I actually switched to RC from Coral Pro and it fixed my main tank. I did have it come back in my QT tanks though so i cant say it was or was not the salt. I am tracing it back the best that I can but I had added a brs 150gpd water saver kit and my incoming tds is very high (650). Even though I see zero coming out i still wonder if something is getting through that I cannot see.
clear/white mucus/slime in tank help
- Thread starter noobtothereef
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StrangeDejavu
Member
While switching salt helped, it was only temporary relief. It's back again, and with a vengeance. There are 4 saltwater tanks in this house and this one is the only one affected. To test, I took some of the slime covered rock out and placed it in a small tank with new saltwater and an airstone. Both times when I set up my 40 breeder, the slime appeared on day 5. Today is day 8 in that mini "experiment" tank, and there's nothing. I finally concluded that something I used when I built this tank is combining with other factors and creating the perfect, unending storm of this stuff. Someone else in the house set up a BioCube 29g in the next room over. He used my RODI unit to make water, the same type of bucket to mix salt, the same salt, even bought his live rock from the same bin and LFS I did, used the same sand, etc and he's been a month and a half strong. His tank has progressed more in 1 month than mine has in 7 months. I've spoke to people with 25+ years experience in the hobby, some well known LFS owners and everyone is stumped. I finally gave up and bought a BioCube 29g and plan on putting the 40g in the garage. Wish I could have contributed more to this issue, but it is baffling. Good luck to those still fighting.
It is the most frustrating thing to not be able to find something in common !
I set up 3 qt's in my house (main tanks are in the business in a separate building) and one of those had the slime issue and they have all been fine. Same water,same salt etc. I too thought about testing samples of rock from a slimed tank but have not had the chance or the nerves to do so.
As it is now I have no slime in anything except for maybe a small amount in the DT in my skimmer. I just don't know what to do if it comes back.
I set up 3 qt's in my house (main tanks are in the business in a separate building) and one of those had the slime issue and they have all been fine. Same water,same salt etc. I too thought about testing samples of rock from a slimed tank but have not had the chance or the nerves to do so.
As it is now I have no slime in anything except for maybe a small amount in the DT in my skimmer. I just don't know what to do if it comes back.
Breakthecycle2
New member
Even though it didn't seem to work for that other guy, probably because of RC, go the Waste Away route. It does work pretty well.
I actually went to RC and that helped it. I am afraid to go back to coral pro. I was even having problems on QT tanks and doing a teardown and start fresh it would come right back. I did not consider using waste away but I could try again.
What I have been doing is paying very close attention to my DI. I am on well water so they exhaust quickly. I change the 2nd to the 1st as soon as the color in the 1st has changed. I also went to parallel membranes instead of the water saver routing due to my high incoming tds (600 plus)
Breakthecycle2
New member
Do you dose anything? Carbon? Amino Acids?
Just 2 part in the DT. In the QT nothing at all before the problems start. I can only see 2 things in common, air or water. I even bought new mixing containers.
Breakthecycle2
New member
What do you dose exactly?
Breakthecycle2
New member
I can almost bet, that's what is causing it. I would cut back on that and start the Waste away regiment. 5ml's per 10 gallons every other day for two weeks.
Id like to think it would be that easy but not a drop of it had been in the QT and they were the worst. I had went to Dr fosters 2 part which was nasty but that was just recently and have since switched back
The one would get to the point it would plug the filter in the aqua clear 70 lifted the lid off and empty gallons of water on the floor!
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StrangeDejavu
Member
Ugh, those pics are exactly what every hard surface in my tank look like. My sump socks, when left in for 2 or 3 days, become so clogged that you could literally carry them around the house like cup full of water and nothing would bead through. The worst part is how slimy it is when you have to remove it, you can barely grab a hold of the thing. Whenever I turn the pumps back on, all the slime inside the PVC comes shooting out into the tank and looks like a big snotty snow globe. It really is the strangest thing.
Breakthecycle2
New member
I did not read all your posts. Do both tanks share the same mixing containers?
Aquamechanic
Member
Very frustrating. I've posted my situation on a few threads on this topic so I won't go into great detail. 9 months dealing with 90 reef, no dosing, 5 small fish, distilled water as source, Kent salt, tried RC, removed substrate, removed 60% +/- of the rock, all natural fiji rock approx. 10 years old. Tank crashed during ice storm power outage 3 years ago but was doing well again until last spring. Then slime.
It is about 75% better then it was at its peek for producing slime but, it's still there! I don't get the long strands coming off the rock any more, just collecting in the sump (maybe 10 turkey basters of suction to remove) and filming the glass each week. Takes on a pink hue when collected and accumulated.
Maybe the change of salt brands or maybe the removal of the substrate and rock (I suspect). The tank tests well on PO4 and NO3 but is getting black on the rocks. Not really algae like but almost an anaerobic coating. Like found in dense, oxygen deprived sand but in all the rock crevices. No abnormal smell except the skimmer. Lots of black sponges have also started growing.
I've been doing this more then 25 years and this is the only tank/ time I have ever seen this crap.
... Excuse me while I go knock wood.
Breakthecycle2
New member
?
Do you use plug in scented air fresheners or candles? Is the tank near the kitchen?
Aquamechanic
Member
This particular setup is located in a dental office. I have had them check their sterilizer and it does not use alcohol, I've had them remove all air-fresheners (much to the chagrin of reception) and historically the tank has been located here for more then 10 years with only the last 9 months having slime issue.
I cannot think of any other source of carbon either added or environmental.
I cannot think of any other source of carbon either added or environmental.
StrangeDejavu
Member
Question for everyone here still dealing with the slime: Is this happening in DIY setups? I ask because it popped up in my 40/20 tank that had lots of DIY. It did not pop up in my QT, my Dad's DT or his QT, only my DT. After 7 months and a total tank restart, I finally tore down for good. With my tax return, I went out and bought a BioCube 29g. I set this tank up using the same slime covered live rock that was in my 40, moved straight over. I bought new sand and made new water and let 'er rip. I'm happy to report that i'm a month in and this tank has already progressed more than my previous setup did in 7 months. The slime is gone. Both times in my 40, the stringy slime appeared on day 5 after the cycle. My CUC actually explores the tank now and eats off the rock. Before, they would stay still in one spot and die after about 2 weeks. I don't know if the acrylic I chose for the overflow played a role, or maybe the fact that I used GE II (unknowingly) and it contained a chemical that was feeding this bloom? I'm just happy to FINALLY be done with it and moving toward coral and more fish in the future. I hope you guys can find your source and eliminate it as well.
StrangeDejavu
Member
Siliconing your own baffles, plumbing, etc. In my case, I made my own overflow using sheets of black acrylic I had cut at a local acrylic shop. The slime continued endlessly and the source was clearly linked to something in my build. Why else could I take rock covered in thick sheets of slime, place it in a BioCube and the slime completely disappear? Just grasping at straws here I guess, trying to find common links between my problem and the others that posted here.
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