goby death.
I never stir a DSB.

 

[jackcarp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15370655#post15370655 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sk8rreefgeek
must be that time of year haha. I'm trying to figure what's going on with mine too.
I am focusing on my CUC right now, what all do you have as far as hermits and snails?

I have a good variety of snails and hermits. They do a pretty good job of cleaning up anything, except red slime of course. Good luck with yours.

 

[jackcarp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15370805#post15370805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by davocean
Yep, usually see more cyano threads w/ summer temps.
More WC's w/ RO/DI, siphon cyano while doing, more aggro skim, lighter feedings, rinse mysis/frozen in RO/DI, chaeto in fuge, maybe lower or break in light cycle will all help.
I doubt has anything to do w/ goby death.
I never stir a DSB.

I will try turning down the lights some. Unfortunately, I don't have a sump or a fuge. I will go ahead and change my lights out too. I guess I am looking at doing a water change today.:lol: Thanks for the input.

 

[eros]

I agree, it seems to come with summer temps. I'm battling mine with a combo of Chemiclean red slime remover and no lights for a few days. Hopefully that will fix it.

 

[jackcarp]

Even though this is summer, I haven't seen any temp changes in my tank. Strictly 78.6-79.8. I am really concerned because I have to leave my tank for 2 weeks next month and I want everything perfect before I leave.

 

[jackcarp]

Okay-I am getting kind of desperate. So I have still had an outbreak of Red Slime algae in my tank. I bought new lights for my pc. I have turned them down so they are not on for such a long time during the day. I have been doing more water changes and vacuuming up all of it that I can. My pH is 8.3, temp is 78-79, phosphates 0, nitrates 0.
I have been feeding my 2 fish very little for the past 2 weeks and have not been adding anything in the water for my corals. I also have been using Phosphate absorbing filter material and phosphate absorber in my skimmer. I have also been skimming wetter as well.
I am at a loss. Could it be due to low Alkalinity? I have to leave my tank for 2 weeks starting next week and I am afraid I am going to come home to a tank full of dead corals.

Please help!
Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[jackcarp]

ANY advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DLANDINO]

Ok,

I fully expect criticism on this but I am going to tell you anyway. I had a bout with red slime that lasted a few months. I know the causes and I know in theory how to beat it but nothing worked. I finally broke down and used Blue Life Red Slime remover following the package instructions. All cyano was gone in about 3 days although I ran the course of the treatment, 5 days straight as instructed. I have an SPS dominated tank that is 1.5 years old, all inhabitants made it through just fine, PE was a bit inhibited for the 5 day treatment but not completely retracted. Once my weekly water change was completed all PE returned to normal and have been cyano free for weeks now.

I should add here that if you choose a chemical fix that once you resume skimming your skimmer will go nuts! I have an overflow on my skimmer chamber so I was not in danger of flooding but I stood over the collection cup for about an hour and used a turkey baster to remove the water that was flowing into the cup. In all I pulled out 2 1/4 gallons of "bad" water before the skimmer returned to normal. This was the hardest part of the treatment.

I have since instituted some changes in lighting, feeding and skimming volume and am hoping that it doesn't return.

On a similar note, my cyano showed up about 3 weeks after the death of my Diamond Goby, coincidence???

Good luck with your battle.

 

[jackcarp]

Thanks Dlandino for your thoughts. Just like you I am trying not to resort to using any chemicals, but at this point I am desperate. I don't know if I can order the stuff and have it arrive and treat my tank before the time I have to leave on my 2 week trip.
On a separate note, I go down to Ecuador each year with a group of students from the Biochem Dept. from Yale. Good times.

 

[DLANDINO]

Hahaha, Small world. I am sure I know some by name but not face. I am in the IT end of the Security Department. Good luck with the tank.

 

[eros]

I had success with Chemiclean Red Slime Remover. One mistake I made is I turned my lights off for 3 days but didn't turn off my dosing pumps so unfortunately I had a pretty bad Alk spike. Other than that I had no problems at all and the Red Slime has completely dissapeared.

 

[DLANDINO]

Bummer! With the Blue Life product, the lights stay on their normal schedule, in fact you dose when the lights are on. I also continued to dose my 2 part. Skimming, carbon and GFO are ceased however.

 

[tischdog32]

Obviously as has been stated you have to be careful with the chemical solution, but my 75 had a terrilbe outbeak, and I tried everything, the only thing that worked was the bluelife fix, and my mostly sps tank survived!

 

[fkbsar]

I just got finishing my dosage of Chemiclean. So far so good. Water is crystal clear - looks like there is no glass in the tank and the fish are just floating on air. I just stopped the skimmer and took out the carbon and purigen for 2 days. I just put the carbon and purigen back in the sump after 72 hours.

 

[CUfishfan]

I also just finished a round of Chemiclean (upgraded from crappy 110w PCs to 324w T5s and I guess I didn't ease into it as slowly as I thought). I agree, if you follow the directions carefully, you'll be fine. But watch out for the overflowing skimmer when you turn it back on- that's where I am now :-(

 

[jackcarp]

Thanks for the replies. I am really hoping not to have to use chemicals because-the way I see it-there is a reason that I am getting such an outbreak. I would like to correct it without using chemicals, but at this point the only think that I havent done is increase the water flow and start using GFO or Carbon (I don't have anywhere to put it!) I would also like to start using Chaeto, but again, I don't have a sump so I don't have anywhere to put it.
I think I will try more water changes and another powerhead for now and maybe order the slime remover so I have it on hand. I hope I get this under control as I am starting to have nightmares about it... Literally! :eek2: