Help!Clear thick slime covering everything!

[2thdeekay]

Just briefly read thru this thread. That is interesting. I've seen slime like that in systems with high organics/less than ideal skimming, but high O2 levels, but never seen that much slime. Do you have adequate skimming?

If something like that happened in my system, I'd clean all the plumbing, overflows, all surfaces to try to physically remove the biomass, then increase skimming and chemical filtration.

If that doesn't work, I'd call ghostbusters too.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Well whos to say that the nitrogen cycle is responsible for all of the processes utilizing ammonia,nitrate,nitrite anyways? It could have been that your macroaglae were doing most of the work. True Randy?

So if someone does not have adequate photosythesis, then erytho may be dangerous to that type of aquarium. Correct?

True, but many people use it just fine. If you really needed massive ammonia uptake, I'd think the disaster rate would be much higher.

We've discussed this issue (how it might kill nitrifying bacteria, but not so likely at the recommended dose) in many threads, including this one:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1484298

 

[Jillyfish]

My tank still looks good today. I don't think any more slime is forming at the moment. The back wall of the tank may have a very thin new layer.

2thdeekay, I have an msx 160 skimmer. It seems to do a good job. I gave up cleaning yesterday. I did clean just about everything I could. I have a small bio-load, just six small fish. I do try not to overfeed.

Tom, you all have helped me save my children from certain meltdown. They each have a special fish that is their own.
I got a picture of the possible culprit

 

[WaterKeeper]

Yikes, that sure looks like a slime producing organism to me!

I see Randy and I disagree on using Erythromycin on a display tank. Well, Randy is a pharmaceutical chemist so he knows his ribosome inhibitors better than I.

But I'd still be a little cautious about using it.

 

[Rae C.]

Caught in the act! Cute!

 

[jnewman]

One thing that you have said a few times Jill is that you need to fiddle and clean your skimmer a lot I think that an upgrade og the skimmer would be a great investment. As I am sure you spent a good amount of $$$ on trying to find and fix this? Just a thought as I am kind of new, the one thing I like is that no one said to scrap the tank and start over, I have had HA Cyno Ick and the best thing I do is stay calm and watch and document the process and results. Also I have 3 kids 10,3 & 1 I try and watch them, but I work and also the 3 yr old is the cop for the tank and keeps the 1 yr old in check. But I also let them do certain chores when I feed and clean. which for the 3 yr old she loves this (most of the time. If cartoons are not on).
Good luck

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

But I'd still be a little cautious about using it.

Yes, of course. Especially since I do not want the blame when something related or not goes wrong.

 

[WaterKeeper]

:lol:

Chicken!

Thanks for chiming in here Randy, as well as some others from the chemistry forum. I sure was running out of ideas and, hopefully, the crisis is over.

 

[EllieSuz]

This slime is a direct result of overdosing Vitamin C. I had the same problem to a lesser degree. In my case, the slime affected the filter sock to the point where water would not pass through it. I reduced the Vitamin C dose and the slime disappeared. Everything I've read about dosing VC requires a very small beginning dose and a gradual increase. There is a thread started by Pufferpunk in the Zoanthid forum that describes the theory and practice of dosing Vitamin C. and also discussing the slime problem.

 

[saturnkk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13715162#post13715162 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EllieSuz
This slime is a direct result of overdosing Vitamin C. I had the same problem to a lesser degree. In my case, the slime affected the filter sock to the point where water would not pass through it. I reduced the Vitamin C dose and the slime disappeared. Everything I've read about dosing VC requires a very small beginning dose and a gradual increase. There is a thread started by Pufferpunk in the Zoanthid forum that describes the theory and practice of dosing Vitamin C. and also discussing the slime problem.

I do not dose Vitamin C. If it is the same slime, it is not caused by Vitamin C or any additives for that matter.

 

[EllieSuz]

According to her thread, Jillyfish dosed Vitamin C just before the slime appeared in her tank. My remarks were aimed to explain her situation. I don't doubt that something else must have caused the slime in saturnkk's tank; only that Vitamin C is a known cause of that slime effect.

 

[saturnkk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13715257#post13715257 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EllieSuz
According to her thread, Jillyfish dosed Vitamin C just before the slime appeared in her tank. My remarks were aimed to explain her situation. I don't doubt that something else must have caused the slime in saturnkk's tank; only that Vitamin C is a known cause of that slime effect.

Understood. I may not be the same slime. If it is, and by simply looking at it, it does look very similar, than there are at least other causes...

 

[2thdeekay]

Jillyfish, I have a slimer too. Not too long ago, she dumped 1/2 a jar of flakes into her brothers reef. Lost a nice fish. Her brother says she has retractable horns. Maybe that would help you feel better.

 

[Jillyfish]

Elliesuz, I do think you are right. That Boxfish muscle guy also thought it was the vit. c. That thread by pufferpunk is why I started the C in the first place. I have completely stopped now.

I still have quite a bit of slime on the rocks, and some in the overflows, but everything is looking so much better. I think I'll keep my anemones in my little tank. It is two years old, and they are very happy there. I know five months old was too soon to get them , but I wanted to order them before winter. Patience is such a virtue in this hobby. At least they are healthy where they are.
Saturn, I don't know if it is the same slime or not. I did not have anything die. Like I told you on the phone, I do think I had this before in my Hippocampus Erectus seahorse tank, and used some of those rocks in this new reef.

2thdeekay, what a darling little rascal!!

 

[2thdeekay]

Thanks Jillyfish. Sorry to hear about the peanut butter incident--I can definately relate.

 

[WaterKeeper]

Lord help me! We went from slime to cute kid pics. I guess they are Newbies.

 

[Jillyfish]

LOL!!! Well, they do go together quite nicely like you pointed out, they do look like slime producing organisms, and are.

 

[dvmsn]

How is this going? Has it cleared up? I think I have the same thing. UGGH! I just got done fighting AEFWS. I want to jump off the roof!!!!

 

[saturnkk]

REVIVE!

Okay, I think that we have finally diagnosed our issue!

Once again this year, as the weather has warmed, we have had to use our fan pointed across the surface to cool the tank. Once again, after extended use, jelly stuff started to appear.

Fast forward a few weeks later. Our clam that had been alive through all the issues we had and the jellyfication of the tank a couple years ago died and was promptly removed from the tank.

One month or so later now and the fan is being used frequently (nearly daily now) as temps warm up and nothing.

Nothing. No jelly or cloudiness.

It would seem that the Crocea (healthy for 3+ years) was the problem. Not sure what the jelly was but the thought now is that maybe it was either a stress release (not as likely as it was healthy and growing for years) or some type of sexual release...?!?

Anyone who can shed further light on what a Crocea type clam might release would be helpful. The 2 items correlated to the jelly release are warmer water temps (80+ farenheit range) and a fan blowing across the surface of the tank...

Thanks!

 

[Ritten]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14982044#post14982044 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saturnkk
REVIVE!

Okay, I think that we have finally diagnosed our issue!

Once again this year, as the weather has warmed, we have had to use our fan pointed across the surface to cool the tank. Once again, after extended use, jelly stuff started to appear.

Fast forward a few weeks later. Our clam that had been alive through all the issues we had and the jellyfication of the tank a couple years ago died and was promptly removed from the tank.

One month or so later now and the fan is being used frequently (nearly daily now) as temps warm up and nothing.

Nothing. No jelly or cloudiness.

It would seem that the Crocea (healthy for 3+ years) was the problem. Not sure what the jelly was but the thought now is that maybe it was either a stress release (not as likely as it was healthy and growing for years) or some type of sexual release...?!?

Anyone who can shed further light on what a Crocea type clam might release would be helpful. The 2 items correlated to the jelly release are warmer water temps (80+ farenheit range) and a fan blowing across the surface of the tank...

Thanks!

Interesting Saturn, I had a terrible problem with white slime that seemed to come with the warmer weather. I have not had the problem appear again in years and in thinking about your post, all three times I had it in the past I had a clam and now no longer do.