Experiences with red slime remover and SPS?

[jackson6745]

I have been able to beat cyano outbreaks but stepping up the mechanical filtration and running lots of carbon changed often. There are times when the cyano doesn't look as thick. Supposedly it has the ability to go waterborne??? The philosophy is to get all the particles out of the water before they have a chance to settle on out rocks and sandbed.

If you can get your hands on a diatom filter that would be great, if not run filter socks + floss etc.. I also read that ozone wipes it out..... but no personal experience there

 

[Dejavu]

I have used Blueline, I think Red Slime Remover, skimmer went nutz... I did several water changes and it still took a week before I could resume to normal skimming. mcliffy2, I am wondering about the bacteria destruction using this with zeovit, I am thinking it would not be a good idea, but I also had the same redslime issues with zeovit and other carbon dosing methods. Did you have a live sand bed when beginning zeovit? Just what I personally attributed to cyano, and what the zeo mods also diagnosed. I tried zeozym, cs, and upped my bak with no luck, I wish you the best with this, I have broken my tank down, due to a move, hoping to resume zeovit without any ill effects, we shall see!
Thanks

Your skimmer will go nuts, it's normal. I shut down all filtration while treating. Followed by a nice larger water change and some carbon.

 

[kaserpick]

I have broken my tank down, due to a move, hoping to resume zeovit without any ill effects, we shall see!
Thanks

I'm sad to hear you had to break it down, Perry. I'm looking forward to your posts when you set it back up. How long do you think you'll have it down?

Your skimmer will go nuts, it's normal. I shut down all filtration while treating. Followed by a nice larger water change and some carbon.

I agree, this is highly recommended for a few reasons. For one, like mentioned, your skimmer will go nuts, and also, your skimmer pulls it out of the system to some degree, reducing the desired results.

 

[mcliffy2]

kaserpick - do you have any links to some details on using zeobak and coral snow. I have tried using prodibio biodigest in the past to combat it, and that has not worked. I am curious about trying this though, before I resort to a slime remover.

dejavu - I actually just added a huge (80w) UV about a week and a half ago...no dice

pyle02 -- I am not using zeovit. Did VSV about 9 months ago, which coincided with the cyano, and I have since discontinued, but the cyano hasnt gone away.

Is it sad that cyano bothers me a lot more than AEFW??

 

[Dejavu]

It took a few weeks to a month for all of my cyano to go away, but it didn't.

 

[kaserpick]

kaserpick - do you have any links to some details on using zeobak and coral snow. I have tried using prodibio biodigest in the past to combat it, and that has not worked. I am curious about trying this though, before I resort to a slime remover.

Is it sad that cyano bothers me a lot more than AEFW??

Haha! If that were true for me, I'd be in the hospital I think. AEFW's drives me crazy. :eek1:

I sent you a message with a link.

 

[capn_birdseye]

I've used Chemiclean after an outbreak (brought on by vodka dosing I suspect). Stopped the carbon, dosed the Chemiclean according to the instructions, followed up with a water change...and all was well - corals fine, no cyano.

 

[LifeAquatic]

Ive used red slime remover in my tanks many times. SPS tanks as well. No problems.

 

[jbanks]

mcliffy2,

Take a look at the following thread that I started in January.. I was asking the same questions and not sitting well with the chemical route.. It was suggested to try a product called Special Blend by Microbe Lift.. It's a bacterial source... This stuff worked wonders in my tank and others tanks as well... I should mention that I was already using MB7 along with Vodka dosing when the Cyano issue broke out.. Since starting with Special Blend, I also switched to 1 part vodka, 3 parts vinegar blend with awesome result... There are pictures in the thread to show what I was dealing with... before and after.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1767673

 

[toothman]

I have zeo bac, coral snow and a bunch of other zeo products. I do not think they are very effective at initailly removing cyano, proof is that zeo now has a oxidizing agent to control cyano, I have never used it. I also have used vodka but stopped using it. Chemi clean really does work well.

Cyano is like a phosphate sponge and will retain phosphate and grow when there is excessive phosphate, often over looked is suspended solids is also a big contributer. The biggest problem getting rid of cyano is eliminating the cyano it self, sounds wierd but cyano can really live in nutrient poor conditions. It will receed with low nutrients but often come back easily as nutrients rise. If you use gfo it will keep the phosphate down to a point that it can not grow much. Chemi clean is a oxidizing agent that will destroy all cyano and release all the cyano's phosphate into your water as well as the other nutrients it has. You need to be prepared to make a 25 % water change in 2 days and leave your skimmer off for a week or so. Add carbon back and run for 2 days then turn skimmer back on.

I did this in my 400 gal sps tank and have no regrets.

Vodka, zeo start or any other carbon source products are aimed at growing phosphate consuming bacteria that will be skimmed out. These products will also freely grow most other types of bacteria including Cyano.

My final solution is to make sure your tank is clean through out, like under the rocks in the rocks and gravel. Get all the detritus out. Absolutely buy a hanna meter and keep phosphate below .05. A great piece of equiptment. Step up water changes to 20% weekly or twice weekly for awile. If all that doesn't work do not be too afraid of chemi clean.

 

[NewSchool04]

Re: Experiences with red slime remover and SPS?

Hey Mike, I've used Chemi Clean a couple of times with no problems. It's always worked but you may have to double dose it. Use it, wait a couple days, large water change and then dose it again.

Count on your skimmer to be out of action for awhile.

I'm dealing with the same problem now and going to dose again tomorrow, I can't get rid of the stuff.

 

[shaggy14]

I've used the bluelife/blueline, whatever it's called, with no problems. Just turned of the skimmer overnight and did a 30% wc the next day before turning the skimmer back on. Had to use it everytime I've tried to dose vodka.